Uncomfortable truths

In his dissertation ‘Putting a mirror up to Irish society’ Ivan Yates highlights what he sees as some uncomfortable truths (Opinion, Mar 29).

In choosing our leaders we prefer ‘pragmatic chancers’ over ‘principled politicians’.

In a very severe criticism of the Irish electorate, Ivan Yates asserts that the ‘political modus operandi’ of the politicians who bankrupt the country only mirrored the electorate’s own preferences.

He further declares that, despite all that has happened, ‘the fundamental democratic dynamic of Irish politics’ will be that the politician who promises most will be successful and ‘individual integrity will be secondary and submersible’?

Specifically, he forecasts that whoever promises us the abolition of the household charge will win the next election.

Are his conclusions too pessimistic? Can we not rehabilitate our democratic republic and get the country back on its feet again by insisting on some fundamental principles?

Or will we always be reduced to politicians who have as their principal objective, that of ‘priming the pump at five-year intervals of polling days’?

A Leavy

Sutton

Dublin 13