Madam, - Your coverage of the argument over Pat Rabbitte's possible choice of coalition partners highlights the lack of choice for voters in the coming election. What difference will it make to the majority of Irish people whether Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael leads the next government? What fundamental changes will take place if Enda Kenny is the new Taoiseach? The truth is that there is very little difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in key policy areas such as public services, taxation, or neutrality.
Take public services, for example. Both parties repeat the same mantra that the problem isn't one of underfunding but of inefficiencies within the system. They both promote "fiscal austerity", which means restricting public spending even when there is a surplus. They both promote privatisation and greater private sector involvement. Both parties promote the free-market view of Ireland as first and foremost a business enterprise - "Ireland Inc" - and put social concerns and people's needs a very poor second.
When it comes to Irish neutrality, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are of like mind in approving the use of Shannon Airport by the US military.
There was a time when the Labour Party used to oppose these kinds of policies, a time when they stood up for equality, for working people, for public services, for neutrality. A time when they firmly opposed corruption, not just in words but in demanding action. But not any more.
Nothing fundamentally changed when Labour went into coalition with Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael in the past. Now is the time for Labour to change its coalition tune and to stand up as a party of working people and of principle, and to work with parties it has much more in common with, such as Sinn Féin, the Greens, People Before Profit and other left-wing independents. Then people would see how similar Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are. Then we would have a real choice in the next election.
We do not want or need a US-style election, where the campaign is about personality and spin without any fundamental debate on policy. - Yours, etc,
RORY HEARNE, People Before Profit Alliance, Dublin 8.