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Beware politicians; we are now smarter, more doubtful and suspicious of you
Opinion: Do you view the presidential race as a comedy or as a horror show?
The question of who shall be our next president is important to some and not to others. In fact, some appear to be obsessed by it, as if they wish to find a distraction of some sort. But, remember this: The campaign for this election is only a repetition, not a distraction – it is a repetition of the election earlier this year. The rhetoric, not the outcome, makes it the same. How many more times will we the electorate be subject to words that were once beautiful, but have now been travestied by opportunistic, deceitful, power-gobbling politicians? 'Change', 'just', 'equal' and 'fair' are just a few of the words, regretfully and horrifically copulated by those who wish to become the ‘guardian’ of our state.
While so much of a politician’s rhetoric was, and is, eloquent, remember how incoherent it was in February? Politicians spoke of change and the need for it. But they didn’t actually say what changes they were planning to make. Well, February’s rhetoric may have come again. I don’t think there’ll be a repetition of February’s seduction of the electorate however; because, while I cannot speak for the entire electorate; I believe that they are now smarter and more doubtful and suspicious of all politicians. They also appear to be suspicious of those who wish to become political animals, but are not unfortunate enough to have yet become so. Maybe everyone has begun reading Private Eye.
The recent Presidential debate aired on the Late Late Show was under inspiring for the most part. However, it was interesting to see how unprepared some of the candidates were. Some of them seemed to accidentally memorise speeches that would have been used for a general election. As the presenter of the debate, Ryan Tubridy had to remind the candidates many times that were they elected to an office of very limited powers and that they would not be able to enact nearly all of what they wished.
After some of the candidates conceded this, they then changed their tune to saying that they could inspire the people and create a shift in the direction that our boat is headed. This may be hard, because with no oars, the boat can’t have its direction shifted. The only thing the President can do if he/she disagrees with Dáil-produced legislation, is to refuse to sign. Such a refusal once occurred here in Belgium, when King Albert II refused to sign a bill, and had his powers suspended for one day by parliament, so that they could pass the bill. Now, I don’t have a copy of Bunreacht na hÉireann at hand, but it would be interesting to see if the coalition could do the same.
While the presidents of this country’s history may have been admirable; the belief of the candidates that an inspiring head of state can raise a nation’s spirit, and thus improve the economy, is wrong. We saw in the U.S. that the selling of the Obama brand may have raised spirits, momentarily; but we now know that it did nothing to improve the work rate of the people, to create jobs or to set sound economic policy. It’s hard to believe that some people still regard both the Obama brand, and the man himself, as being one and the same. The Obama brand was great. But the true Obama is merely a skid-mark on the underpants of U.S society.
As you know, this upcoming election doesn’t matter much at all. Although, I do understand and respect peoples’ preoccupation with it. Little or nothing at all will change as a result of this election, but please feel free to look past my predictable cynicism, and to believe that change can come. This column is merely my opinion, as people love to say. But I suppose, who else’s opinion could it be? My pessimism merely comes from my experience and suspicion with and of politicians. Of course people do rightfully care who their public representatives are, and what they stand for.
It seems to me (I don’t know if it does to you), that in an office of very limited powers, the President can rarely show what they stand for post-campaign. If anything, we only see a preview every now and again. As I said before, be preoccupied and fascinated by this election if you wish. But do not think, as some foolishly do, that it is morally wrong; because in a time of economic ruin it costs too much, or is a waste of time. Democracy is priceless and should have no boundaries.
This election is happening whether you or I like it or not. View it as a comedy or as a horror show. Let’s sit back and watch. Enjoy.
By: Cormac O’Malley, writing from his Erasmus year in Leuven, Belgium.
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