The Fake Side of Politics

Nothing annoys me more in politics than showings of sheer hypocrisy, whether this may be the candidate who campaigns on family values and is later found to be an adulterer or the statesman who preaches about the need to bring the full brunt of the law upon those who dodge their tax liabilites and yet swindles the State with their own creative accounting. Particularly though what irks me is the sight of any parliamentarian who makes a great piece of drama about walking away from the party they claim to hold so dear because of its violation of some point of uncompromisable principle and yet silently scampers back into the comforts and relative electoral protection of the party once the nation’s press has turned it’s focus to other matters.

Deputy Joe Behan of Wicklow took such action quite early in his career, only elected in 2007 he withdrew from Fianna Fáil over a number of issues during the recent Budget. To refresh your memory, take a look at the some of the points from his resignation letter on the 17th October:

I am appalled at the Government’s decision to end the principle of universality of medical card provision for people over 70 years of age. I am equally appalled at indications from Government Ministers that the principle of universality of provision of other payments, eg child benefit, is also under threat.

…

I have yesterday defended the indefensible refusal yet again by the Government to fund the construction of the Rathnew to Arklow section of the N11, which has seen many tragic and fatal accidents in recent years.

…

I see a number of proposals arising from this week’s Budget and departmental spending programmes which will result in pain and distress being inflicted on the most elderly in our society and, in the case of increased pupil-teacher ratios in our schools, a worsening of the standard of education our pupils will receive.

…

Put simply, the youngest and the oldest in our society are being asked to pay the price for the present financial and budgetary situation.

This is unacceptable to me but I sincerely believe it is also unacceptable to the vast majority of members and public representatives in Fianna Fáil.

…

Little outside of the medical card situation has been changed from issues mentioned in the above letter. Has Deputy Behan’s indignation altered in any manner? One would assume that his apparent revulsion at these budgetary measures would never allow him to once again support the Government. Yet shockingly (or as expected for us more cynical followers of politics) it appears the Deputy is thinking otherwise, from today’s Examiner:

Mr Behan, who dissented on the medical card issue, has signalled he may be ready to return to the FF fold after he voted with the Government over the vaccine issues and said he backed the broad thrust of policies being pursued by Mr Cowen.

The sad reality of Irish politics is that Dáil Eireann shall always be a point of little interest for the vast majority of Irish citizens as long as parish pump politicians continue to feign being creatures of principle whilst engaging in little more than basic political opportunism, seeking out that next headline, placing this ahead of the real national interest.

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Tags: Dáil, Hypocrisy, Joe Behan, Politicans, Politics

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