After a weekend of reflection with a large group of my friends I am left in no doubt that the consequence of the Green Party supporting the NAMA legislation has resulted in the party destroying any opportunity for not just the current generation to embrace green politics but it will prevent the next generation from being given an opportunity to join what I had hoped until recently was a Party of the future in this country.
I joined the Green Party as an environmental scientist who believed in what the party stood for back in 2007. I actively encouraged friends and colleagues to think differently about the Green Party and made some serious inroads into bringing about behavioural change within the community I live to support green politics. I was asked to stand in the local elections and did so in west cork, standing up for the Green Party when many others were not willing to engage with the public. This cost be significantly in time and personal finances.
I can categorically say right now I now do not have one personal friend or acquaintance who believes that the Green Party are making the right decision in government in regard to NAMA.
The universal belief of people I meet is that they will NEVER vote green again, even regardless of their friendship to me or their support for me in the past in my career or in my public endeavours.
Without fail they are of the opinion that whatever principals or integrity the party had amount to nothing in the debacle we now find ourselves in with NAMA.
As a committed environmentalist this has shaken my own belief in the party, I find that the willingness of the party to support the NAMA legislation is a step too far and I fear that I may have no choice but to resign from the party.
As a environmental scientist if I wish to continue to build support in the community for sustainable development and green ideologies I find all of my work in attempting to build a low carbon future is now in jeopardy as a consequence of my association with the Green Party.
A party that has lost the support not just of a large percentage of its own members but of the public at large.
I am even more enraged and saddened at this because this should be at a time when Green politics should be on the rise with the threat of climate change and sustainability, instead the parties continued support for NAMA is extinguishing and possibility of the party offering a realistic alternative to the public in the difficult years ahead.
I fear the Green Party will be remembered for NAMA; for not being willing to take the principled stand, but for supporting a vehicle that goes against the very core of green philosophy or matters of sustainability, legislation that supports greed, unsustainable development and the concept of profit from a failed financial system that has bankrupt the state.
Right now it brings to mind Jim Morrison of the Doors with the words,
“This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I'll never look into your eyes...again..”
As someone who has always felt that I have an ability to feel the pulse of the people and have many times rode ahead of the posse in current or political opinions I believe that NAMA will be the tombstone of green politics in Ireland for a generation.
What a sorry waste,
What a terrible tragedy.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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7 comments:
What has happened to the Green Party is nothing new. Once the organization comes in to power its main concerned is to stay in power. Its former principals become somewhat of a burden that it needs to get rid of. People that are still talking about upholding them are looked upon as naïve and dangerous. Think of inquisition! Our PP will not burn you because they won’t get away with it.
Declan,
I disagree. NAMA is predicated on slow growth. There is room for social and community dividend. I am looking at the Report stage amendments as I write and I see many clear green gains in the legislation.
Meanwhile in other areas we are tackling Climate Change legislation, Planning legislation, Noise pollution laws, Civil Partnership etc.
I don't share your pessimism.
Ciarán
http://www.ciarancuffe.ie/
@ Ciarán ... of course you don't share his pessimism. You have your nose stuck as deeply in the through as the rest of your Green/FF colleagues ... how could you be pessimistic!! The fact that you are not pessimistic show how divorced from reality you and the Greens in Govt have become.
And as for the "clear green gains in the (NAMA) legislation" you mention... perhaps you would be good enough to clarify these please? Are you talking about the levy proposed by your party? Or the Green social dividend proposed by your party? Or risk sharing as proposed by your party?
But it couldn't be any of these things could it Ciarán? Because they don't exist. Or have been so watered down as to be meaningless. FF said "no" didn't they and you as always accepted the will of your political masters. So I'd love to know what these "clear green gains" are. If there are any that is.
Derek,
I was very impressed by you as a candidate in the locals in 2007, but it won't bother me in the least if you jump ship.
If you have issues with the Green Party, the place to deal with those is within the constitutional structures of the party. Those structures have been in place for over 25 years, and are perfectly capable of dealing with differences of opinion as they arise.
Berating the party in public over NAMA may provide some personal catharsis for you, but it is an extremely selfish act and completely ignores the fact that the party's continued participation in Government is at the behest of the vast majority of its membership.
Your comments are made in the obvious knowledge that they will be seized upon by our opponents, and clearly demonstrate a desire on your part to see further damage inflicted on the party.
This is an understandable reaction given your views on NAMA, but it does not excuse it.
Politics and activism are not the same thing. Activism is about turning up. Politics is about actual change, and political progress on issues like the environment, in which the electorate have no real interest, is always achieved at great personal cost for those involved.
There will never be a time when it is easy for the Green Party to be in Government. Governments will always have to make unpopular decisions, and Green Party Governments will always have to make *extremely* unpopular decisions.
To that end, the party must remain unified, and unity must involve tolerance of differing views.
If you cannot find a way to reconcile your differences with the rest us, for the greater good, perhaps the Green Party isn't for you.
Greens Against Nama will be holding a meeting on Saturday 14th at the Teachers Club, Parnell Sq from 11am to discuss issues relating to the discontent amongst some party members and the future direction for those members, either collectively or individually, within or outside of the Party.
Green Party Member, you wrote:
"If you have issues with the Green Party, the place to deal with those is within the constitutional structures of the party. Those structures have been in place for over 25 years, and are perfectly capable of dealing with differences of opinion as they arise."
Not all of those structures have been in place for over 25 years. Various parts of the constitution and party structure have been changed over the years. I should know because I was a founder member and actively involved for many years.
It seems to me that the party structures are not capable of dealing with the differences of opinion.
Instead of insinuating that Declan Waugh is not acting with sincerity, you ought to concern yourself with how Gormley & co are bringing the party into disrepute. You only have to reread the Planet Bertie speech to see that.
Or do you find dishonesty acceptable when it comes from people in power?
As Green Party members we are all looking to see changes made in how Ireland is run.
Short of a revolution, the only way to get these changes made is to have people who share our worldview sitting at the Cabinet Table.
With less than 5% of the popular vote, and only 6 TDs, we do not have the mandate, or the ability, to make big changes fast. We must content ourselves, therefore, with making small incremental shanges, and we, as members, need to be working hard on the ground to increase our mandate, and the number of TDs we have in Parliament.
The only three options we have therefore are:
1) Hold our noses and make the most of the opportunity we have to get stuff done using the system that exists.
2) Stage a coup (although with less than 5% popularity, and a pacifist ethos, this is not very likely to be a roaring success)
or 3) Whinge about the fact that our Ministers are not delivering enough, fast enough, and are having to work closely with the Party that the Irish people keep returning to Government.
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