Unearthing consensus

COMMENT

THE Oxford English Dictionary defines consensus as “general agreement”. It further defines agreement as 1. “The sharing of opinion or feeling”; 2. “An arrangement or contract agreed between people”; 3. “Consistency between two things”.

In light of these definitions, it is difficult to consider the recent rush towards ‘consensus’ in Irish politics as anything other than hollow words. The Fianna Fáil/Green coalition is perfectly correct and wise to draw the opposition into the mess by giving them access to the figures from a public relations perspective but it is difficult not to feel like they genuinely wanted them to see them. The absolute depth of Ireland’s crisis can possibly only be appreciated when the figures are placed before you in black and white.
The reaction of the Opposition to seeing the figures was very interesting. I have vague memories from my youth of hearing that one Pope fainted when he was told the final secret of Fatima. Whether or not this is true is a moot point; the memory sprang again to mind when the reaction of Opposition finance spokespeople flowed into the media. All the bombast had died and suddenly, the real people behind the positions came into clear view.
Reality rested heavily on the shoulders of the politicians and they tried desperately to hide the haunted looks that dogged their features. The made statements expressing “surprise” and spoke of realities which were far harsher than they had supposed.
The sole voice in opposition to the ‘consensus’ was Sinn Fein’s Arthur Morgan, who stuck doggedly to his opposition to the swinging cuts and deficit reduction targets coming down the line. It was a very clear illustration of party policy all round. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party in the political middle ground and Sinn Féin on the extreme fringes, unwilling to engage with reality.
Unfortunately, it is not a time for ideologies. Ireland must, in the words of the Taoiseach, present a united front to Europe and the world. It is a perfect example of the humbled millionaire attitude. From riches to rags, Ireland stands naked before the money markets, chastened and unable to do anything but what the owners of the purse strings demand. Historically, we have seen this many times before but, traditionally, the crushed economies seeking succour from the international monetary community were situated in the Third World and, as such, should only expect to succumb to the harsh demands. Proud, independent Ireland should not in its own eyes find itself in such a situation.   
The extreme irony of Brian Cowen’s statement at Fianna Fáil’s Wolfe Tone Commemoration in County Kildare cannot have been lost on anyone. He said, “While we may differ on how to achieve our goals, I know that the Opposition leaders will agree with Tone when he said that we are better off conducting our own affairs than be subject to others’ control.”
The concept of Ireland being in any kind of control of its own affairs is laughable. Those with the purse strings are doubling them effectively as the motion controllers on the puppet of the Irish State.
At times like this, we generally tend to think, ‘blessed are the paddle makers’. Unfortunately, all the paddle makers have gone bust owing to formerly wise investments in “gold rated” options. As we grow accustomed to this reality, the true expanse of the creak is becoming obvious to us all; just as the point of no return fades into hindsight. Perhaps, and this is a truly silver lining, it is time for new politics. The petty squabbling between the centrist parties which make themselves available as democratic options at election time have been exposed by this crisis as just what it is.
The drillbits used to free the Chilean miners were designed to free oil from inaccessible parts the earth. Such things would not have been designed to free humans alone, yet the technology was used for a decent purpose in the end. Similarly, we must ask if there are economic methodologies that might serve humanity better, despite not having been designed for that purpose.
I fear I ask the impossible in this because there are no practical uses in the same sense for false economic methods as there are for the physical searchers of greed which brought joy in Chile. There would be no refuge in any attempt by the Irish Government to evade prescribed economic practice because they are being watched over by theinternational and European economic communities.
Like the mine in Chile, until the point of disaster, those who profited from the functioning of the questionable structure took no interest in the potential danger or any basic human decency in the operation. Perhaps this is where consensus comes into politics; an understanding that having got involved with greed-based economics, there is no humanitarian benefit to the whole grubby experience.
Ireland’s political and economic elite have betrayed the people and led them a merry dance. Now their former partners are seeking retribution for stepped-on toes and it is the electorate who must pay. Through naivety, ignorance or just plain avarice, a bed has been made for the voters to lie in.
Dr Faustus, of classic German legend, was a successful scholar who, despite his success, was dissatisfied with his lot. The legend tells that he was offered a deal by the devil. In exchange for unlimited knowledge and a great deal of worldly pleasure, he would only have to exchange his immortal soul. He took the deal and surrendered his soul to eternal damnation in the end.
The Faustian legend applies very neatly to Ireland at the moment and this is something the country’s major political parties realise. On this fact, there is most certainly consensus.