Ireland's OWN: History

 

Let's Stop Flogging This Dead Horse —by Tommy Gorman  Reprinted from Andersonstown News (2000) The fact that the constitutional set-up at Stormont is in free-fall should come as no surprise to anyone. Given the extent of inherent contradictions the only surprise is that the farce lasted eight weeks. From the outset the  Republican leadership's readiness to get into bed with the SDLP and the 26 County Government was a serious misjudgement. The blunder should have been recognised there and then because tucking them in were the British and US administrations, neither of who could ever be mistaken for progressive forces. Coming in from the non-constitutional cold the Republican leadership gained  some succour from this cosy arrangement and were quickly seduced into thinking that the relationship held the potential of delivering Sinn Fein to a position of real influence and 'respectability'. They (Sinn Fein) deluded themselves that this arranged marriage was one of equals and that the parties were bound by mutual respect and commitment. It was not to be. When other enemies abused the Movement and accused her of being a cold, calculating political strapach she turned to her 'partners' for support only to see them scurrying out of the honeymoon suite with their trousers down around their ankles. The moneyed class through their representatives will always shaft the working classes and those who represent them. The SDLP and the 26 County Government entered into this arrangement with their eyes open and with their own, agenda. No party would ever countenance  a political initiative that held the remotest possibility of giving their  political opponents/enemies electoral advantage. Is Bertie Ahern going to give a leg up to a party that has the potential of challenging Fianna Fail at the ballot box as the 'Real Republican Party' in the Twenty-Six Counties? Would John Hume give electoral advantage to a party that is vying with his own party as the strongest Nationalist party in the Six-Counties? In the real world of party politics each scenario is ludicrous. In this world the needs of the party, and the quest for, and the maintenance of power determine each and every decision. Sinn Fein's stated aims are light years from those of the  centre-to-far right parties that constitute the majority in the Assembly. How could they ever imagine that when the chips were down that these natural allies would not act in unison and in the interests of their particular parties and class and against those of Sinn Fein and their support? It would appear at this stage that the Republican leadership has put all of its political eggs in this one very dodgey basket. Having no run-back is a strange oversight for a leadership that has in its ranks a few who saw some active service during the struggle. As I stated in a piece some weeks ago the only feasible and tactical role for Sinn Fein within this revamped Stormont is in opposition. This tactic would serve several purposes. Sinn Fein would not be responsible for introducing and administrating those economic policies that would, inevitably, impact adversely on its natural allies, the working class. In 'power' there is little identifiable difference between S.F. and the SDLP. This would not be the case if Sinn Fein were to sit in opposition. The benefits would quickly show themselves in elections. Sinn Fein could maintain and broaden its appeal to marginalised groups by adhering to a radical socialist analysis of our situation and by linking all of its actions within the assembly to a cohesive, agitational strategy in the communities on issues of equality and justice. The issue of decommissioning could not have been used by our enemies to  disenfranchise the people, as there is no demand on those parties outside of  the Executive to disarm. Sinn Fein should immediately disabuse itself of the notion that the set-up at Stormont is in any way democratic or a step forward. It is now abundantly clear the 'power' granted to Sinn Fein was illusionary. The two seats in the Executive were given at the whim of the British Government with many, many strings attached. And at the whim of the same government, aided and abetted by the SDLP, the 26 County Government and unionists of every hue, the seats were taken away. This particular horse is dead. Stop whipping it, get off and get on one that has more chance of taking us to where we want to go. Page updated 18 Aug 2008 Ireland's OWN Logo by Eamann Website Design and Celtic Background by Míchealín Daugherty Copyright © 2008 Ireland's OWN All Rights Reserved.