Class divide soldiers on
Oh Oh. Class is back. We managed to keep a lid on it during the Celtic Tiger years because we were all middle class, apparently. Then the recession came and we were all in this together, shouldering the burden and all that. But a letter from voters in Terenure this week showed that class is back and this time it wants to move to Dublin South East.
The Association of Residents of Terenure (ART -- now there's a middle-class acronym) wrote to the constituency commission asking to be relocated from Dublin South Central to Dublin South East. Because they seem to feel that their TDs in South Central don't represent their middle-class suburb, and tend to focus instead on the concerns of voters in the "western part of the constituency".
This is South-Centralese for working class. And now ART want out so they can be reunited with their soulmates in Sandymount and Ballsbridge. This begs the question. What is the difference between a middle-class and working-class concern? Are they more focused on Shamrock Rovers and Tallafornia while you toss and turn at night wondering if now is the time to get Chinese lessons for Jack and Sophie or worrying that the Aga is going to explode?
Maybe they have a point. If class is alive and kicking, then it's high time we reflected it in the political system.
We should all be able to sign up for a constituency that reflects our values.
No longer will we have the injustice of middle-class people being forced to make common cause with anyone in a tracksuit. Or working-class people corralled in with a Volvo-driving vegan.
That said, dividing people up like this would remind you of an Afrikaans word. Apartheid. And you wouldn't exactly say that was a roaring success.
Pat Fitzpatrick
- Pat Fitzpatrick
