There’s
a very fine line between riding the crest of a wave and drowning in your
self-importance. It’s a strange game to want to participate in and to those
that do, I readily tip my hat, as you really can never win. Dammed if you do
and dammed if you don’t.
I
suppose that our political glitterati, live their lives on the basis that
today’s headlines, are tomorrow’s fish supper wrappings. Any bad PR will soon
be forgotten, as we the voting public, their employers, move onto the next
important topic in our lives. Now that may well be “Love Island” or 24/7 cardio
care at University Hospital Waterford. We are soon distracted and if we are to
be brutally honest, we’ll forget the very images that made us say “I’ll never
vote for him/her again!”
Remember
the recent referendum photography of the 14 Waterford Councillors, standing to
attention, outside the City Hall? Proclaiming their entitlement as men, to “Vote
NO!” There was public outcry. A bombardment of social media indignation,
ridiculing the image and the messaging contained within that framed photograph.
Just how many will recall this picture, when they come a knocking next May, for
your local council vote? I have no doubt that they wish this imagery to quietly
disappear. Secretly hoping that no new candidates will come forward, to remind
Waterford’s voting public of this ill-informed, error in judgment.
A
term in office, brings out the very best and worst in some of our
representatives. No doubt many go into the dark world of politics with their
eyes closed. Their rose tinted glasses are very rapidly removed, dropped on the
ground and stood on. They are then consumed by either party politics or the
promise of more money. A Junior Ministerial post perhaps, a Chair of a
Committee? Or better still, the guarantee of delivering on their manifesto
promises for their constituents? Deals are undoubtedly being brokered, in the dark
dank corridors of power, at Leinster House.
Crafty
politicians barter a better deal and deliver with no fuss. No pomp and
certainly no media ceremony. They just deliver for their adoring public and
then move on to the next item on the agenda. Keeping it fresh and unsullied is
the key to keeping your media presence performing at the highest levels.
We’ve
heard many say that we need to be ready to benefit economically, from that
everlasting soap opera that is “Brexit”. The reality is, that Ireland is the
last thing on the UK Government’s mind. Whilst the Conservative party
continually glues itself back together, using the Blue Peter method of sticky
backed plastic and coat hangers, said party leading the charge, is self-imploding.
Leading figures are going, but they’ve not gone yet. Enjoying shouting louder
than ever from Common’s backbenches.
You
have to wonder if Brexit will just disappear on the back of a leadership
challenge or maybe even another election? Will we see “Brentry” the UK’s next
political milestone? What will be, will be and we in Waterford, need our
charges to focus on the here and now.
Brexit
may well be another distraction for our TDs, ignoring what’s needed closer to
home. We can’t in truth influence the Tory Party’s stance on leaving the EU. They’ll
obviously be dead set on protecting themselves, whilst looking after their own
voters. After all, it is a much tougher electoral system in the UK. First past
the post and no multi-seat constituencies.
Maybe
we need to make it harder for TDs to be elected and reduce the representation
to reflect the population size? That way, a single elected TD would have to
represent ALL views and opinions to earn their keep. They’d have to deliver to
survive.
Squeezing
the Brexit pimple, is proving much harder than anyone imagined.
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