Turn e-voting machines into a work of art

I NOTICE that Minister Michael Noonan is now proposing to sell those 7,000 splendid electronic voting machines to Irish pubs around the world.

But, before they are packed up and flown out around the globe, permit me to put my “stupid auld pencil” to paper for long enough to suggest that those infernal devices should be required to make an “act of contrition” to our new gods. I suggest that the machines be arranged in a large field under the flight path of a major Irish airport in such a way so as to spell out (in large capital letters) some words written by Citibank’s Walter B Wriston in his 1992 book The Twilight of Sovereignty: “The markets are the only true voting machines”.

Thus, even as they flit about the stratosphere, shall the gods know that we Irish fully intend to accord with the extractive techo-fantasies of the godly banker-priests.

Since I flatter myself that this is not just a “capital” but also an “artistic” suggestion, do you think I may hope to receive an income tax rebate merely on the grounds that this letter has been published or must I wait until the “artwork” has been “installed” within the confines of our strange “republic”?

Stan Reynolds

Toames West

Macroom,

Co Cork