Sunday, December 05, 2010

The Left is Back...

Barry McColgan
Dermot Crowley-Paula Murphy
Ógra Shinn Féin
West Tyrone


“The left is back, and it's the only path we have to get out of the spot to which the right has sunken us, ... Socialism builds and capitalism destroys.”

Wise words from Venezualan President Hugo Chavez, and particularly apt.

Sinn Féin are flying high in the 26 County polls. The latest Red C figures published today (Fri 3rd Dec) has us at 16%.

Not only is that a jump of 5% for Sinn Féin since the last poll conducted in November, but we also have as much as the Dublin government parties combined, with Fianna Fáil relegated to 4th place on 13%, and the Greens on 3%.

This comes less a week following the spectacular election success for us in Donegal, with Pearse Doherty TD securing almost 40% of the vote, and in the process destroying the traditional Fianna Fáil stranglehold in the South West Constituency.

Our message was clear and simple in the by election. We are for investment and jobs, not cuts and immigration. We are for unity and prosperity, not division and deprivation.

Pearse's election and the publication of the poll today is proof that a growing number of Irish people are looking left.

They are looking for an alternative to the crooks who orchestrated the disastrous dismantling of the Irish economy and the shameless and criminal handout and usurpation of our sovereignty to the EU/IMF.

In a grounded, clear and coherent way, Sinn Féin are providing that alternative, in the EU, Leinster House, Assembly, Councils, and in the streets and countryside where it really matters.

Gerry Adams made a powerful call at the 2009 Ard Fheis for a left progressive alliance of change, appealing to the working class people of Ireland, to Trade Union’s, and Community groups to come together and present an alternative to the staid old tweedle dee/tweedle dum politics of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

The appeal was also made to the Greens and Labour, to think again of their ill thought coalitions with parties of the right.

Coalitions and alliances that are so full of contradictions that they could only lead to the demise of the junior partners.

The Greens have told their own story in that regard, anihailated at the last local elections and facing further humiliation at the next general election.

While the Greens will be lucky to have a seat in the 31st Dail, progressive and left activists within Labour should be lobbying within the party to sever their pact with the devil, and to join a progressive alliance of change, with Sinn Fein, TradeUnionists and Community activists.

This would undoubtadly give new found confidence and hope to the overwhelming majority of people across Ireland who are struggling to make ends meet.

There has never been a better time to create a left progressive coalition in the 26 Counties, a coalition government placing people and equality at the very core of all their decisions.

At this defining moment in our history, when the corrupt and criminal parties of the right have brought us to the brink of state bankruptcy in order to protect their banker friends, we have a duty to build an alternative.

Their little lies and selfish interests have never been more exposed, and their credibility has never been so low.

James Connolly, a man who adorns quite a few Labour posters once wrote;

"Governments in capitalist society are but committees of the rich to manage the affairs of the capitalist class."

Fianna Fail and the Greens made no bones about that.

But the grassroots of Labour surely cannot be content with propping up the blue shirts, to repeat the same crimes and inequality wrought by the previous government. The very crimes against humanity that Connolly struggled his entire life against.

The next few days and weeks are crucial in our future.

Sinn Fein have put their cards on the table. The people know where we stand, squarely and firmly with them. We are in this struggle to the last, and nothing will deter us or stop us in our tracks.

The tide has turned and the question facing Labour in the time ahead will be;

"Which side are you on?"

4 comments:

Padraigin NiDhiarmada said...

James Connolly is standing proud and smiling down on his people and urging them forward to make the right decision....fear laidir agus solas...go ndheana Dia trocaire ar a ainm....Las an solas aris!

Anonymous said...

Great article. Labour seem committed to the consensus on cuts. Would like to see them join with us but can't see it. A

Unknown said...

Maith thu to all who contributed on this article - eloquent and concise
emma

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