(The Nationalist, 03 May 2002)
There is to be a general election in the Republic. It’s decision-time, when the public have the opportunity of rendering judgment on the politicians that have served them for the last five years, and of choosing a team for the years ahead.
I can’t help feeling admiration for those brave souls who stand as candidates, in the knowledge that they are letting themselves in for a lot of flak, some of it fair, but some unfair, untrue and unkind. A wise man said, ‘Unfair criticism arouses reasonable resentment, and increases the difficulty of creating an atmosphere receptive of new ideas’.
I take an interest in politics, but not in a million years would I think of trying to become a politician; I don’t have the personality. I bow to you, ladies and gentlemen, because I have a soft spot for you in my heart, and believe that most of you are not without idealism but want to render some service to the public.
When voting day comes, I’ll make my decision and cast my vote. It may be difficult, but I’ll make the effort to do it. I feel ashamed that, in the 1998 vote on the Good Friday Agreement, 44% of those eligible in the Republic did not vote. Just think of that: you and I had the opportunity as individuals of getting off the fence, taking a stand, putting our effort where our mouth was, of saying yes or no to a chance of bringing an end to a conflict that killed more than 3,500 people in our country, and what happened? Only a little more than half of us – 56% – made the effort to vote. Shame on us, the voters. Let us not be too quick to condemn politicians for their failings. There is no democracy without democrats.
In the election I’ll make my choice on the basis of the five P’s: the personalities, the parties, the priorities (mine, not theirs), the performance (whether in office or in opposition), and the policies (or promises) – and roughly in that order of priority. Maybe I should have added another ‘P’. No, not the pothole outside my door, but the public good. Take time to think.