Coarsening of the Irish middle-class and right-wing politics

[antiestablishmentarian]

There is a comfortable consensus on the left that left wing politics and parties will be the main beneficiaries of popular discontent with austerity and the economic crisis. So far this analysis seems to have been partially vindicated, with strong showings for the left and Sinn Féin (whom I include as a left party despite their antics in the North) in the last local and general elections. If we scratch the surface though, we'll notice a couple of other trends at play.

Fine Gael has turned hard right and gained roughly a third of the total, which it seems to be holding onto quite well so far. Their government so far is very authoritarian and there have been a number of moves to concentrate more power in the hands of the executive, and a scapegoating of the unemployed for non-existent fraud and as spongers. The worrying thing is that alot of middle-class people have actually bought into this and reading alot of different forums, and talking to friends and acquaintances back home, it seems the idea of the unemployed as scroungers and lazy feckless ne'er do wells is actually gaining a bit of traction. One instance of this is the equivocating of the unemployed with the bankers in the classic 'middle-class-is-being-squeezed-the-most-by-welfare-and-banks' analysis of the Indo but also quite prevalent on boards.ie and in casual conversation with alot of other people. Another is an increase in casual racism- anyone looking at other popular political forums will be struck by the increase in bile and venom towards immigrants (aka 'welfare tourists') that has become increasingly prevalent.

Given the correlation between an increase in these sentiments and sustained support for FG, I think it's fair to say that there are social battle lines being drawn at the moment and that the left and those who want to fight back against the bailout and austerity may have to oppose not just the government and IMF/ECB but also a significant portion of the population who support austerity, the crushing of the PS unions and organised labour, and a strengthening of the executive at the expense of democracy and individual civil liberties.

[Holly]

I see no distinction between callous right-wingers and the shameless greed of the public service trade union officials who represent overpaid senior and middle management parasites. They are all out for #1 at the expense of the working class, the poor, and the vulnerable.

[lawrence Taylor]

Well said Holly

[Binn Beal]

In the economic dog-fight each animal looks after itself.

The theory is that those who succeed in grabbing the choice bits of the carcass reduce in number by competition among themselves, and those still snarling over the bones increase in number. This process leads more and more people fighting over the scraps until it becomes apparent to all that the guy with the lion's share is practically on his own and that perhaps instead of fighting they could combine and share the carcass more equitably. And then the expropriator is expropriated, as your man put it.

To attribute lofty ideals to any class that is fighting to hang on to a bit of meat might be a mistake. True, in the scheme of things the majority have the moral highground by being a majority but all classes are fighting for their own interests.

In the US the term 'middle-class' is used to mean the mass of working people which in Europe we used to call 'working-class'.

After years of relentless anti-socialist, anti-communist, anti-union, anti-public sector propaganda, there are no acceptable terms for political debate anymore which is a victory for the guy chewing on the fat carcass in his razor-wire fortress.

[Shaadi]

I see no distinction between callous right-wingers and the shameless greed of the public service trade union officials who represent overpaid senior and middle management parasites. They are all out for #1 at the expense of the working class, the poor, and the vulnerable.

At least the callous right-wingers are honest about their selfishness. Some of the posts on P.IE by people who would have been thought of as liberal pro PS posters (teachers, middle level civil servants) have been shocking, in that they show a totally callous attitude to the suffering of welfare recipients. These posters who a few months ago were quite sympathetic to the plight of Social Welfare recipients are now beginning to sound like PDs. The response to the cutting of the disability for young people from €188 to €100 was we have an €18bn budget deficit and there can be no free money for people anymore. They are going to fight tooth and nail to protect the CPA, if that means slashing social welfare while those in the Kevin Cardiff end of the civil service are protected then so be it. They then set out rationalising their position by saying that if the top civil service grades get cut then all grades will get cut. They don't care about social solidarity it's a "blow you I'm alright Jack" and "let them eat cake" attitude. The lower end public service workers seem quite happy to consider a cut to the fat cats at the top end of the civil service even if it means revisiting the CPA, the middle level civil servants are now aligning themselves with the fat cats.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

There was some self-satisfied cow at the Irish Times who advised that unemployed people should 'get off their fat arses and find a job' I'm told in the last few days.

That comment would be appropriate where there were jobs available. With a bit of luck she'll be on her considerable arse soon enough as soon as enough advertisers realise that the Irish Times is a dying media outlet in terms of reach.

There'll be a few people lined up to advise her on the position of her arse when she gets her cards.

[fluffybiscuits]

There is a comfortable consensus on the left that left wing politics and parties will be the main beneficiaries of popular discontent with austerity and the economic crisis. So far this analysis seems to have been partially vindicated, with strong showings for the left and Sinn Féin (whom I include as a left party despite their antics in the North) in the last local and general elections. If we scratch the surface though, we'll notice a couple of other trends at play.

Fine Gael has turned hard right and gained roughly a third of the total, which it seems to be holding onto quite well so far. Their government so far is very authoritarian and there have been a number of moves to concentrate more power in the hands of the executive, and a scapegoating of the unemployed for non-existent fraud and as spongers. The worrying thing is that alot of middle-class people have actually bought into this and reading alot of different forums, and talking to friends and acquaintances back home, it seems the idea of the unemployed as scroungers and lazy feckless ne'er do wells is actually gaining a bit of traction. One instance of this is the equivocating of the unemployed with the bankers in the classic 'middle-class-is-being-squeezed-the-most-by-welfare-and-banks' analysis of the Indo but also quite prevalent on boards.ie and in casual conversation with alot of other people. Another is an increase in casual racism- anyone looking at other popular political forums will be struck by the increase in bile and venom towards immigrants (aka 'welfare tourists') that has become increasingly prevalent. Given the correlation between an increase in these sentiments and sustained support for FG, I think it's fair to say that there are social battle lines being drawn at the moment and that the left and those who want to fight back against the bailout and austerity may have to oppose not just the government and IMF/ECB but also a significant portion of the population who support austerity, the crushing of the PS unions and organised labour, and a strengthening of the executive at the expense of democracy and individual civil liberties.

