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MODERN DEMOCRACY, WITH universal male and female suffrage, is only a century old.
It is worth keeping in mind just how new our system of government is when we assess its strengths and weaknesses.
Most of us can remember a time, not that long ago when the superiority of democratic government was almost unquestionable.
In recent times, however, some of its flaws have been revealed. In particular, the rise of misinformation and the willingness of demagogues to tell outlandish lies to voters in the pursuit of power has created a crisis for democracy.
Early democracy
Assuming this storm can be weathered, we should be taking a hard look at all aspects of our system of government and see where improvements can be made for the benefit of society as a whole.
One feature of our government that rarely draws analysis is the fact that most politicians try to make careers out of public service. Many of us simply take it for granted that this is just part of the system of democratic government. But has it always been? And should it continue to be?
It would probably surprise people to learn that members of parliament in Westminster were not paid at all in the 18th and 19th centuries. Many elected officials saw themselves as making a noble sacrifice of their time and efforts for the public good.
Of course, this usually meant that one had to be independently wealthy to support oneself while in parliament. It was precisely to allow people from working-class backgrounds a greater opportunity to be elected to parliament that salaries were introduced for sitting members in 1911.
What incentives?
Few people today would quibble with the idea that elected representatives should be paid for their efforts in government. But the question is whether people should be able to make a career out of holding elected office?
As voters, we want our government to always make decisions for the good of the national interest. But when one is trying to make a career in politics, then there will often be cases where the national interest is at odds with one’s self-interest.
In such a scenario, politicians often make choices that will help them get re-elected rather than being for the common good.
To say this isn’t to deny that many of our politicians want to be good public servants. But it would be foolish to ignore the fact that the self-interest of politicians often interferes with the efficiency of government.
Evidence of this can be found readily overseas and at home.
One of the most obvious examples is the control that former US President Donald Trump continues to wield over the Republican Party in the United States. Many Republican politicians who repeat the rants of the former president do so in the knowledge that much of what they say is not true.
But they know that to challenge what Trump says is to commit political hari-kari. So they bend the knee and tell the tall tale. This is the smart move for their political careers. We wait to see what damage this will do to their nation in the long run.
It was ever thus
Political self-interest has also played a major role in stymieing the political system in Northern Ireland.
Why did it take almost four years after the IRA ceasefire in 1994 to hammer out a political settlement to the Troubles? Because politicians, not all but some, were afraid that being seen to compromise would be kryptonite to their future electoral success.
This has also been perhaps the single biggest factor behind the constant grandstanding and brinkmanship that has plagued the province’s politics since the Good Friday Agreement.
At home, the most controversial political topic in recent decades was the constitutional ban on abortion.
Since the turn of the 21st century, it was obvious there was a growing demand for a new referendum to repeal the 8th amendment. But a majority of Irish politicians avoided throwing their weight behind such a campaign until the public demand was overwhelming.
Eventually, a referendum was held and the 8th was repealed. But pro-choice advocates would argue that there were years of unnecessary suffering for thousands of Irish women before politicians were willing to grasp the nettle.
While all of the above issues are significant, the most crucial way in which political self-interest has hindered the ability of liberal democracies to meet the challenges that face them is in response to the climate change crisis.
Shedding the old model
Across the world, politicians have shown themselves unwilling to take meaningful measures to offset the issues confronting humanity due to a warming planet.
Our current political system is particularly disadvantaged in tackling climate change. Politicians have little appetite for introducing changes that will be unpopular in the short term, regardless of how necessary they may be in the long term.
Of course, it is easy to point out the problem in a system. But what is the solution?
The most obvious idea is introducing term limits for elected officials.
This certainly has merit. Without the need to worry about re-election, elected officials would be guided less by self-interest and one eye on the polls in their decision making and have greater freedom to govern in the national interest.
Of course, that would also require a wider cultural change in Irish society whereby more people are willing to take a career break and put themselves forward for public service in representative government.
