Where do they go now?

Of late I have gotten bored of politics hence my lack of posting on Irish Election and my increased posting on such idiotic subjects of ninja’s. The reasons are primarily personal I am busier at work and in normal time to engage the time need to come up with a coherent point about anything political. Ninja’s are far easier to talk about. But I still have thoughts about the political process and the chance garnered by the near collapse of the PD’s and the leadership election that offers the chance that something bordering on interesting in political debate in Ireland emerges. So where should the PD’s go now.

Policy can be split into two categories social and economic. The PD’s have always been stronger on the latter then the former and as Cian points out much of their demise was caused by their playing away from home base. But this is the area where the new leader can make their mark. Politics is all about being in the headlines. You must make a regularly feature of your mug. This is especially true of the PD’s. They are the most tied to party in the state. People practically are already seeing them as being the same as Fianna Fail as them saying how high when Fianna Fail say jump. One of the core initial bonuses that the PD’s had when first founded was very much this. They need to get rid of this shackle. The first one is come up with a policy platform that is away from the governments platform. Personally I think they should go for full gay marriage and reducing religious power in schools.

The PD’s are historically socially liberal they need to get this label back. These days with the wealth that is around many people consider this a more important issue then the economy (might change in a year but more later). In the wealthier dinner party set where Labour and the Greens are being to call their own social issues such as gay marriage and educate together schools are of great concern. Paradoxically gay marriage will not damage the PD’s vote very much. The majority of people in Ireland aren’t bothered by the issue. If gay people want to be as miserable as the rest of us who are we to stop them is probably quiet a popular joke in bars around the country. By coming out strongly on this issue not only do they get to separate themselves from the more conservative Fianna Fail line but more importantly they get to damage the Greens. Saying to their voters “see they are bending the knee for Fianna Fail we are new PDs we bend to know one ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” (or some such growl) and Queue eye of the tiger

Now this is not just an excuses to post some 80s power rock (actually it is) but the thing is the PD’s are fucked. They have 2 seats in the Dail one is going to retire and the other could head off and join Fianna Fail.

Risin’ up, back on the street
Did my time, took my chances
Went the distance, now I’m back on my feet
Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast
You change your passion for glory
Don’t lose your grip on the dreams of the past
You must fight just to keep them alive

To survive the PD’s have to fight keep themselves alive. Much of their problems stem from the rule of Michael McDowell and Bertiegate. McDowell played to much politics. Smaller parties stand on one leg. That they are different. Once a party swaps Passion for glory (see seamless integration of 80s rock and politics. ) they lose what made them successful. In Ireland we already have Fianna Fail and Fine Gael playing the politics game what the smaller parties need to do is play the policy game. They need to cling to their policy like there is no tomorrow. Sure you have to compromise some what as the Green Party have done but you need to keep yourself separate from the main party. For all intensive purposes the PD’s are Fianna Fail. There is no difference and the electorate know that. Hence they need to pick a fight. But they have to be careful what fight it is. They have to fight on an ideal i.e. not be radical for the sake of being radical but actually being radical.

Choosing to take on religious control of schools would be a high risk strategy but it certainly does fit into their ideological under pinnings (they could do with Liz O’Donnell back on this one) is an issue in many of the constituencies where they would hope to fair well. It is certainly a fight they would lose. Added together with the fact that the PD’s do attract a conservative vote which do not see a problem with religious control of schools as it got the older generation through life they have to be careful how they attack it. One way to could do so is economically. Nowadays the state pays for the schools and the religious run them they need to make the arguement from that side as it plays to their strongest asset their economic side. Avoid anti-catholic rhetoric like the plague this is about people paying their way if the church want control they should pay. They are unlikely to win this arguement but it should be enough to distance themselves enough from Fianna Fail to seem separate again. Gain a few dis affective Labour and Green supporters and if done right not annoy their conservative base to much.

The other thing they need to do is redefine themselves economically. The PD’s economic clothes have been robbed. Their policies are no longer their own due to their success Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have adopted them. Again they need to distance themselves from the big two. More on this in the next few days.