Sinn Fein’s rapid rise in the polls in Ireland is a clear response to a massive austerity agenda that is backfiring on the current government there.
In an Irish Times poll last week the Sinn Fein vote vaulted into the low 20s, making them the second most popular party in Ireland after the major government party, Fine Gael.
The rapid rise in the Sinn Fein vote is due in the main to the continuing economic tsunami of bad debt and bad news that continues in Ireland.
New rates and water charges have been introduced and the average citizen, already beleaguered by the property collapse and the tight credit, is deeply feeling the effects of the crisis.
Sinn Fein, with a cadre of young front bench spokespersons and a clear attitude of deep skepticism towards Europe, is gaining heavily as a result.
The other main opposition party Fianna Fail, whose profligate policies got the country into the total mess, is understandably receiving very little uptick.
Events elsewhere in Europe will begin to impact on Ireland too. The likely outcome of the French election and the Dutch government collapse are all related to the same reality that the austerity measures enacted by the European Union are proving deeply unpopular and destructive.
Ireland has dutifully followed the German prescription that austerity and more austerity will lead it back to financial stability.
However, cutting wages and raising taxes while creating more unemployment is not the way to build out of a recession.
Deflation is a much more likely outcome of such policies as consumers have less and less to spend and economic growth is impossible to sustain.
The message from Ireland and elsewhere to German Chancellor Angela Merkel is that austerity as a long-term plan is not helping and that stimulus, not cutbacks, are the best way to address the problem.
It is a lesson Germany of all countries should certainly have learned from its own disastrous depression after the Treaty of Versailles which led them into massive debt and eventually led to the rise of Hitler.
There are many such rough beasts out there these days, even here in America, demanding deeper and deeper cuts to spending at the time when the exact opposite is needed in order to survive.
Ireland has remained remarkably calm, with none of the riots that have wracked Greece and Portugal and other countries.
That is to be welcomed, and the hope is that whatever issues arise in the next year or two will be dealt with in a physically non–confrontational way.
A major sea change may be about to take place in Europe over how the entire crisis is dealt with there. Ireland could well be at the forefront of that, a battle over the survival of the Euro and how long-term debt is paid back.
There is much at stake in the months ahead.
32 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.seanomelb | Apr 29, 2012, 09:40 PM EDT
Is Schon the new George Dillon?? another idiot has escaped from the gated village.
BrianO | Apr 28, 2012, 10:33 AM EDT
Top of the morning to you Steven twinkle twinkle, and it's a grand day too, let me just move me pot of gold over a bit while I listen to a little deedlee dee music by this fine glen.Tis a glorious day to be alive.
bunkerhill | Apr 28, 2012, 10:20 AM EDT
Thanks for deleting my comment. I don't see what was controversial about it. I would like to say to the Irish who seem to hate the Irish who left, if they hadn't immigrated no one would be able to sit down in Ireland. Possibly the island might sink. The Jews still love Israel. Does anyone have a problem with that?
AMWilson | Apr 27, 2012, 11:52 PM EDT
@@@@ Stevenstar: "I ONCE MET MET AN AMERICAN...". A meeting that apparently shaped your opinion of " all Americans". BIGOT.
AMWilson | Apr 27, 2012, 11:42 PM EDT
Ciara, really, I thought we were beyond this...
seanomelb | Apr 27, 2012, 11:17 PM EDT
Ciaradexy my childish friend I married an Aussie(of English and Welsh extraction) my children are Australian and they find your post amusing.I do not care where the Queens head is displayed it has nothing to do with polite discussion and ones opinion. I can assure you that their are 2nd.and 3rd. generation Aussies with extreme views regarding Ireland.It's your state of mind that makes you a west Brit not your address.
