Who's afraid of the electorate?

Fair play to the Wexford People. In a poll of public representatives it asked each one their view of Repealing the 8^th.  Some agreed, some disagreed but many sat on the fence. That’s what worries me. If public representatives are not going to express a view at any stage on this in public then what will happen in the debate and on polling day?

I’d have a respect for those who gave an opinion. It is not an easy issue for some.  What struck me as noticeable is that many councillors who opposed repealing the 8^th were much younger than me. Many would expect that younger people are more radical than older generations such as mine. Not so. One wonders if younger councillors are responding to the lobby by anti-choice campaigners simply to curry political support at the ballot box?

About 5 years ago I was approached by an individual who I knew had strong conservative social views. He had a problem with his business as it had competed for a tender with a body on which I sat and was rejected in favour of another business who at first hand seemed not as competitive. I made enquiries and an accountant was dispatched from Dublin to explain the process they administered. I went back to the individual with the bad news. “You know,” he said, “You were the only councillor that I could go to who’d take this on”.  “I’m sorry”, I responded “ I gave this a good go and I still see your point”. We left it at that, wished one another well and we parted.

12 months later I bumped into my constituent in Main St. It was during the local elections and I was under pressure, every vote was going to count. He asked me my view on abortion. I told him that I understood his view very well but was not going to give any commitment different to that of my party. I pointed out to him that councils do not play any role in social policy. I told him I opposed the 8^th amendment in 1983 and that subsequent events proved me right.

Sometimes telling people the truth doesn’t make you popular. But I’d found that out long ago.  What followed was a stand up row between the 2 of us in Main St. He told me he wouldn’t vote for me, I told him I’d live with that but asked him who’ll he go to when he has another problem with a state body? I felt very angry that someone felt they had the right to stop you on the street to abuse you.  But it was par for the course during that election.

A neighbour noticed the two of us going at it with one another and she waited until we were finished. She asked me was I alright. I thanked her for stopping and we walked home together.  

A day after I lost I was listening to local radio. The man who I had the row with rang in to say that people who were pro-life had voted for Sinn Fein. I smiled. I didn’t lose any sleep over this at any stage.

Sometimes politics is about doing the right thing. The right thing now is to tell the electorate what they think. They’re well able to make up their own minds when it comes to the ballot box.

Who’s afraid of the electorate?