Here are two letters,
the first sent to The Irish Times, Dublin , the
second to The Irish News, Belfast.
The Irish Times did not print this one :
Sir,
Some years ago I accompanied Father Alex Reid in
conversation with Dr Garret Fitzgerald. During this conversation I suggested
that the next logical development in democratic representation should be that
all parties are included in government. Dr Fitzgerald reacted vehemently to
this , said No, No, the only acceptable
form of government is a majority party in govermemt plus an Opposition. And
that, unhappily, was that, until of course in Belfast a power sharing administration was
set up not because it was a logical development of politics but in order to get
some means of avoiding worse.
Now the old, borrowed
and possibly outdated model of government, biggest party in power,and an
Opposition, having caused injustice and conflict in Belfast,
is threatening continual war and possible dissolution for
the USA and creating alarm and despondency in Dublin.
Nobody goes out on voting day to vote his or her party or candidate into Opposition or
exclusion. Therefore the next logical step is to give the electorate what the
electorate wants – how many times have we heard
that in recent weeks ? - and what it wants is inclusion in government.
The old model of government seems to be played out. Is it
not time for a radical, democratic and intellectually sound model to be put in
its place?
It would of course require major , and for some people
perhaps frightening, changes. But why should
a fully representative government
not be put in place now for a fixed term , able and willing to address, as well
as day to day matters, the
Constitutional question of replacing the tired old political party model
with something new which would test and
strengthen those politicians who really want discussion, honourable compromise
and exchange , bringing into play the often
dormant intellectual potential of many politicians and
sending party whips off gardening ?
The Irish News did print this one :
Sir,
The old second-hand
and possibly outdated model of government ( biggest party takes power, the rest in opposition )
having caused injustice and conflict in
Belfast and now threatening continual war and worse for the USA
has recently been creating alarm and despondency in Dublin.
It’s not working.
The old model of
government with opposition seems to be played out. Is it not time for a
radical, democratic and intellectually sound model to be put in its place?
Nobody goes out on voting day to vote his or her party or candidate into Opposition or
exclusion. Therefore the next logical step in democratic representation is to
give the electorate what the electors want
and what the electors want is
inclusion in government. Let’s all have it then.
Of course that
involves major , and for some people perhaps frightening, changes. But
why , by way of good example from politicians who are now wrangling in Dublin,
should a fully representative government not be put in place there for a fixed term , able and willing to
address, as well as day to day matters,
the Constitutional question of replacing the tired old political party
model with something new which would
test and strengthen those politicians who really want discussion, honourable
compromise and exchange , bringing into
play the often dormant intellectual potential of many politicians and
sending party whips off gardening ?