Schon | Apr 27, 2012, 07:47 PM EDT
Eire has been a failed state since its inception. Born of civil war after the Brits left, it became a fascist state, alienated its people who either emigrated to other Commonwealth countries or worse still, to the UK. (Don't you know that Liverpool is the capital of Ireland?) During the depression of the late 20's early 30's, thousands of Irish farmers died of starvation while de Velera refused to accept aid from Britain. Eire, supported the Nazi's and Mussolini and their politicians were responsible from doing their damnedness to forment rebellion in Northern Ireland in the latter part of the century. The country benefited from the 'Tiger Economy' due to the money invested from Europe, much of which came from the British through their contributions to the EC. Much of this money was ripped of by unscrupulous people, some of who were upstanding politicians and members of the Dail. We can look back at the Great Depression and see that austerity promotes criminal regimes. And lets face it... Sinn Fein is an organisation that encouraged the republican community in the North into criminal actions only to sign a peace treaty with the Brits when the Brits agreed to give them power and pay them lots and lots of money to stop the terrorist action in the North. I can see Herr Adams goose stepping down O'Connell Street with Obama toadying alongside him, eager for the Irish American vote, selling Gerry's version of Mein Kampf as he goes along. Hasn't Herr Adams done well for himself?
STEVENSTAR | Apr 27, 2012, 06:53 PM EDT
@@ancavker | Apr 27, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT STEVENSTAR: Are tanning beds part of your culture? As far as Irish culture, Irish-Americans have done a fantastic job of preserving the music and dance and so many other aspects of Irish culture, not only that we have taken it in new directions. Alot of the Irish in Ireland are ashamed of Irish culture. I guess some like yourself prefer tanning beds!!!>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> WE IRISH DO AN AMAZING JOB OF PRESERVING OUR OWN CULTURE THANK YOU AND YOU DO AN AMAZING JOB OF TRYING TO STEAL IT !!! ... I ONCE MET AN AMERICAN WHO SAID SHE WAS AN ALCOHOLIC CAUSE HER GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS IRISH... I TOOK DEEP OFFENCE BUT SAID NOTHING AND WALKED ON .. SAME AS I TAKE OFFENCE TO THE MANY OTHER MORONS RUNNING AROUND WITH FAKE IRISH ACCENTS AND ISNT IT A GRAND DAY THANK GOD...AND ALL THIS PLASTIC IRISHNESS WE CAN THANK AMERICANS FOR .. EUROPEANS ARE VERY WELL INFORMED PEOPLE FROM THE FRENCH TO THE BRITISH TO THE GERMANS TO THE SPANISH PEOPLE LAUGH AT 40MILLION AMERICANS TRYING TO BE IRISH .. ITS THE BEST IRISH JOKE EVER TOLD ..
GeorgeDillon | Apr 27, 2012, 04:27 PM EDT
STEVENSTAR: "THE AVERAGE IRISHMAN ,LIKE MYSELF IS NOTHING LIKE AN AMERICAN". WELL THAT'S A RELIEF.
ancavker | Apr 27, 2012, 04:08 PM EDT
Ciara: Broad brush you paint with regarding terrorists. We don't all support Sinn Fein (I don't), lots of sympathy in Ireland for terrorists in the Middle East.
ciaradexy | Apr 27, 2012, 02:21 PM EDT
Sean in Melb, you live in a country ruled by the British monarchy where the Queen is your head of state!! I live in a Republic. I think youll find its you who is the West Brit, maybe a Southern hemisphere West Brit but a west Brit all the same. The Queens face is even on your money! Good man yourself! You sound like one of those sad Irish migrants who are happy to take all that the Queens country will give you yet you moan about them. Do you have any friends there other than old irish men who you sit in the pub with lamenting over the Oirland you left?? I bet you havent even integrated there. Thank feck the generations after you are more willing to integrate and mix with other cultures.
ciaradexy | Apr 27, 2012, 02:16 PM EDT
Americans support terrorists so why shouldnt they love Sinn Fein?
redhand32 | Apr 27, 2012, 11:57 AM EDT
Amen to "greensod" ! West Brit soupers, please turn on the lights on your way out. Our day will come.
greensod | Apr 27, 2012, 11:32 AM EDT
The winds of change blow stronger by the day.The people of Ireland are finally starting to see the light.The reign of the free staters are coming to an end.
ancavker | Apr 27, 2012, 10:07 AM EDT
STEVENSTAR: Are tanning beds part of your culture? As far as Irish culture, Irish-Americans have done a fantastic job of preserving the music and dance and so many other aspects of Irish culture, not only that we have taken it in new directions. Alot of the Irish in Ireland are ashamed of Irish culture. I guess some like yourself prefer tanning beds!!!