One reason the public has lost faith in democratic institutions is the belief that political leaders are only looking after themselves. Creating a system that prevents individuals from making a career out of politics would go a long way to restoring confidence that our government is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.
Caoimhín De Barra is an assistant professor of history at Gonzaga University, Washington.
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FG promise alot and deliver a lot less!
@John Paul Long: Fianna Fail are the only party to vote for
@John Paul Long: these pluckers will sell there soul (if they still have one)for votes,,,
@John Paul Long: FG promised to abolish USC in 2016, it’s still here. They are promising childcare, but rejected this when SF put the bill before them very recently. They had their chance. Change the government.
@Fintan Pox: A bunch of incompetent liars who have wrecked this country numerous times as they line their pockets fintan
@Jb Walshe: we are not going to get SF led government
@Fintan Pox: we will have to wait you plucking dumbo
@james rowan: didn’t fianna fail sell a kidney? Oh sorry, they just robbed all the money collected for one of there TDs transplant operations a few years back. Good old fianna fail.
@F1rYnpWc: well done, excellent points
@Fintan Pox: keep dreaming on your all the same
@F1rYnpWc: They have found the magic money tree (that doesn’t exist) and there’s something for everyone in the audience.
@John Paul Long: Why is it that all these false promises are made before an election?
Dishonest shower of $cumbag$.
@Michael o connor: i know one major thing they robbed on me 7% of my pension back in 2008/9 pluckers the lot of them,,,
@Manni: For votes simple as that.
@Paul Linehan: Do ya mean the Magic Apple tree ? The one that FFG used for ‘a one for everybody in the audience- budget to buy your vote .. the same Magic Apple tree they’re basing all their false promises on in the run up to the election.. give over with this magic money tree malarkey, people going on about that embarrassing themselves at this stage.
@Brian: Hey Briany relax, the magic money tree is the mantra used by the FF & FG bots. I was just pointing out that if it doesn’t exist when other parties make proposals, how come one pops up in their garden on every election year.
The maternity hospitals will need more millions to fund the influx from Europe for this
@Ger Byrne: FG announced their immigration plan is to build more IPA centers and have asylum seekers partly contribute to their accommodation! That’s FG’s immigration plan! Talk about out of TOUCH!
@F1rYnpWc: there is no discernible difference in the immigration policy of all the main parties – all agree that 1) immigration is a good thing, 2) we must meet our international obligations with regard to asylum seekers, 3) there will be no cap on asylum seekers. There are nuanced differences, with FG talking of investing in the claim process, chartering deportation flights, building IPAS centres – this last one seems to have particularly grabbed your attention, as if SF would do anything different. SF policy seems to be the creation of a new agency, but nothing radically different. Each party are effectively saying that would implement the same policy, only more efficiently than their rival party
@Kevin Kerr: have FG’s approach to immigration hindered it or make it flourish? It’s time to change the government. SF have an in-depth immigration policy
@F1rYnpWc: but not saying where they will build them
@Ger Byrne: Well spotted Ger. Methinks it won’t be decent, honest Irish working parents that will be the main beneficiaries, but it will become another welfare scam.
“P-please vote for us. We’ll give you MONEY, just pleeeeeease vote for us, pretty please”.
@Adomas Mockus: your own money to boot
Empty promises as usual
What good is €1000 a baby when our youth can’t afford their own home? Vote anybody but FFG. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. FFG have sold housing, an essential fabric of any society, to foreign funds and investment trusts looking to turn a profit on our people. They have architected a demographic timebomb which will lead to the collapse of the public pension due to youth emigration, and lack of having kids because housing is so unaffordable. Vote anybody but FFG, two cheeks of the same unwiped hole. Give them no preference and vote all the way down the list otherwise.
@Sean Stevenson: It’s actually pretty easy to understand, I believe:
Other parties were targeting the low income voters and even more,
the demographic that never worked or their goal is to be, at least officially, a single mum and depending on SW.
So, this demographic can still pop babies, live their SW depending lives, but will get 1 grand extra.
I don’t think it will do much for working people, but I might be wrong.
