OPINION: Are we the 51st state of America?

The state is the soul writ large, according to Plato. Unfortunately for us it does not bode well. While a certain amount of angst may emerge from some people over the ‘the state’ of the United States of America, things here are similar. A stake is being driven through the heart of democracy in our little island at present.
The two main parties are intent on ensuring that democratic principles are usurped and justice is ignored. The same ‘might is right’ arrogance and bullying that we are witnessing across the Atlantic is being practised before our eyes in our own seat of democracy.
The principles of democracy were short-lived for Micheál Martin and Simon Harris, who between them, have shown breathtaking conceit in their handling of the speaking-time debacle still unfolding. They think it’s acceptable that Regional Independent TDs who support the government should also be afforded speaking time, as though they were Opposition TDs. The row has prevented Dáil committees and the Dáil itself from functioning properly.
After a vote in the Dáil Reform Committee last Wednesday, the Government won by ten votes to eight. The proposal will be put to a full Dáil, where the Government has a majority, vote this week. This is a silly and cynical sideshow distraction that has done nothing more than prove that we are on the road to fulfilling Lord Acton’s observation: Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
TDs will have to find the mettle to stand up for what is right when the vote is called. It will be a first test for new TDs. Hiding under the coat-tails of ‘the party’ will not wash. There is too much at stake. It’s called a principle of our democracy. Oh that TDs would represent common sense and simply stand up and say, ‘Enough is enough. This nonsense has gone on too long’. This is about respect.
Speaking after the Dáil Committee vote Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit said: “That was one of the worst exercises in cynicism and sleeveen politics on the part of the Government that I have ever witnessed in all my years in the Dáil.”
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald described the actions of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil as ‘dangerous, unprecedented and a clear attempt to turn logic and the rules and functions of the Dáil on their head’. She said that the Government parties now ‘want their own TDs to also act as though they were also Opposition TDs’.
Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O’Callaghan said what has happened is ‘an unprecedented attempt by the Government to dilute Opposition oversight in this Dáil’.
Of course this deflects from other issues like the Occupied Territories Bill (OTB) which Taoiseach Micheál Martin is trying to kick into touch, as he is the ‘neutrality triple-lock’ on the deployment of Irish troops on peacekeeping missions.
It is deeply worrying that An Taoiseach misrepresented the status of the proposed OTB legislation by claiming ‘it is incompatible with EU law and the constitution’. He later said ‘virtually every section’ of the bill needed amendment. Yet, according to the Attorney General, Rossa Fanning, only minor changes are required for constitutional compliance. And he added that Ireland could potentially beat any unlikely EU challenge to the bill, as the Government could argue the bill is ‘necessary to uphold respect for the rule of law, the universality and indivisibility of human rights and fundamental freedoms and respect for human dignity’.
Our leaders are fearful of America. When the Occupied Territories Bill was proposed the Government was emailed by the then US Ambassador, Claire Cronin, as reported in The Ditch publication and debated in the Dáil. Ambassador Cronin played hardball on the issue, warning of ‘consequences’ if the bill were to be enacted. Two hours later, the Government promised to ‘review’ the legislation. It’s hard not to join the dots: As Boyd Barrett but it, the Government ‘kowtowed’ to the US, the very nation that has consistently armed Israel as it engages in crimes against humanity and draws the ire of people across the world through its brutal savagery.
Foreign cargo airlines still use Irish airspace to ship arms to Israel, while US military aircraft still refuel at Shannon Airport. The narrative is one of subordination.
Welcome to the 51st state of America. Democracy is in the firing line in both countries. It seem that anything they can do, we can do too, with shamrock politicians.