IrelandNorth | Apr 27, 2012, 08:57 AM EDT
Opinion polls do not reflect public opinions, but the opinions the political establishment want the public to have. Jewish-Canadian political scientist Noam Chomsky called this "manufacturing consent". I call it massaging public opinion. Power sharing for the 26 counties?
STEVENSTAR | Apr 27, 2012, 08:19 AM EDT
@seanomelb | Apr 26, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT The brow beaten west Brits like bythebay and falling star are so negative they can only see black and white or beige.>>>HOW SILLY OF YOU TO LABEL ME LIKE THAT.. JUST BECAUSE I LIKE MY NEIGHBORS BUT THEN AGAIN IT COULD BE WORSE YOU COULD HAVE LABELLED ME AS AN EAST AMERICAN THEN I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRULY DEEPLY OFFENDED !!!
DanOLoingsigh | Apr 27, 2012, 03:26 AM EDT
Some posters need to read and understand the Constitution, to see that persons entitled to citizenship can't be asked to leave...it's reassuring to see that only the extremists on either side like to crow about surrender and apology...they're the past, not the future...
AMWilson | Apr 27, 2012, 01:20 AM EDT
To be clear, Stevenstar, there are two recent polls out. The Irish Times/ Ipsos MRBI poll shows SF up 6 points at 21%. Everyone else dropped except Independents. Then there's the Sunday Times Behaviours & Attitudes poll, which shows SF dropping 4 points to 16%, with independents and the coalition on the rise. Thejournal.ie notes that the two polls are very different, for having come out so close together. So SF is either surging or plummeting, depending upon which poll you prefer. Just curious: why do you keep qualifying SF's drop in support with "in the Dublin area", as though the rest of the country doesn't matter? I don't think the B&A poll was limited to Dublin, was it?
warrenpoint00 | Apr 26, 2012, 10:37 PM EDT
Bythebay you forgot to add that britian also gave up its rights to its illegal ocupation in Ireland, basically shafting the people that they planted there for their own selfish reasons of course and that the british queen came to Ireland to apologize for the centuries of murder and theft inflicted upon the Irish people by her obviously failed empire.Her apology has been accepted by the Irish nation.Welcome to Eire Nua bythe bay you and all your british friends you are all most welcome to live and work in peace here if you adhere to our nations constitution of course, other wise we may have to ask you to leave...again.
seanomelb | Apr 26, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT
The brow beaten west Brits like bythebay and falling star are so negative they can only see black and white or beige.
Bythebay | Apr 26, 2012, 07:19 PM EDT
clevelander, people such as yourself living in the US know nothing about Ireland or Northern Ireland. Foreigners primarily in the US supported terrorists which caused 30 years of useless terrorism which only accomplished murders, bombings and property destruction while you sat cozy and safe in the US. We are two separate countries and happy to be so. Ireland gave up any claim to Northern Ireland. It's over.
Bythebay | Apr 26, 2012, 07:13 PM EDT
The poll showed Sinn Fein, Labor and Fianna Fail about neck in neck within about 2 percentage points of each other, considered statistically insignificant. Sinn Fein will never be popular with the majority of people in Ireland so dream on US.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 26, 2012, 07:00 PM EDT
I WONT BE COMMENTING OR REPLYING TO ANY OF THE COMMENTS BELOW. MOST ARE FROM AMERICANS .. AS AN IRISHMAN LIVING IN IRELAND WHO PAYS HIS TAXES I TAKE GREAT OFFENCE AT ANY AMERICAN SUGGESTING WE COULD ALL JOIN UP ... I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR AFFECTION FOR MY COUNTRY BECAUSE SOME RELATIVE OF YOUR IMMIGRATED FROM IRELAN 100 YEARS AGO.... THERE ARE 4.5 MILLION PEOPLE IN IRELAND WE ARE EDUCATED WE TRAVEL WE GET ON WITH OUR NEIGHBORS THE BRITS AND WE ALL SIGNED UPTO EUROPE .... WE ARE NOT AMERICAN I HAVE A LARGE FAMILY AND NONE OF THEM ARE AMERICAN OR NONE OF THEM EVEN LIVE IN AMERICA .. AMERICA IS SOMEWHERE WE GO ON HOLIDAYS IF WE CHOSE AND THATS ALL .. AMERICANS NEED TO FIND THEIR OWN IDENTITY WITHIN THEIR OWN CULTUE AND PEOPLE AND HISTORY AND NOT TRY AND IDENTIFY WITH MY CULTURE AND COUNTRY.. BECAUSE YOU ARE NOTHING LIKE US AND NEVER WILL BE OR THE AVERAGE IRISHMAN ,LIKE MYSELF IS NOTHING LIKE AN AMERICAN ...
