Sir, – Many harsh and wretched things are being said about the present political administration: arrogant, uncaring, self-serving, incompetent, Perhaps they qualify on all counts, but I think the trait that will define them for future generations is stupidity.
It is almost inconceivable that not one of 166 (I include the Opposition and exclude the Seanad) reasonably intelligent, educated, experienced and caring (I cannot believe none of them really care) individuals cannot see or at least suspect that something much greater than simple fiscal failure is afoot.
Within the experience of even the youngest of those elected Dáil, the world around us had been utterly transformed by modern technology. What was considered impossible less than two decades ago is now common place. Shortage of goods is a phenomenon of the past; services are accessible from our livingrooms and from anywhere through the little gadget in our pockets or handbags; choice of so many life-enhancing experiences is available at the touch of a button.
Yet not one of those charged with our welfare will consider that the extraordinary technological advance recently experienced may have changed the face of economics to a degree that age old concepts of recessions, debt, austerity, growth promotion and job creation are no longer adequate.
Perhaps the diagnosis of our ailment is misguided and we are treating the wrong disease? New thinking has transformed the productive wing of economics, yet new thinking will not be considered or even allowed in the administrative and political wing of economics.
This crisis is not due to failure; it is due to success. The failure is only in refusal to recognise, accept and adapt to the miracle Science and Technology have achieved in recent years. No matter how it is measured the present time is far and away the best ever experienced; at least in material terms. It is the most ironic of tragedies that the intelligence of those who make things will be the source of our destruction because of the stupidity of those who administer.
Only one branch of society may be more culpable than politicians. That is the media who should know better but refuse to challenge politicians and economists on the stupidity of their one-track minds. – Yours, etc,