The Mary Lou McDonald Column

A straight-up challenge to the stultified politics in this state

THE political establishment have a real talent for getting things wrong.
Take the issue of sovereignty.
In successive debates on EU treaties the ‘enlightened’ politicians comprehensively dismissed the value of managing our own affairs as a backward notion.
They have their answer now.
The EU and IMF are in town to pick over the carcass of Ireland’s ‘Celtic Tiger’. The political establishment are directly responsible for our economic convulsion; they have comprehensively failed to defend the interests of citizens.
A toxic blend of cronyism, cosy consensus and brazen self-interest have been the hallmarks of politics in this state.
The economy is broken, politics is broken and without radical action and change there is a danger that people’s spirit will be broken too. This is the political backdrop to Gerry Adams’ decision to stand for election in the Louth constituency.
Sinn Féin has argued for a radically different approach to the economic crisis than the other political parties.
•    We don’t accept that the taxpayers should carry the can for bondholders who took a punt on Anglo Irish Bank. Their gamble failed and they must face the consequences of that failure.
•    We don’t accept that sucking billions out of an already depressed economy is the way to recovery. Rushing to meet the arbitrary EU budgetary deadline of 2014 is foolish and dangerous.
•    We don’t accept the policy of sitting on our hands in the hope of an international upturn to bring jobs. Investment and stimulus is an urgent priority and can be achieved with funds from the National Pension Reserve Fund.
•    We will not accept cutbacks for those on low and middle incomes while the wealthy are taxed very lightly.
Sinn Féin has produced a detailed, costed alternative to the smash and grab cutback agenda of the other parties. We have called on people to demand and work for a new economic and political direction.
In this time of crisis, Gerry Adams could not credibly call on others to step forward, to play their part in creating a new way forward, if he was not prepared to do so himself. It is a measure of the man that he is prepared to put his money where his mouth is. Gerry has been around politics, North and South, for a long time. He leads a national party with elected representatives in 31 of the 32 counties of Ireland. His record in the complex, high-stakes Peace Process reflects his calibre as a leader.
Without doubt he has a valuable contribution to make if the people of Louth elect him to the Dáil. It is no surprise that the political old guard and those who crave power at any cost don’t want Gerry about the place.
It will take courage and creativity to meet the challenges of changing Ireland. In rebuilding our economy, providing for our people and repairing our international reputation the ‘business as usual’ politics won’t cut it.
Sinn Féin represents a straight-up challenge to the stultified politics in this state.
We have a plan and a vision for our country.
Gerry Adams is up for the challenge and at the next election he will lead a team of candidates who are up for it too.