A political habit we just can’t kick

I WAS quite shocked by the recent election results. Shocked, that is, that Fianna Fáil actually received as many votes as it did. Why anyone would choose to vote for this party of corruption, cronyism, incompetence and shysterism, let alone run, canvass or be an apologist for it absolutely beats me.

I have concluded that Fianna Fáil voters are like smokers who, despite knowing that it is bad for them, belligerently refuse to kick the habit.

They realise that associating with Fianna Fáil is like spending an evening in the company of other smokers — you will wake up the next day emanating a foul stench. You may shower, or fill the washing machine, but you will still reach for another packet of 20 and you just can’t get that smell out of your clothes.

The more you smoke the more it stains your fingers, but just like the way Fianna Fáil gets under your skin, you just can’t wash that discolouration away. It may not be your fault, as if you are a smoker, the chances are that someone in your family has been a smoker. You stubbornly ignore all the warnings. The damage just gets worse and worse. Your cough gets more pronounced and your lungs get increasingly more black and withered. But you keep on voting, keep on canvassing and keep on apologising until, eventually, just like Fianna Fáil is doing to Irish society, the habit kills you.

Peter Cunningham

Aulden Grange

Dublin 17