Why we need Churchillian leadership in Ireland now
The then prime minister, Winston Churchill, realised the immediate necessity to take the firmest possible measures — even unprecedented measures — effectively to tackle the crisis which threatened his country.
Churchill effectively dissolved parliament in its traditional form and replaced it with a single-party coalition, with the king’s consent, consisting (particularly in the war cabinet) of the best brains known to him, drawn from all parties or indeed from outside the political arena altogether, to serve for as long as needs be.
He thought long and hard about those he would appoint to take responsibility for the onerous tasks facing them, civil and military.
Had he pursued the challenges before him with his erstwhile Tory administration and a strong opposition snapping at his heels at every turn, Churchill realised that a time-honoured constitutional establishment lacked the ultimate qualities he needed — and would continue to need — until the threat was vanquished. Having regard to a doubtful political leadership in Ireland today, hounded by the totality of an opposition bent on deprecating every decision — or the want of decision from our leaders in Government — it seems we have reached a state of national economic crisis comparable to the wartime situation which threatened Britain 70 years ago.
Today we see a plethora of interim reports, discussion documents, private meetings “talks about talks” between civil servants and one or other of the “social partners”, but a coherent and comprehensive strategy has yet to be presented to the people.
How much longer must the taxpayer tolerate the substantial class of wealthy moneymakers in our society who pull in millions of euro while thousands upon thousands of ordinary workers shiver in the dole queues?
How much longer will the trade unions put the monetary welfare of their members before the economic survival of the State?
Similar questions abound, tolerated by a political system which above all else jealously protects its party power while keeping the really rich (together with the trade unions) “on side”.
The voiceless taxpayer (those, that is who have a paid job) face mandatory wage cuts, the summary withholding of dividends if they invested their savings in, say, the banks and a creeping proliferation of new taxes.
Wind up the Dáil, including the cabinet, retaining only those few with the parliamentary intelligence to go about the task of forming a single-party coalition, augmented by those within our society who have a known record of economic excellence and untapped statesmanship — those many people who have steered well clear of the world of politics with its moral bankruptcy and calculated ambivalence.
Let integrity, sound ability in management and their will and brain-power steer the State out of the crisis which is our lot today.
It has been done before with outstanding success; let us do it again with men and women whose lively thinking is untainted by the ponderous inertia of political life and the whining objections of an inept opposition.
PG Martin
Lake Road
Cobh
Co Cork
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