The Layman's Political Spectrum
What modern Irish party politics offers and what it means for you, in layman’s terms.
With the upcoming general election on February 8th, I couldn’t help but think back to being 18 years of age and walking into my local polling station as a newly registered voter and being like ‘yup, gonna get the lefties in and change the world.’ Little did I know that when I walked in and seen a load of familiar faces that were on those pieces of paper that somehow get past the ‘no junk mail’ sign on the front door that I would have to number them in my order of preference.
What was this? I just wanted to go 1. Labour. 2. Greens and so on. It made no sense and then I decided to look up why the parties want these local individuals who never deliver anything to get into power. Why was I voting for this face or that face and not the person who would be Taoiseach? Why are they running elsewhere? What’s this mean?
You essentially end up asking your parents or just looking at a load of semi-attractive faces on a ballot and deciding if they are the one for you. They could realistically develop an app, make it a Tinderesque swipe buzz and save the time in canvassing and the waste that comes from it but how and ever. So, I am gonna try show what party politics offers and where they sit on general issues for all you young and impressionable voters! Oh, the joys of democracy!
In short, democratic politics is like a line with a distinct middle ground. Historically parties like Labour, The Greens, Social Democrats, People before Profit and such have leaned on the left-hand side of the political line. Labour being slightly further down the line than the others. This is mainly down to their historical alliances with the working class. They were the party that represented the majority of people, the average Joe. They like higher taxes on the rich in return for subsidised housing, healthcare, transport and generally trying to make life easier for the normal person.
The right side of the line was normally the conservative side. They represented parties like Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Fein for most part (due to their links with nationalism). These parties don’t like to change things for the most part. They represent a capitalist system, which today means a free market in which companies can operate on low corporate taxes, in order to attract investment into a country. This means that they bring in the jobs and the money. This helps build economies up. It’s why Ireland is in the top 5 countries in the world for GDP per capita. That just means that the average Irish person earns more on paper than their peers in other countries. But the numbers can lie as GDP is across the board. It takes into account billionaires’ wealth.
Fine Gael have taken this a step further and are solely promoting the opening of an Irish economy to the world. This is called ‘Globalisation.’ In short, it allows large companies to use the Irish market with, most of the time, no regulation of their actions. They trust that the free market will boost everyone’s livelihood who live here.
However, this can lead to companies just taking advantage of the market and its lack of regulation in search of large profits they can take out of Ireland. The citizens of the country then tend to get forgotten along the way. House prices soar, inflation occurs but wages stay at a similar level for those in the working class: those who don’t play the market and just work a 9-5. The affluent or educated professionals then become the only ones able to afford to buy housing, but then the educated voting demographic don’t like the way they are living. They want a more equal society.
Politics is gone very weird in last 15 years. There is so much more money bouncing around now. Previously, the mortgage and banking system were the staple income for a capitalist society. Nowadays, the tech market income is attractive to both sides. Capitalists invest in their companies and the educated people graduate and work for them. Yet this has also then added in added problems like data protection, regulation and new forms of social taxing.
In addition, the left was formally the side that represented the working class. Now it seems to represent a ‘progressive’ society, as they call it. However, this essentially in the western world means they now represent these educated, ‘intellectual’ voters (whatever that means). This demographic now wants free sustainable public travel, environmental policies, social housing, etc. They are also normally in a nice position with their jobs and family that they can afford to pay the higher taxes that come with this type of government. Majority of people can’t. It is of course possible to achieve a progressive tax system, don’t get me wrong. However, the influence the wealthy have on policy making in a capitalist system is astounding.
So, in short, the left have abandoned the working class, the group this side first sought to protect. This comes down to support, lobbying (political advertising and promotion) and a variety of reasons that are really just not fair to your lower income earner. The one who doesn’t care about his environmental footprint as he is putting his mass-produced oven pizza into his gas cooker and gulps back his glass of coke from a single use plastic bottle after a hard day of working to pay bills. It doesn’t matter to them and their family. They are just getting by. Economists now call this style of leftism, the ‘Brahmin left’. A fancy term for the educated voter. This does not mean they are intelligent by the way. Education doesn’t mean you are intelligent. It just means you know something in a certain topic or at the very least have a piece of paper to say you do.
This then leads to parties like Sinn Fein coming in and promoting what is called ‘Populism’. A new type of movement that they are aligning with the left. Populism is essentially a party just promising the public that they will always look out for their interests. It is a great concept in an ideal world but realistically, no. There is no way that you will get better housing prices, better healthcare, better transport and so on without paying higher taxes. They may promise to up the minimum wage slightly in the process, but I can guarantee you will walk away with less money than you have now due to the rising taxes.
You can decide whether they are trustworthy enough to sort the problems before the next election and maybe make rent more affordable while you are struggling. Especially with their raised taxes. It is your vote at end of the day. If you have faith in the idea then stay true to it and don’t jump ship. That won’t solve anything. Ideas like this need decades to work and be backed. I think populism is better as the opposition. The ones who point out the flaws in the government policy for the people rather than try to shape it.
So, politics has essentially lately become this, ‘Wealthy right’ versus ‘educated, middle class left’ and then the working class are forgotten about and supposed to be represented by this idea called ‘Populism.’ Which promises to give you everything pretty much. Too good to be true maybe?
This is the reason you see the likes of Trump/Johnson getting into power. It is because the parties that formerly represented the working class interests have abandoned them as they have been infiltrated by people more educated than them. So, they turned to the ones who offered jobs, who offered housing, who offered a better life for them and theirs.
Just remember this when you are looking at the papers or the news or talking to the friendly person dropping into your house for a quick chat. Remember what you thought when you seen those people get into power and thought: how are they getting votes? Ask the questions that matter to you, what their opinions are on data protection, the environment and social policy. Maybe on housing and job creation too.
When you do this sit down and make a list of the pros and cons. Don’t assume that cause this government didn’t work then I need the complete opposite. It did work, it just couldn’t give you everything, but it made progress in some fields. Governance will always be flawed because humans are flawed. So, see past the nonsense they will all tell you and try pick a diverse selection from all parties you agree with. Because in reality none of them are wrong and none of them are right. A nice coalition who will struggle to make any swift decisions is what you want. Happy voting!
Adam Nolan-Horan
Sources
Tech and capitalism:
Big Tech: The New Predatory Capitalism - The American Prospect
Digital Technology Drives Free-Market, Free-Trade Capitalism to the Crossroads - WSJ
Capitalism the Apple Way vs. Capitalism the Google Way - The Atlantic
Irish populism:
In defence of populism - Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin
Sinn Fein puts populism before planet with carbon tax stance - The Times
Ireland risks populist culture war over property and pensions - The Irish Times
Everywhere and nowhere: Populism and the Puzzling Non-Reaction to Ireland’s Crises - DCU
Ireland. The Rise of Populism on the Left and Among Independents - DCU
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