Government has no power to undo Budget

We can march till the cows come home, we can vent our national spleen to Joe Duffy on the radio, and we can waste acres of forests writing to the papers. All to no avail.

The Government will not reverse the brutal aspects of the Budget, because they don’t have the freedom.

They have been forced by the Troika to embark on a destructive economic policy without consideration of the consequences for Irish society.

They target the elderly, the infirm and the young, while cushioning themselves and the rich.

The sleight of hand in the budget to protect the mega-pensions of politicians, judges, and senior civil servants is another case in point.

So, what’s to be done?

Unfortunately, the Irish people have been obsequious and docile in accepting financial responsibility for the failures and greed of the political class, bankers and insiders.

To add insult to injury, those who caused our problems are now employing jack-boot tactics to force an illusory market-based solution, irrespective of the long-term societal damage.

We have, of course, the ballot box next May, for the local and European elections, and, hopefully, we will vent our anger democratically on those who destroyed our economy and on those who made it worse.

That begs the question: who to vote for? Polls show a groundswell of opinion in favour of a shift away from the failed party political system towards a new movement prepared to put the people and the country before party, and before power for power’s sake.

It is surely time for those serious politicians, and advocates with experience and integrity, to get off the fence and present themselves to the electorate as a viable alternative, before it is too late.

Your country needs you, at this crucial juncture in our history, more than ever.

John Healy

Bishopstown Road

Cork