SOMETIMNES LETTERS GET THROUGH

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Now the old, borrowed  and possibly outdated model of government, biggest party in power,and an Opposition, having caused injustice and conflict in Belfast, is  threatening  continual war and possible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The old second-hand   and possibly outdated model of government ( biggest party takes  power, the rest in  opposition )  having caused injustice and conflict in  Belfast  and  now threatening  continual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 ?