This worries me greatly that the African immigrants especially are being scape goated as the run on resources begins. There seems to be a pack mentality among some people standing guard over their resources , kind of harks back to a time when Neolithic man fought other cave dwellers to defend their resources, human kind is a lot more advanced now. PK's blog about the taxi drivers is a perfect example of it. The taxi drivers piling up in the ranks squeezing out anyone who is not one of their own exemplifies the monopoly certain groups want ona commodity.

[Fraxinus]

Ya know funny enough some of the biggest supporters of the austerity status quo (although not loving it!) and biggest critics of the unemployed I know are civil servants or people from civil servant families.

I see Phoenix did a profile on a "welfare fraud" and "thieving gypsies" scaremongering journalist (I'll refrain from calling him an investigative journalist), TV3's Paul Connolly. It's Connolly's sort of nonsense along with the O'Reilly rags that helps stir people into a fearful and misguided frenzy.

[Holly]

Ya know funny enough some of the biggest supporters of the austerity status quo (although not loving it!) and biggest critics of the unemployed I know are civil servants or people from civil servant families.

This sector make up a core constituency of the former Fianna Fail Party. They seem to have temporarily migrated to Finne Gwael for now.

[Fraxinus]

This sector make up a core constituency of the former Fianna Fail Party. They seem to have temporarily migrated to Finne Gwael for now.

Yea, I think I agree with the analysis that a lot of those people are looking to FG to stop the drastic squeeze on their incomes and cut from welfare sources. In the public vs private worker war that was stoked up by the Indo starting a few years back the PS frustration was always that they felt they were now propping up a country with rising unemployment. I'd say the small-medium size business class want these people protected to a degree as well because they are the "consumers" (i hate that word!).

The system demands a kill or be killed mentality and unfortunately most PS workers still have something to lose so are welded to the system. A siege mentality will develop. The Union leadership has completely failed these people with dreadful consquences for the rest of us.

[Holly]

...
The system demands a kill or be killed mentality and unfortunately most PS workers still have something to lose so are welded to the system. A siege mentality will develop.

I believe you are right.

The Union leadership has completely failed these people with dreadful consquences for the rest of us.

The extremely well-paid union officials actually got a good deal for this group with the unaffordable Croke Park Agreement which makes the wealthy senior civil servants and middle management untouchable.

[Griska]

Public Sector-bashing is a ludicrous exercise.
The P.S. includes carpenters, gardeners and hospital porters.
Do people think these people are all on outrageous salaries?

Also, instead of wishing worse working conditions on people in the P.S., would it not be more sensible in putting energy into improving the working conditions of everybody?

Divide and conquer- it's a cliché because it is common and very effective.

[Fraxinus]

Public Sector-bashing is a ludicrous exercise.
The P.S. includes carpenters, gardeners and hospital porters.
Do people think these people are all on outrageous salaries?

Also, instead of wishing worse working conditions on people in the P.S., would it not be more sensible in putting energy into improving the working conditions of everybody?

Divide and conquer- it's a cliché because it is common and very effective.

For one of the largest bodies of unionised workers it begs the question why the PS have not went on mass strikes or even mooted them. There doesn't seem to an interest even. It's not bashing to realise that PS workers are welded to a horrible system and feel they have far more to lose by rocking the boat. Their overwhelming support for the austerity party's suggest they are generally in favour with cuts, which of course will affect the unemployed and welfare recipients most.
The disempowerment conundrum that the PS finds itself in is quite the same as the level of disempowerment felt by every citizen with regards this country's sovereignty....there is no appetite to stand up to EU economic aggression. We are welded to Europe through ECB funds and people feel they still have something to lose in that degree.

[Griska]

For one of the largest bodies of unionised workers it begs the question why the PS have not went on mass strikes or even mooted them. There doesn't seem to an interest even. It's not bashing to realise that PS workers are welded to a horrible system and feel they have far more to lose by rocking the boat. Their overwhelming support for the austerity party's suggest they are generally in favour with cuts, which of course will affect the unemployed and welfare recipients most.
The disempowerment conundrum that the PS finds itself in is quite the same as the level of disempowerment felt by every citizen with regards this country's sovereignty....there is no appetite to stand up to EU economic aggression. We are welded to Europe through ECB funds and people feel they still have something to lose in that degree.

Mass strikes would contravene the industrial relations peace agreement, ie. Croke Park.
PS workers are frightened and are clinging to it for dear life.
Also, most unions forget how to strike because they have become part of the overall system.
Social Partnership was an enormous mistake.
Sadly, the bubble masked this.

[antiestablishmentarian]

In fairness, there have been some actions by PS workers, the General Strike in November 2009, their votes for strike action which were continuosly ignored by the leadership and the militant action of the CPSU. Also there have been splits in the union movement, 5,000 PS workers in the Dublin region left ICTU to form a new union and the Kerry Public sector workers alliance was formed too. The rank and file often wanted to take action but it was the leadership who thwarted alot of the militant spirit.