Searlit | Apr 26, 2012, 06:53 PM EDT
It has become capitalism run amok and civil freedoms once held sacred - lost! Allowing the people at the top of the financial strata to stomp on the rights of the successful workers, is more like facism than capitalism. The Founding Fathers Washington, Jefferson and Adams wouldn't recognize this as the America that they so brilliantly fought for. Stepping on other people to get yourself ahead is nothing but bullying. No wonder there's no punishment of bullies in schools. Their role models are the so-called successful capitalists! We need more of the true capitalists to take the lead and turn this around. Waiting for you, Good Guys.
BrianO | Apr 26, 2012, 06:17 PM EDT
@cillowen, as counter intuitive as this may sound, the ability to make the gold and free one's self from dependency of another who you find yourself dependent on is at the heart of capitalism. The premise that people with capital are greedy heartless people is false, some are some are not. Don't hate success, be successful.
clevelander | Apr 26, 2012, 05:31 PM EDT
@scotchtommy Oh I thank you for accepting the will of the people of Ireland. I know I can see you saying the Republicans did not in the 70's-80's and 90's. But I firmly believe that Ireland as a whole, not one vote in the north and a vote in the south but one ALL-IRELAND VOTE would have voted for a FREE AND UNITED IRELAND AT ANY TIME SINCE THE INCEPTION OF SEPARATION. I say the people of Ireland were denied basic rights. Now I can also hear you say but they are two separate countries. I am a realist and I know these different governments exist. My thoughts are that they are not separate countries and it is worth fighting for. Period.
Scotchtommy | Apr 26, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT
I will accept the democratic will of the people if Sinn Fein get a majority.But do the voters really believe that slogans and rebel songs can put food on the table ,provide jobs, houses, and health care.Maybe yes, maybe no.By the way, BRENDAN KEARNS- after trying to understand what you are saying I want to know what you are smoking.I'd love to try it.
SeanO | Apr 26, 2012, 12:43 PM EDT
STEVENTAR, blame the Americans for the Celtic Tiger, if they did not invest in Ireland, there would not have been a BIG IRISH SWELD HEAD, and now a financial Hang Over..America get out of Ireland, they say now, LOL
lokionline | Apr 26, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT
I am not sure what century you are posting from STEVENSTAR
We don't live 1000s of miles from Ireland in that sense any more.
We all live together now -- here on this website and in many other sites on the web, including sites based in Ireland.
Many ex-pats frequently travel back and forth to Ireland and all over the world. It is a moot point as to where we actually "live".
And by the way... do us all a lttle favour and fix your CAPS LOCK would you?
sirpeter | Apr 26, 2012, 09:19 AM EDT
Where is your IC office STEVENSTAR? Telling IC what they can't cover.
STEVENSTAR | Apr 26, 2012, 09:04 AM EDT
YOUR STATISTICS ARE INCORRECT AND ALSO SINN FEINS VOTE 'FELL' TO 17% IN THE DUBLIN AREA .... THEY DO HAVE A MAJORITY OF 21% OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED THATS NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH 21% OF THE COUNTRY ... NO WORRIES .. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS AN AMERICAN PUBLICATION IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY IN A DIFFERNT TIME ZOME TO US IN IRELAND SO YOUR MISCALCULATIONS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS AS TO WHAT GOES ON IN IRELAND WHICH IS 1000S AND 1000S OF MILES AWAY FROM U IS UNDERSTANDABLE..... BEST ALL AMERICANS KEEP OUT OF IRISH AFFAIRS AND STOP GIVING MEDIA COVERAGE TO GERRY ADAMS AND THE IRA ..