While the political and media sectors are consumed with discussions about the date of the impending general election, the general public seems disinterested until campaigning commences. Right now, the overriding sentiment is one of not caring until it’s necessary to decide.
However, amongst the public is a growing dissatisfaction with a particular issue: the wastage of state resources by the government. Previously, any suggestion of indulgence and unnecessary spend was met with particular scorn from the Irish public. Now, this sentiment has matured into a frustration against government spending as a whole, summarised by complaints that it’s easy to spend funds that aren’t personally earned.
The recently released budget has been widely criticised across Irish media platforms. The overriding perception is that the government’s spending strategy is thoughtlessly extravagant, prioritising flash over substance. The government’s lavish gestures are being met with ingratitude, reminiscent of a phrase previously coined in The Sunday Tribune towards offers from public relationships firms: stun them with your lack of gratitude.
In day-to-day discussion, it’s interesting to note how uninterested and disillusioned individuals outside of the media and political circles feel towards Irish electoral politics. The public’s pre-pandemic enthusiasm for change has vanished. It’s become common to hear phrases such as: I’ve stopped tuning into news programmes; I can’t tolerate dealing with politicians; I’ve turned off the radio. These sentiments often coexist alongside anger towards the government’s spending on items such as bike sheds, mobile phone pouches worth €9 million, and the children’s hospital.
When you’re grappling with financial difficulties, witnessing the government carelessly spending taxpayer’s money can be particularly difficult.
The argument put forward by Varadkar and Harris that immigration is the root cause of homeless is unfounded. Government policy is the true culprit.
Anecdotes of witnessing anti-immigrant protests in Dublin are truly unsettling, especially the climactic moments.
The way I interact with my phone feels obsessive. Twenty minutes seem insignificant. It’s a gross waste of time.
This issue of profligacy truly stirs significant emotions in numerous individuals. Any event, scandal or tale associated with this topic triggers a blend of frustration, rage, melancholy and scepticism. Just as the protest against water charges during the recession became a representation of antagonism against austerity, the modern aversion towards waste seems to depict the struggle with high living cost and numerous people’s struggle to manage personal and family budgets.
What’s the key message concerning the potential election outcome? Is the public genuinely content with an overly familiar government coupling? Has the craving for a different coalition rule dissipated? Outside election times, polling fails to depict the favourite party during a period of public immersion, but rather points out popularity during times of public dispassion.
Sinn Féin’s decline in the polls can be attributed to numerous factors, though the contraction might not necessarily pertain to their base. With all the chatter about urban working-class voters switching sides, it can be suggested a significant number of under 40s, identifying as progressive and questioning Sinn Féin’s left-wing authenticity, have abandoned the party.
Concurrently, Fine Gael rejoices at recent poll outcomes. But is it warranted? Perhaps; 2020 seems distant now. When the subsequent general election arrives, newly eligible voters attending university, who were yet to complete their Junior Certificate during the season of Sinn Féin’s surge, will exist.
However, danger lurks. Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, at present, slightly resonate with a Keep The Recovery Going aura. This may only ring true for the content few, virtually certainly not for the others. Last month’s ESRI publication on poverty, disparity in income and living standards in Ireland demonstrated that net disposable income is currently lower than two years prior — leaving average earnings less than 2020 levels.
Salaries have hit a plateau for the under 65s. Material deprivation rates have soared. A fifth of children currently encounter material deprivation. Income poverty rates dangerously escalate in households with the youngest child aged between newborn and five years. During the pandemic, satisfaction with life nosedived dramatically, particularly among youths and single parents.
A government attempting to sell a narrative of success to an electorate who are troubled and disgruntled is an ineffective strategy. Insisting that the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties abstain from self-congratulation is akin to urging an ostrich to take flight.
Repeatedly, when an actual campaign emerges, the political establishment is taken by surprise. Considering the evolving opinion of the undecided voters over the past ten years, their sentiment can shift without warning. This makes the campaign for the general election particularly crucial.
An electorate that is collectively discontented and settling for the “lesser of two evils” often doesn’t resonant significantly with scandal. They’re not particularly engaged. However, once they become emotionally involved during a campaign, frivolity becomes a key issue.
In the near future, accusations of wastage of taxpayers’ money will stir up considerable anger amongst the voters. This issue, which is a placeholder for the overall displeasure of the electorate, has potential for disaster. According to current survey results, voters are in a cautious holding pattern. But what transpires during the general election could be tantamount to awakening a slumbering bear.