Forming a government: Votes set the agenda, not politicians

It is a recurring theme in our public life.

The conservatism, and psychological and emotional entrenchment of our main political parties often lags far behind the public mood, and the electorate’s enthusiasm — and gnawing hunger — for groundbreaking change. The once-in-a-lifetime mandate for reform given to Fine Gael and Labour in February 2011, was an example of that hunger, though, predictably, real reform was not delivered. We are stuck in a backward-looking construct again, even talking about Dáil reform as if the process, rather than the intent, was the issue.

The one-dimensional objectives of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil — power at almost any cost (let’s not pretend there is any other) — have defined politics as tribal, rather than as a positive, transformative process. This polarisation has been destructive, petty, often nasty, and is the main contributor to the dysfunction of this society. There is hardly a problem — housing, health-provision, a creaking education system, a dreadful lack of preparation for climate change, rural and white-collar crime, the list is extensive — that could not be far better tackled by a united, centrist party, coalition, partnership, call it what you will.