Further evidence abounds, if needed, in the daily coverage of the general election campaign to support the old adage that electorates get the governments they deserve.
Take the story in this morning’s Irish Times headlined, "Labour declines to rule out increase in third-level fees." Happy days, you might think for those looking for honesty rather than populist favour on the part of politicians, and for those who understand that the third level sector here is significantly and unsustainably underfunded.
But then in the body of the article we read that Education Minister Jan O’ Sullivan, in declining to commit herself on future third level fee levels, was speaking as she and the Labour Party promised to reduce the student contribution fee by €500 to €2,500 in this year’s budget if re-elected.
Hmmm. Political schizophrenia of the highest order or just a reflection of the same double standards the electorate itself is demanding perhaps?
Double-think
Drill into the RED C Poll on the economy, commissioned by Newstalk this week and evidence of the same mindset is evident.
For instance, when the respondents to the survey are disaggregated into their various age cohorts, it emerges that those aged between 25 and 34 are most in favour of the next government focusing any available additional financial resources on investment in public services.
Guess what? The same age cohort is also most in favour of additional tax cuts over and above any changes to or abolition of the USC...
Not wishing to pick on this age group in particular, but how do people think additional public services are funded: and the challenge with additional public services is that they are labour intensive, so the additional expenditure is in-built for many years and not easily or painlessly calibrated back downwards, if tougher times return.
Do unto others...
If this evidence of double-think is depressingly familiar within an Irish political mindset, the survey also offers evidence of more positive aspects of that mindset; notably the facility to empathise, at least in response to targeted questions, with the more challenging economic circumstances experienced by other citizens.
For instance, approximately 80% of all citizens regardless of gender, age or location agree that the economic recovery to date has been two-tier in nature and has benefited some and not others.
Almost as many respondents in Dublin (91%) agree that start-up businesses or those creating jobs in rural Ireland should benefit from tax incentives, as do their counterparts outside the Capital.
A very substantial 82% of those aged between 55 and 64 around the country believe tax measures should be introduced to promote long term rental agreements in Ireland, though it could be assumed many within this age bracket own or part-own their own homes. A similar high proportion (82%) of those in the same age cohort favour tax relief for their younger fellow citizens who are burdened with high childcare costs.
This welcome appreciation of the challenges of others may be driven to some degree by the experiences of children, other family members or friends, and my not necessarily translate into how people actually vote. Nonetheless, it is heartening to see such strong evidence that the culture of “if it’s not affecting me, it’s not my problem,” hasn’t taken root here yet.
Apart from the attitude to returning emigrants, it seems. Only 36% agree that a preferential tax rate should be offered to emigrants returning to Ireland, even though most families will have experience of this particular Irish phenomenon.
Out of sight, out of mind perhaps? A bridge too far perhaps? Or more evidence of that old schizophrenic tendency perhaps?
