O'Toole criticized the parish pump mentality and lambasted cute hoorism. He savaged the clinic system and demanded an end to multi-seat constituencies and a fundamental realignment in party politics.
Undoubtedly he is correct in some respects but in reality he is an elitist and a theoretician. The clinic system keeps politicians in touch with the requirements of the electorate. This is something which Fintan would not understand. Ending mult-seat constituencies would be undemocratic and would skew the results of elections in a manner similar to the UK. There the Lib Dems can secure 20% of the vote and yet end up with a very low proportion of seats. O'Toole has a leftist political agenda-something which he failed to declare. He took a cheap shot at FG leader Enda Kenny. O'Toole wants a left wing government. He has contempt for an electorate which in the main votes for centre right parties. We must do Fintan's bidding apparently. Tonight Fintan hectored and lectured not alone the politicians but also the electorate.
Spain and Britain have political systems polarized on a left right basis so beloved of O'Toole. The Spanish and British economies have been run into the ground by their Socialist governments. Fintan O'Toole needs to divest himself of his Socialist dogma and go back to the drawing board. He is out of touch on many issues.
3 comments:
@John
Last night's Late Late was possibly the most refreshing discussion of politics I've witnessed in 15 years.
What was so embarrassing was that not one TD even understood the points being raised by Fintan and Nell, never mind responded.
There is a world of difference between connecting with the electorate as a friendly social worker and engaging with citizens' aspirations for society.
anemeconomy
Fintan O'Toole argued for a left right divide. Take a look at the economic mess in England and Spain where we have a clear left right divide. Socialists are in power in both countries. His arguments are twenty years out of date.
O'Toole believes in a nanny state.
Nell McCafferty spoke about citizens advice bureaux. Citizens advice bureaux are few and far between. Nell McCafferty got her figures on Social Welfare wrong.
Populist rantings and cheap shots do not solve problems.
O'Toole has a left wing agenda. He should stop pretending that he is adopting a balanced approach to the various political parties. He is anti FG.
Your example of Britain (we'll leave Spain aside for the time being) is flawed as 'New Labour' are self-proclaimed centrists and it was this move to the centre that reduced the effect of the British parlimentary system and leaves subjects of the state with no proper choice, similar to what Irish citizens have suffered from since the formation of the state.
No one is asking for polar opposites; communists against facists or anything like that. Just a clear divide in political agenda and idealogy and a move away from the 'Coke and Pepsi politics' that exists in the country today. How much of a choice do you believe informed people have?
Regards
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