End the blame game and put new team on the pitch

THE widespread use of the phrase “blame game” sidesteps the central, practical issue and neatly kicks it to touch.

When something is broken we must understand clearly what is wrong — or has gone wrong — before we can try to fix it.

You have informed us how board after board after board in the private and the public sectors failed to exact accountability and responsibility. Failed to require the immediate resignation of failed management. Failed, in many cases, themselves to resign.

It is the simplest of managerial evaluations, an elementary business studies in-tray exercise ... who presided over the greed and mistakes made in national policy?

The Plain People of Ireland carried out their own managerial evaluation and gave their verdict on June 5 last. Unambiguously. The old management must be replaced by fresh management. Without baggage. Able to tell it as it is — and be credible and trusworthy with the moral authority to provide the country with real leadership.

NAMA should be parked for six months to allow for non-confrontational, non-partisan examination of the best method of achieving what is valid in its objectives — while immediate ad hoc action (which is not guaranteed by NAMA) is taken to get credit flowing into the economy. To save existing jobs and lay the basis for recovery. Yet the Government insists on using its Dáil majority to ram NAMA through in its present core form.

Even if the forthcoming budget were to be intrinsically perfect for purpose, it will not be acceptable publicly. Because the Government has mismanaged the communication game to convince us –—paradoxically — that its policies and mindset are deeply inequitable, partial towards a golden circle and incompetent.

But this budget will not be perfect for purpose because it has been crippled by special deals. Because the Government has backed off an objective assessment of what may be valid in the proposals of Bord Snip and deferred considered tax reform into the indefinite future — despite having spent the entire year telling us it was integral to budgetary strategy.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has sent a clear message to his backbenchers (and his ministers) that he is open for turning. Leadership in a time of struggle for national survival?

Almost all of us would prefer jaw-jaw to war-war. The campaign proposed by the ICTU and others will, in the long run, protect nobody and damage everybody. However, I will support it (with the proverbial heavy heart) because, with tens of thousands others, I am left with no choice.

This by a Government, which, like Neville Chamberlain in May 1940, has lost the moral authority to lead and should resign.

And more specifically by the TDs on the government side of the Dáil chamber who refuse to acknowledge their higher constitutional duty to sack this failed entity. As in this national emergency (with article 13.2.2 of the constitution and 1994 in mind), they could do without a single seat, let alone party, being damaged.

The political class and the commentariat still have not grasped the extent and intensity of the fear, frustration and anger out here. Or our genuine willingness to work with a new government we can trust.

How much further must we all sink before the penny drops? Until it is too late?

Maurice O’Connell

Fenit Without

Fenit

Tralee

Co Kerry