Election 2011 - FF race is a dangerous distraction

WHILE he still commanded centre stage Taoiseach Brian Cowen repeatedly referred to the need to move away from the negativity and anger that chokes so much of our public conversation.

Even though he and his party are primary architects of our economic collapse, and the political pantomime demeaning us all, he is right.

But how can we? How can we act as rational, optimistic people when our Government behaves in a manner beyond even the most vicious imaginings of satirists? How can we pretend to be optimistic citizens as we drive our emigrating children to the airport? As we struggle to hold onto the family home? As nearly half a million of us wonder if we will ever again get a job? As we wonder how to repeat the miracle of the loaves and fishes with decimated wage packets?