Contradictory democratic discourse

Daily, the pre-budget media coverage highlights the demands for taxpayers’ money by every vested interest in the country. At the same time, the media keep warning us that it would be irresponsible to have any element of auction politics in the run up to an election.

To put perspective on this present contradictory democratic discourse, it is interesting to compare it with situations such as Ireland during the boom and present-day Greece.

Firstly we could look at the auction politics that characterised elections in the past. The run-up to the post-2000 boom-time elections saw significant budgetary spending increases that can only be dreamed about today. In contrast to what is happening now, however, these were given relatively favourable media coverage then.