@Sean Stevenson: it wont go on the baby, it will be a nice holiday for the parents
FG’s immigration plan has committed to building more designated IPA centers, and to have asylum seeks contribute financially if they can. THAT is his plan! SF will setup an immigration management agency, I will vote for a SF/Ind led govt. FG has failed every sector and sold off homeownership so that our houses are becoming increase fund-owned.
@F1rYnpWc: you are obsessed with FG lol
I have Trollfiles muted so it only shows a blank space where a caught troll commented. Don’t feed the troll folks :)
Is it me, or does this election and the buckets of “promises” feel like offers from Mr.Price/Dealz/Eurogiant?
@wwvCLOuF: not at all alike. The companies you listed always deliver on their price promises as they are legally mandated to do so.
Hopefully home owners will help out their fellow citizens and not vote for FF FG
@Alex Kane: they will help our country by solely voting for FG and FF.
You are in power now, why hasn’t it been done already.
Don’t believe a word of it. Spoofers the whole lot of them
Does anybody believe Any of these promises from Any party, or question the cost of Any of these manifestoes
@RIP: not only that… even if they tried, they couldn’t deliver. Clare Daly won’t make bs promises like these because she’s got integrity & is discerning of her voters.
@wwvCLOuF: not that I’m pushing Clare. Just the whole thing seems like a circus at this point.
All the tax reductions in the last few years, plus the [air quotes] promised tax cuts will mean that sooner or later taxes will have to be raised again. I’m due to retire in 8 years. My guess is that taxes will be rising again by that time (to plug all the financial gaps left by political parties trying to buy their way into government and to stay there at the next elections).
BEWARE OF POLITICIANS BEARING FALSE PROMISES.
Oh they promise now, why not last year. Anything to get elected
Why didn’t they do it all along ??? I want them out and so does most of the country
@M G: But 82% don’t want SF.
Whaf is FG policy on immigration?
@r k: what ever your having yourself.
@rk: it doesn’t let me post links but Google FG will introduce a contribution model for asylum seekers. Takes you to a FG’s website that states FG “values migration. We see the benefit of it every single day”.
Oh my days extortion from the top, this government will do anything.
Ya ya sure we just had a budget could of done all that then will ya go away
This election is turning into a farce. Can’t take any of the large parties seriously when they’re making promises they can’t keep. FG are really scraping the bottom of the barrel at this point.
As long as they keep interfering with the housing market with these grants costs will continue to rise!
We would have extra money in our pocket if these recycled politicians keep their promises. But given their untrustworthiness in the last government I will never believe a single word from them.
Vote monk
@Fintan Pox: Breaking the law has never been a barrier to people getting elected in this country. I’m sure even a career serious criminal like The Monk will get a significant vote (even if he doesn’t get elected). Which just confirms that the Irish public are part of the problem, not the helpless victims of the nature of this society.
1000 Euros for every baby… baby.
Get these energy companies to lower their standing charges and will ya lower the PSO levy too , energy credits do feck all long term
I’m just waiting for them to promise a chicken in every pot.
At least rthis election should see the back of deep pockets Martin…
And a partridge in a pear tree……..
How to buy an election.
We can comment on Harris and his false promises but can’t comment on Gerry Hutch and his vision for the inner city? Is this a democratic or media controlled election?
The sea has parted everything is up for grabs.
Looking forward to Free Everything, all the parties promises, meaning we won’t have to pay for anything. Our Political Class across the board would surely never mislead us or lie to us & have the honesty & integrity to honor all these promises.
Has anybody ever compiled a list of previous election promises that weren’t followed through?
Amazing that people keep voting in these frauds. The Zionists of Ireland.
All talk nothing changed can’t be trusted FF OR FG or none of them l ask the question what party is going to put more money into the working man wallet
@Alan Moloney: FG and FF have, and will continue to do so by leading the next Govt.
