Vote for change. Vote for Fianna Gael?

As we approach the Local and European Election in June it would appear from all the polls Fianna Fail are going to take a hammering. The citizens of this country are tired of Fianna Fail. They are tired of jobs for the lads and backroom deals with builders and businesses. The cosy cartel of politician, developer, banker and businessman running the country to enrich themselves has revealed itself to the people with the mess we now find ourselves in.

According to the polls to whom are the voters leaning towards? The radical party that will change our political system is Fianna Gael. Fianna Gael are now and always have been Fianna Fail in different suits. If you examine the policies of Fianna Gael and Fianna Fail the differences are minuscule. They both want NAMA just a different type of NAMA. They are both enthusiastic unquestioning supporters of Europe. Neither party want to make radical change to this country. The difference is a cosmetic one. You can buy the Man Utd home jersey or away one but is still a Man Utd jersey.

Gerry Adams, when launching Sinn Fein's election campaign, called for an alignment of the left. He proposed a new grouping of left wing parties and groups that will campaign for radical change. This is needed in our country to offer voters actual choice. If this alignment is to happen and a new grouping to be forged from the present economic crisis, responsibility must be taken by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore. As Fintan O'Toole wrote in The Irish Times, the Labour Party since the beginning of this state has always been used as a crutch to support one of the main parties in power. Labour need to move away from the two main parties. They need to align themselves with other progressive parties and groups in Irish society. It would take bravery and may mean not being elected to government next time round. In the long run it could create a progressive left wing movement in Irish society and offer a true alternative to the voters.