Candidates ignore issues that led to our ruin

CONSIDERING the direct role that corruption and cronyism – and the incompetence that are their signature – have played in bringing economic ruin, it’s depressing that so few candidates seem to be making these issues a priority in the lead-up to the local and European elections.

Do the mainstream political parties not yet understand what is causing so much public apathy about politics and politicians?

Unlike those who are responsible for the decay we see in public life, it is the majority of innocent voters who are paying dearly for it.

Who will undertake forcefully and effectively to provide root-and-branch reform of public adminsitration locally and nationally?

Can we look forward to an end to the cancerous culture of planning permission and development favours and the subversion of virtually every aspect of public administration – particularly on behalf of business interests – in return for votes and patronage?

It has hardly served us well. There’s scarcely an area of public life that is functioning like it could or should – nobody is ever accountable for anything, not even for doing the jobs for which they are paid.

The reputation of the country has been completely destroyed by this poison – and deservedly so.

We want politicians with intelligence and integrity.

Sadly, there are very few of that calibre in evidence.

How ironic that Bertie Ahern should have called l Joe Higgins a “failed human being”.

I know which of them I’d trust with my vote.

Miriam Cotton

Woodlands

Clonakilty

Co Cork