An opinion piece by Munster Socialist Republican, Mike Edwards.
It is taken for granted by the electorate that under the democratic system of National and Local governance on this island that those in power enter into a social contract with the people they are elected to represent, indeed various political leaders of the parties have been known to use the phrase as aback drop to electioneering and false promises.
Under this supposed contract those in power are supposed to govern based on what is best for the all of the people, the young, old, sick, poor and rich alike, however over the past number of decades I would content that this is far from the truth.
In my opinion the system is not broken and in need of repair or better “governance” as the political party’s claim at each election, the system is built this way and all its inequities are deliberate as is the way in which the system is applied to the various sections of society.
Education, as always is under immense resources pressure with those least well able to afford it suffering the most, party’s trot out various statistics and reports but the sad and bitter reality is that those unfortunate enough to rely on social welfare and the working poor continue to be the worst represented by any real measure of equality, having said that one union is trying hard to make big strides in the early years education program for toddlers and staff alike.
Health, everyone sees and understands the bleak picture that is health, many argue the realities of a two tier system is not the reason for the rich and powerful having better access, but the under resourcing and political corruption that is health policy on this island is a disgusting blight and pain inducing for our ill and dying!
Housing, goes from debacle to debacle and how can any political party say they have done or tried enough, the rush by those with the economic might and political ear of the party’s have grown fat and continue to grow fatter on the misery of parents and children alike, the very deliberate move to developing private for profit housing and the closing down of any effective social housing is going to leave a legacy of social deprivation which our families and society in general will feel for decades to come, the only light at the end of this tunnel, a group of volunteers mandated by the Revolutionary Workers Council to acquisition empty building for use by the homeless under the banner Revolutionary Housing League, and yet they are targeted for violent response by the forces of the State in the form of uniformed Garda, and plain clothes special branch for surveillance and intimidation.
Now, Political party’s and elections, the real reason as an island we are unequal, many around the island are lamenting and beating their chests over yet another pay rise for td’s, claiming surprise and anger, This pay rise we are told is to ensure that we get the best people for the job, Banking CEO’s were paid Millions and their greed crashed the Country, community activists who are paid nothing run vast social inclusion clubs, groups, charities, sports clubs, those clubs and groups go from strength to strength………………
We can all complain and worry about what is the future for our children and our communities, but if we continue to pander to those who don’t just neglect us but side-line our issues nothing will change!
The issue of the failed entity known as the Stormont Assembly, a partitionist, collaborationist entity use to prop up and maintain the occupation and oppression of the working class is clear evidence of a lack of social contract not just in a system sense but ultimately in a party political representation sense, salaries collected, expenses collected all the while the people who remain unrepresented fall deeper and deeper in to the trap of abject poverty and despondency with little real hope of effective representation until such time as there is the real and unequivocal opportunity for equality and justice.