Ciaran’s Peculier [sic] Blog

I have long been dedicated to the European ideal, part of which involves respect for democracy. Now democracy in my mind is all about giving people choice, at least in theory. Where then is there any democracy where the people have to vote in a certain way, and if they don’t vote properly the first time, they must keep voting until they do get it right? Nicolas Sarkozy says the Irish must vote in a certain way until they come up with the outcome he wishes. By the way is he prepared to pay for this re-run? He clearly considers the people of Ireland to be une racaille.

This is a version of democracy with which we are all too familiar. It was the form favoured in the “People’s Democracies” of Eastern Europe, and which is still favoured by people like Vladimir Putin. It gave rise to a myriad of jokes. A man in Prague sees a greater police presence on the street and asks his friend. “What’s the problem?” “Haven’t you heard? There’s been a robbery from the Central Committee headquarters.” “Huh, what was taken then?” “The results of next month’s elections.” or the one about the man who goes to vote in Hungary and is given a sealed envelope by the polling clerk. Naturally enough he attempts to open it, but the clerk immediately snatches it back from him saying: “Don’t you realise, it’s a secret ballot.”

I’m reminded of the exchange between former president of Nicaragua Anastasio Somoza senior and a political opponent who claimed, with reason, to have won a presidential election against Somoza, who told him: “You may have won the election, but I won the count.” Someone who has won the count recently is President Bob in Zimbabwe. He was determined to use all means, fair or foul, to get the result he wanted. What then is the difference between Mugabe and Sarkozy? The latter’;s just not in such a rush.

PS. I hope this doesn’t annoy too many of my readers in Cavan and that none of them are tempted to misrepresent me  If you want to know how I voted in the referendum it’s on public record that I didn’t vote out of principle.