Government of all political colours

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern’s recent Damascus Road-style conversion to socialist principles was a shock to the body politic, and not least to the formerly isolated TD, ‘Red’ Joe Higgins.

His only suit of clothes disappeared into Bertie’s wardrobe quicker than you could say ‘Joe Stalin.’

That Bertie’s diktat was followed by Tánaiste Mary Harney’s guarantee of jobs for life for all superfluous State employees - health sector workers, Aer Lingus, etc - is even more authoritarian and pure Marxist dogma.

What a remarkable administration that can combine communism, capitalism and cronyism in one cohesive and credible collective.

Thank heaven our non-nuclear status disqualifies us from membership of the US ‘axis of evil’ hit-list.

John McDermott

Puerto Rico

Gran Canaria

Spain