This article appeared in The Mayo News on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
As the general election looms closer, the perennial question of stability versus change confronts us again. Grappling with the possibility – nay, the likelihood – of a return to the century-long status quo – a government dominated by either Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael or both – it is past time to question whether another term for the old guard will benefit Ireland, and indeed, Mayo. Against a backdrop of rising far-right sentiment and worsening wealth inequality, is clinging to the traditional powerhouses really the way forward?
Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have long presented themselves as the safe choices. Experienced, capable, and pragmatic. There is an argument to be made that in an era of economic uncertainty, the new Trump presidency and ever-more polarising political movements, the country needs stability and continuity to avoid the disruption that could arise from a radical shift in power.
Indeed, Ireland has experienced notable economic growth and recovery. Unemployment has fallen, infrastructure has improved, albeit at a glacial pace, and from Ballina to Castlebar, a level of economic development that was unimaginable just a few decades ago has been achieved. So, understandably, the prospect of another ‘FFG’ coalition government feels safe, a way to preserve what we have and avoid untested alternatives.
However, this argument rests on a presumption that “more of the same” will bring continued prosperity. An assumption falls apart when we look beyond glossy headlines and politician photocalls to the realities faced by ordinary citizens across Ireland and in Mayo.
While Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, in particular, tout their economic credentials, the truth is that their policies have consistently favoured the wealthy, exacerbating income inequality. For many in Mayo, the sense is that Dublin-centric policies have neglected rural communities. These policies have created an astounding housing crisis, and home ownership feels like an impossible dream for young people and some middle-aged people too. Rents are crippling. Social housing lists continue upwards.
The wealth inequality gap has widened under successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments. Tax policies, cuts to public services, and a failure to address corporate loopholes have allowed the rich to get richer while leaving low and middle-income families struggling to make ends meet. Small farmers face increasing pressures, local businesses grapple with rising costs, and young families are priced out of their own communities. Access to health, mental health and disability services is abysmal, unless you can afford to pay. The outputs of an economy that works well for big business and affluent urbanites but leaves the rest of us behind.
The choice to vote for these parties again might feel like a vote for stability, but stability for whom? For the wealthy elite who benefit from their policies, or for the average Mayo family struggling to get by?
Mayo and Ireland could and should be learning the lessons of the US election; when people who are struggling are ignored, the far right makes hay. Rather than using the fear of extremism as a reason for supporting Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, these parties should, as a matter of urgency, be engaging in some introspection to see how their policies have contributed to the rise of the dangerous, divisive ideologies and lies of the far-right.
These bad faith actors capitalise on discontent, using immigration as a scapegoat, turning communities against each other, and tapping into the anger felt by those who have been left behind by decades of neoliberal policies.
The very conditions that have allowed the far-right to gain traction—economic insecurity, lack of affordable housing, strained healthcare and education systems — are the result of policies pursued by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and their repeated failures to address the needs of ordinary people that have created fertile ground for extremist rhetoric. By voting for the status quo out of fear of the far-right, we are effectively endorsing the cycle of inequality and discontent that has fuelled its rise.
Those of us who lean left in Mayo do not have much choice on the ballot paper – yet. But we do have a chance to ask ourselves and the politicians knocking on our doors whether we want a government that serves the few or one that serves the many. And after the election, those of us who want more choice will need to knuckle down and make it happen, from the grassroots up. Ireland and Mayo deserve a leadership that prioritises social and climate justice, tackles the housing crisis head-on, and invests in the future of our rural communities. Voting bears huge responsibility, not just to ourselves, but to people more vulnerable or privileged than we are ourselves – something that is frequently forgotten.
While the incumbers may offer experience, their vision of stability in this wealthy land comes at the cost of growing inequality, deepening discontent, and the dangerous rise of populist extremism. It’s time we consider alternatives that will address the root causes of these issues, rather than perpetuating a cycle of neglect.
The status quo may feel like the safe option, but safety is an illusion if it leaves so many behind. This election, let’s demand more from our leaders and make a choice for a fairer, more inclusive Ireland—one where every citizen of Mayo and Ireland, not just the privileged few, can thrive.
An Cailín Rua 
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