Be sure to cast your aspersions before casting your EU vote; VIEW FROM SLANE CASTLE.

Byline: Lord Henry

THIS Bank Holiday weekend we will be bombarded by the final onslaught in the campaign by politicians in the local and European elections.

You must keep in mind that this is your opportunity to let loose on a political class that claim they can extricate us from the economic mess in which we find ourselves.

It is not exactly rocket science to work out that Fianna Fail in particular are the primary culprits.

But you have to ask yourself, in the past how courageous and how vigorous were the Opposition in calling for an end to the merry dance that led to the public finances being so disproportionately dependent on the building sector?

DYNASTIES

There is, however, another matter about which we should be reminded. The leaders of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have much in common. They are both the products of political dynasties.

They were both elected to the Dail in by-elections on the deaths of their fathers. They have both been professional politicians most of their adult lives.

They are both intensely tribal and, despite leading parties that are the closest in terms of political ideology, they have both sworn that neither would join the other in government.

Then both these geniuses have another essential component in common. They have no real experience of life outside of politics.

They do not have to struggle with the normal anxieties of families. They don't know what it is like to be unemployed or have any experience of how difficult it is to keep a business going.

For final good measure they don't have to buy a car. Enda Kenny gets to swan around the country with a chauffeur just like Biffo, kissing babies and meeting pretty girls. Of course they understand real life.

ASPIRATIONS 

Keep this in mind when you meet the candidates. Size them up and ask yourself how deeply do they understand your aspirations and your problems and if you encountered any of our sitting MEPs ask them do they employ any members of their family in any capacity.

There is a point here and it is that so few among our politicians really put the national interest before the narrow interest of their party.

Too many of our politicians are in it for the game and as such their view on life becomes distorted and detached from the realities that people face.

So next Friday when you cast your vote, by all means hammer those responsible but if by good fortune there is a candidate that puts country first give them your vote.

CAPTION(S):

COWEN AND OUT? Taoiseach Cowen and Enda Kenny