08 May 2009
Election!
I took time out this morning to visit my local cop shop to get a stamp on a change of address form to send to Dublin City Council, so I could have a vote in the elections next month. Or at least, I hope I will; given that it's Dublin City Council, I might just be lucky to have it processed by June.
Anyway, I reckon the reason I went to so much trouble – OK, very little trouble, but most people aren't particularly arsed about their vote, are they? – is that I feel that this election is more important than a lot of others in recent history. You know the ones I'm talking about – the ones when we liberal D4 types excoriate the lumpen proles for re-electing the rank rank and file of FF and their various remoras.
It's local and European elections, but it will surely be a clear indicator of who we poor benighted Irish want to lead us into the scary future. I came of age (the use of that phrase reveals it) in the '80s, so I know what's it like to live in a society where one doesn't particularly feel in control – unemployment, poverty and hatred of the rich were like natural forces. I didn't control them and the people who were so tiresomely and predictably re-elected every 18 months didn't either.
Next month, a new/old batch of people are bravely, cravenly, greedily, idealistically (take your pick – they all can do a fair impersonation of each) will want you to vote for them. I reckon, given that Great Depression 2 has painfully revealed just how little power our elected representatives have over the 'economy', we should make our votes on an interest-group basis.
So find out what the wannabe councillors (who may graduate into the Dáil and the Seanad) and gilded MEPs think about: society's homophobia, homophobic violence, sexuality education in schools, HIV & Aids prevention, taxation, employment, pension and partnership rights and of course, gay marriage. Although, despite the fact that it's an important indicator of absolute legal equality, maybe gay marriage should just be one of a number of issues?