Nothing will change except the names

YOUR editorial (January 20) while making some valid points, widely misses the mark.

Specifically, and I quote: “For people to believe in the Dáil again they need to see that politicians really stand for something meaningful and have a vision that goes beyond merely getting themselves back into office and clinging to power at all costs.”

This misses on a crucial point in that the reality is that until such time as people change their voting patterns the same species of politician will be re-elected and nothing, excepting the names, will change.

Additionally, given that Mr Cowen can waltz into the Dáil for “half an hour” and depart unscathed speaks to the woeful quality of leadership in opposition. In any democracy the quality of government is in direct proportion to the quality of opposition in parliament. Sadly in Ireland one is a perfect mirror image of the other.

John O’Rielly

Cleveland Hts

Ohio, USA