Crooked politicians and dodgy businessmen are not the only ones who suffer from severe amnesia when it comes to accountability; journalists too, it seems are prone to the condition.
Jody Corcoran, writing in the Sunday Independent, uses a scatter gun to blame all and sundry for the mess we find ourselves in.
The present government, the Opposition, the Trades Unions, our flawed political system, an apathetic electorate, a grotesquely fattened public service, the HSE, the Mahon Tribunal, Charlie McCreevy and the OECD – All, that is, except Bertie Ahern.
Apparently, Ahern, who was the most powerful man in the country from 1997 to May of this year had no hand, act or part in the mess the country finds itself in. In a long and rambling article (over 2,000 words) Corcoran only mentions Ahern once in relation to benchmarking.
“Bertie Ahern did not want the hassle, so he set up the benchmarking body.”
That’s it, one sentence and the great Bertie is free of all responsibility.
Of course, the reason for this unbalanced and unprofessional article is simple. For years Corcoran has worshipped the ground that Ahern walked on. No matter how bizarre or pathetic the actions and words of his hero Bertie, Corcoran defended him to the last.
And, like his hero, Corcoran simply doesn’t have the courage to tell the truth.
Copy to:
Jody Corcoran
Anthony, you disappeared over the weekend. I thought you were a victim of cutbacks ! Glad to see you have survived.
Criticising politicians for the mismanagement of state affairs is a waste of time and effort. They are neither financial experts nor expert administrators. They are simply expert at one thing – getting themselves elected and re-elected. This is plainly evident from the fiasco surrounding the medical card issue. For weeks before the budget this was signaled by political commentators and not a squeek from FF backbenchers. But as soon as their precious Dáil seats were threatened, all hell breaks loose. The Government of course were too busy in the past few weeks looking after their developer pals – by rescuing the banks – to give consideration to the political consequences of the budget provisions.
Take fiscal responsibility away from the politicians and let them concentrate on what they are best at – acting as messenger boys for the real government, namely, civil servants.
Then we can get down to the real business of reform.