Blogging from the Bog

   A "well done" to all who voted and exercised their democratic right in the recent election!  A commanding 70% of the eligble voters participated on the 24th of May to choose the members of the 30th Dail.  The people have spoken.

   After the voters heard promises of milk and honey and listened to scary scenarios of inexperience they went to the polls to pay homage.  Totally neglecting the current personal crisis of the party leader Bertie Ahern and the unanswered allegations of financial improprieties, his constituency overwhelmingly re-elected Mr. Ahern to his seat in the Dail, thus guaranteeing a lively spectacle in the upcoming Mahon Tribunal.

   The tribunal has already come under attack from Mr. Ahern’s legal eagles, a defiant position often taken by a weak defence, who turned the tables and went on the offence.  Will this interfere with Bertie putting a coalition government together?   With a cloud of uncertainty hanging over the political, financial and personal integrity of the most popular leader in 20 years we can only wait and see if justice will prevail.

   Meanwhile back in the beyond of Mayo, Enda Kenny will bide his time and try to convince other party leaders to come around to his way of thinking in the hopes of organising an alternative coalition for government. 

   A lot has been said that "all politics is local" and with that in mind I surveyed a few of the smaller newspapers and found there was a vast consensus of distaste with the current political regime.  From top to bottom there seems to be big changes coming.

   With rumblings being heard in all corners of the country it doesn’t look as if the voters will be placated by empty promises and lost opportunities.  Whatever has happened in the last few years, the Irish electorate is finally fed up.  Ineffectual government at all levels will be put on notice this year and for many there will be no returning to office.  Even without all the damaging headlines in the national papers, the tide has definitely turned for some incumbants, and their replacements should be wary.

   Although you need to subscribe (for free) to read these articles it is well worth the effort to see the widespread nature of the dissastifaction.  There is mayhem in Mallow, trouble in Tralee, and Tuam trashes Bertie and others.

   It seems there is an interesting political upheavel in the making, and as the time to election day nears, we will see if the rhetoric translates into votes.

   The Green Party has been right all along with respect to Environmental concerns, public transportation, sensible use of our natural resources, their stand on the nuclear issue, the preservation of our antiquities, climate change and the carbon and waste problems.

   Trevor Sargent, Ciaran Cuffe, John Gormley and others have been first out of the gate on these and many other positions of critical importance.  They stick by their beliefs and should be congratulated in keeping these concepts high on the political and public agenda despite criticisms from others in politics. 

   Most if not all of these concepts are now in the mainstream political ideology adopted by the other parties.  The eight percent of the polled public that favour the Greens in their quest for seats in government is small compensation for the impact they have made.  Though it may be frustrating to have your ideas confiscated by the opposition, the Greens have done us a great service already by speaking up and speaking first.  Good on ya!

   There is a Nuclear Peace Walk that is starting in Dublin on the 13th of May, and an anti-nuclear petition sponsored by the Irish chapter of Friends of the Environment for anyone interested in these items.

   The PD’s are pondering their association with Fianna Fail and Bertie Ahern over his non-disclosure of financial dealings which have become a major issue in the run up to the General Election.

   Michael McDowell, leader of the Progressive Democrats, is revisiting this matter again after seemingly convinced last year by Bertie that all was proper.  In meetings held tonight the PD’s discussed their future in the coalition and decided to consult the Party as a whole before committing to any conclusive actions.

   Trevor Sargent was the first to call for clarification and so now has Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, who asked that Mr. Ahern settle this issue "in the national interest".  Enda "Can he?" Kenny of Fine Gael is staying non-committal on the subject, while Pat Rabbitte of Labour, when asked about the PD’s emergency meeting said, "Michael McDowells’ head is stuck so far up Bertie’s anorak that it hardly matters at this point."

   Bertie is running out of options, as a last desperate attempt to save his seat in government we may actually get Truth and Honesty; but, I am not holding my breath.  In typical Bertie delocution he is quoted as saying, "Many people rent houses, buy houses, they buy houses abroad, summer houses, holiday homes and caravans.  No tribunal is asking them about it."  Is he that out of touch with the reality of the situation?

