#GE16 letter - Think of Connolly’s words before you vote

Michael A Moriarty's letter to the editor has been one of our more popular stories today so we have reproduced it here for your consideration. 

Now that the General Election date has been set, and those elected will shortly pay tribute to those Irish men and women who took part in the rebellion of 1916, I suggest people should consider the words of James Connolly when he said:

“If you remove the English army tomorrow and hoist the green flag over Dublin Castle, unless you set about the organisation of the Socialist Republic your efforts would be in vain.

“England would still rule you. She would rule you through her capitalists, through her landlords, through her financiers, through the whole army of commercial and individualist institutions she has planted in this country watered with the tears of our mothers and the blood of our martyrs.”

I suggest our politicians have failed to act in the common good by pandering to capitalists, landlords, financiers, commercial institutions, European politicians at the expense of the Irish citizen.

My first question to those in Government will be “why have you failed to protect the law-abiding citizens from capitalists, landlords, financiers, commercial and individualist institutions?”

My second question will be “why have you failed to protect the elderly, the young and the vulnerable of our society?

My next question will be: “Why is nobody in government or government service held accountable for their actions?

We need to let the politicians know our views and I appeal to all registered voters to cast your vote — whoever you choose to vote for.

Remember, we get the politicians we deserve and we deserve the politicians we get.

Michael A Moriarty

Rochestown

Cork