Having read Lorraine Courtney’s piece on the elections (‘We should have given Fine Gael bloody nose over inept handling of housing crisis’, Irish Independent, May 27), one felt like apologising for having the temerity to vote on issues other than those which Ms Courtney dictates we should have.
Indeed, perhaps it hasn’t crossed her mind that some voters might have decided that the proposals of the Opposition parties on the housing crisis were not workable?
In any event, when one considers the voter turnout in the Greater Dublin Area – which is suffering most from this crisis – was considerably lower than the rest of the country, maybe she might have been better directing her ire at those who did not vote rather than those who exercised their democratic right.
Please log in or register with Independent.ie for free access to this article.
Log In
New to Independent.ie? Create an account
Brian Collins
Askeaton, Co Limerick
There’s no excuse for not taking part in democracy
Christy Galligan (Letters, May 28) is concerned about the ethics of some elected politicians.
I am more concerned about the large number of voters who refused to vote in any election. For example, in my native Co Sligo with 57,297 enrolled voters, on Friday last, 23,268 voters could not be bothered to cast their vote.
In my opinion, those who refuse to participate in the democratic process are the people who should “reflect on ‘their’ own set of values”.
The “cute hoors” involved in Irish politics are well aware they can count on the abstainers to get elected.
Your vote is invaluable and was hard fought for over many generations to ensure you could cast it safely, peacefully and confidentially.
With proportional representation, you have as many votes as there are candidates.
Declan Foley
Berwick, Australia
If you can protest about Trump, what about Charles?
Why is it that those who protested most vociferously at the Government’s invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit Ireland, then remained silent during the recent visit to Ireland of Prince Charles, the colonel-in-chief of the British army’s parachute regiment?
One could be forgiven for thinking it was US soldiers, not British paras, who were responsible for the killings of 11 innocent people in Ballymurphy in August 1971 and the 14 civil rights marchers in Derry on Bloody Sunday in 1972.
Why the double standards?
Tom Cooper
Templeogue, Dublin 6
Best advice is to hold on tight for a ride on the roundabout
On the basis that what goes around, comes around should a certain Fine Gael swinger be advised to avoid roundabouts?
Dr Mary Frances Rogan
Annaghdown, Co Galway
Greens’ support will go when voters are hit in their pockets
There is a complete contradiction in the surge in support for the Green Party and debate about climate change, and the fact that only a few years ago a mass movement of protests led to the scrapping of water charges.
I had no problem in principle with the concept of water charges where people paid a modest charge and were penalised for wastage/excessive usage. I withdrew my support for the charges when a flat rate was brought in.
Yet many of the people who took part in the water charge protests have now attended events highlighting climate change and/or support their children taking part in the young people’s protests on the matter.
How do you explain that logic to a 10-year-old?
People tend to latch on to popular movements. Climate change awareness is the flavour of the year right now, just as the water protests were the popular movement a few years ago. The fact that there is an inherent contraction in this seems to be lost on many people.
I wonder how long the green surge will last, particularly when it affects people’s pockets. People’s pockets being plundered was the unravelling of the water charges.
Tommy Roddy
Lower Salthill, Galway
Bord na Móna gives whole new meaning to ‘up in smoke’
If Bord na Móna produce cannabis, won’t it give a whole new meaning to the term “a bale of briquettes”?
John Williams
Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Source: Read Full Article
Home » Analysis & Comment » Letters to the Editor: 'Anger should be directed at all those who didn't vote'
Letters to the Editor: 'Anger should be directed at all those who didn't vote'
Having read Lorraine Courtney’s piece on the elections (‘We should have given Fine Gael bloody nose over inept handling of housing crisis’, Irish Independent, May 27), one felt like apologising for having the temerity to vote on issues other than those which Ms Courtney dictates we should have.
Indeed, perhaps it hasn’t crossed her mind that some voters might have decided that the proposals of the Opposition parties on the housing crisis were not workable?
In any event, when one considers the voter turnout in the Greater Dublin Area – which is suffering most from this crisis – was considerably lower than the rest of the country, maybe she might have been better directing her ire at those who did not vote rather than those who exercised their democratic right.
Please log in or register with Independent.ie for free access to this article.
Log In
New to Independent.ie? Create an account
Brian Collins
Askeaton, Co Limerick
There’s no excuse for not taking part in democracy
Christy Galligan (Letters, May 28) is concerned about the ethics of some elected politicians.
I am more concerned about the large number of voters who refused to vote in any election. For example, in my native Co Sligo with 57,297 enrolled voters, on Friday last, 23,268 voters could not be bothered to cast their vote.
In my opinion, those who refuse to participate in the democratic process are the people who should “reflect on ‘their’ own set of values”.
The “cute hoors” involved in Irish politics are well aware they can count on the abstainers to get elected.
Your vote is invaluable and was hard fought for over many generations to ensure you could cast it safely, peacefully and confidentially.
With proportional representation, you have as many votes as there are candidates.
Declan Foley
Berwick, Australia
If you can protest about Trump, what about Charles?
Why is it that those who protested most vociferously at the Government’s invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit Ireland, then remained silent during the recent visit to Ireland of Prince Charles, the colonel-in-chief of the British army’s parachute regiment?
One could be forgiven for thinking it was US soldiers, not British paras, who were responsible for the killings of 11 innocent people in Ballymurphy in August 1971 and the 14 civil rights marchers in Derry on Bloody Sunday in 1972.
Why the double standards?
Tom Cooper
Templeogue, Dublin 6
Best advice is to hold on tight for a ride on the roundabout
On the basis that what goes around, comes around should a certain Fine Gael swinger be advised to avoid roundabouts?
Dr Mary Frances Rogan
Annaghdown, Co Galway
Greens’ support will go when voters are hit in their pockets
There is a complete contradiction in the surge in support for the Green Party and debate about climate change, and the fact that only a few years ago a mass movement of protests led to the scrapping of water charges.
I had no problem in principle with the concept of water charges where people paid a modest charge and were penalised for wastage/excessive usage. I withdrew my support for the charges when a flat rate was brought in.
Yet many of the people who took part in the water charge protests have now attended events highlighting climate change and/or support their children taking part in the young people’s protests on the matter.
How do you explain that logic to a 10-year-old?
People tend to latch on to popular movements. Climate change awareness is the flavour of the year right now, just as the water protests were the popular movement a few years ago. The fact that there is an inherent contraction in this seems to be lost on many people.
I wonder how long the green surge will last, particularly when it affects people’s pockets. People’s pockets being plundered was the unravelling of the water charges.
Tommy Roddy
Lower Salthill, Galway
Bord na Móna gives whole new meaning to ‘up in smoke’
If Bord na Móna produce cannabis, won’t it give a whole new meaning to the term “a bale of briquettes”?
John Williams
Clonmel, Co Tipperary
Source: Read Full Article