   On Tuesday the 8th of May the restoration of the devolved Northern Ireland Assembly will commence and among the invited guests is U.S. Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy.  It will be one of the highlights of the year and to be sure Bertie Ahern will score some political points because of his involvement.  Since he participated in negotiations facilitating Sinn Fein’s presence in the Northern government, would he consider exchanging the two-percent PD’s with the eight-percent Sinn Fein in the Republic? making it an All-Island sweep in the one year?

   Are you registered to vote?  Check the register for your details.

   What at first seems like a Proletariat battle cry or a sudden upsurge in work ethic enlightenment, "Work to Rule", is disappointingly mundane.  It simply means to work according to the contract, and as such seems like it should be cleared up in a short time.  Why not?

   Now the rank and file of the Gardai want to stick their nose in the same trough and are eagerly awaiting the governments decision.  Who is next?  The teachers, an Post, transportation workers, or the politicians themselves?

   Who put the extra duties on the nurses in the first place?  If they are doing clerical and administration work over and above their original contract, who was doing that before?  And who will do it now, with or without a new contract?  How did this ever get as far as it did?  Dig out the contracts and read the silly things!

   Despite questionings from the press Bertie Ahern is taking a stern and adament position of silence, until the Mahon Tribunal re-convenes, on his financial dealings.  With total disregard for the people of the nation, the electorate or his own constituency he answered journalists with "I will give my answers to the tribunal".  He will leave the voters and his party in the dark until after the General Election.

   Trevor Sargent of the Green Party is the only politician so far with the cajones to call for explanations now.  Bertie’s own party, Fianna Fail, should be asking him to clear up the controversy before it starts to cast aspersions on their integrity as well.  What kind of people blindly follow someone into government without expecting some sort of clarification on this issue?

   If there is nothing to hide about the suitcase full of money, the house, or the girlfriends’ participation, then why not clear the air now?  It would be innefectual to have a newly re-elected leader of the government embroiled in a tribunal questioning his very integrity for months after the election.

   When further queries concerning his past financial dealings were put to him Mr. Ahern said, "If I answer any questions now there will just be more questions tomorrow."  Which leads me to wonder if any of his answers would be credible or convincing.  Less than three weeks away and we are confronted by a stony silence, which was also his final way of dealing with the press when pushed further about his financial escapades.

   A bit arrogant don’t ya think?  Only answerable to a tribunal and not to us eh Bertie?

   Earth Day passed this year with little or no fanfare on the 22nd of April.  It used to be a great day of voicing our repect of nature and was celebrated throughout the world.  Whatever our differences we have more things in common than not, the survival of the planets’ eco-system for example.  Which gives rise to thoughts on how we inhabit and evolve in this place as temporary custodians.  Racism is born of ignorance and has no place in our evolution.  There is only one Race lads, the Human Race!  And with all its’ variations, strengths and weaknesses, passions, desires, and beliefs has the ability to overcome any obstacles that divide us.

   We seem to be able to "come together" and co-operate with each other whenever any man-made or natural disasters occur.  With all our criticisms of this or that, we forget the pettiness when a Chernobyl or Tsunami happens and become humans in the aid of humans.  On these occasions the best of who we really are comes out into the sunlight and looks wonderful.

   You don’t have to wait until the governments enact laws or treaties and seek peace over highly polished tables.  Unless we are totally apathetic, governments follow the will of the people, not the other way around!  And you don’t have to wait for the next disaster to act.  Surely there is someone in your village, town or city that is having a disaster you could be of some assistance with?  What difference could it possibly make what ethnic or religious background they happen to come from?

   All religions are wonderful and all have issues.  They have developed out of a need for the human race to find the best that is within us, it is a universal pursuit, and a common goal.  If along the way we have lost the plot now and again, so be it, we can learn from our mistakes and move ahead, together and in harmony.

   Make an effort to know and understand the differences in our cultures so we can realise and recognise the similarities.  If we progress in appreciating each other and working together for a better world there is no disaster that can hinder us and no problem we cannot overcome, ecological or otherwise.