Let’s wipe out the old politics

NOW that the Greens and a few independents have displayed a cute opportunism by upping the election stakes, we must stay our hand and try to think outside the box for a while.

Your editorial (November 22) starkly illuminates the shocking reality that many Irish people (63% at least) are relieved by the arrival of the IMF, et al. Given the dilatory incompetence of current national governance and the reckless fecklessness with everything but the truth, it offers some succour that, whatever else we get, we’ll get some authentic honesty from the IMF, however unpalatable.

Calling for a traditional general election post-haste may not be the best short-term solution. Yes, the Government should be dissolved (in acid, preferably), but there should be some interim emergency arrangement whereby a new order executive can be empowered to preside and deliver the stringency measures in the offing over the next four years.

It is imperative that the old order politics is wiped out by the current disastrous scenario. Drifting back into the standard us-them/FF-FG vacuous polemics (instead of mature politics) must be avoided at all costs. Besides, what a swizz for any new governing coalition to be elected into an austerity budget sequence, precipitated by the greedy, corrupt machinations of a discredited bunch of self-serving wastrels.

Emergency times call for emergency measures. More, much more would be served by a total recalibration of statutory governance and absolute electoral/representative reform.

This will never be possible under the status quo. It would of course need a major constitutional overhaul which sitting Dáil members would never contemplate.

It’s not sufficient for FF to be ousted, and FG/Labour slot into the groove extant. Little would change in the fundamental template. A role for a broad church council of state with powers of appointment and executive governance? How such an emergency executive might be constituted will be a challenge, but the times they are a-challenging. Upheaval begs and breeds total transformation. Let’s go for it.

Patrick J Cosgrove

Chapel Street

Lismore

Co Waterford