@Johnny Wilson: will you keep dreaming on and wake up l’m a working guy and give me nothing
More fake promises from Simple Simon and his shower of big-spending cronies in Fine Gael. Again, it’s the exact same as them coming out with their big proposals to tackle crime. You are in power with a majority right now, why did you wait nearly 15 years to come out with these proposals? Why have you done literally nothing productive or beneficial so far in government and that you only wait for an election to give a fake outline of what you are pretending that you’re going to do?
At lease this election should see the end of deep pockets Martin, his ray ells friend….,
I’ll promise the same if you vote for me. Also I’d have no tax on the OT you do.
They should all be wearing Santa hats with all this promise of gifting going forward. At least Santa is real and keeps his promises unlike these charlatans.
They had 4 Years. Tell me why they couldn’t do it then and no doubt excuses will be plenty when they won’t be able to do so later. Time for Energy Capping for All Energy Companies. Competition ISN’T Working.
Like all other times. Promise everything, do and deliver nothing. LIARS all.
Comments closed on McGahon, he’s an animal and only Fine Gael would acceot his actions, not the first time either, chocolate bars and all that.
@Brian D’Arcy: who was found innocent in a criminal court. As for animals, just look to Provo/SF.
1000 a baby when young couples can’t afford their own home. Ff and fg have made Ireland it very hard to live in with cost living crisis and if have a family heaven forbid need a doctor unrealistic get appointment for over a week . Ffg have had so much time in government and voting them back in will be wrong.
Ok a 1000 a baby when young couples can’t afford their own home. Ff and fg have made Ireland the very hard to live in with cost living crisis and if have a family heaven forbid need a doctor unrealistic get appointment for over a week . Ffg have had so much time in government and voting them back in will be wrong.
A thousand euro for every baby born on Ireland is he for real
To quote Grampa Simpson – GIMME FREE STUFF. I WANT FREE STUFF !!!
The bruv tells me that P.B.F. promised him free transport, medical care, childcare & education.
That seems to be the most free stuff, so it’s P.B.F. for me – followed I’d imagine about 12 months later by the I.M.F.
I’m trying very hard not to see this election as a farce….but it sure ain’t easy
You can’t do profligate spending and decrease taxes at the same time, the maths leads to ruin!
Minister for Justice supports a hairy boy in Louth constituency
Liars that’s how desperate they are to cling onto power his the shortest t/shirt in the party never elected by the people he’d do better by changing that and by promising to do so people might believe him then
@liam ward: he was elected Taoiseach by the Dail, same as every other Taoiseach.
@Johnny Wilson: He scraped in by the skin of his teeth in the previous election. He doesn’t represent me.
I’m sorry to say this but they’re beginning to sound like the Science Fiction party. They really shouldn’t do that, instead just get on with things.
They are all the same, they would do a deal with the devil to stay in power….
Does this gob shite Harris even realise that under EU law you can only have 2 vat rates?. If he cuts 13.5% to 11% he will have to put the 23% to 25% yo make up the shortfall.Maybe he will up paye. The giìmp doesn’t know what he is saying but willing to waste our tax monies looking after his hotelier and pub friends.
What good is 1000 quid when you spend that on crèche costs average 700+ per month? Unless there are policies put in place to make it easier for both parents to work and have child care then that 1000 quid is as useless as that bike shed we have at Leinster house.
Blah blah blah, EU/ WEF out, anyone else IN
Sounds like To Putin trying to get a breeding program going
Let’s beat England to give us a boost and the hope of good leadership for the island of Ireland.
@Phillip Smyth: ya right
@Phillip Smyth: optimistic.
@Phillip Smyth: 5 0
FG are pretty impressive, convinced the nation it was a giveaway budget last October (it was the same as previous budgets, zero for the taxpayer), and have returned to power election after election while never delivering promises.
Vast majority of people must be crazy, they expect something different but always vote the same. Nothing will change if you don’t change your vote.
We are overpopulated. Why would you pay people 1000 euro to have babies. It’s utterly ridiculous. Why don’t you look after mental health reform like you’ve been promising for years or fund the HSE properly so people can get the treatment they need without waiting years for it. Fine Gael are a disgrace
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