we're following the leader

Watching the live Leaders' Debates over the past fornight has proven a truly insightful experience, though not only an insight into British politics. The one thing that has stood out, in my opinion anyway, is the manner in which British MP's conduct themselves in debates.

Brown, Cameron and Clegg may squabble slightly, but they do something that no Irish Politician has done in a very long time - they speak with confidence. Cowan, Kenny and Gilmore regularly put me to sleep; they lack charisma, confidence and most importantly, they lack leadership qualities. Most politicians in Dáil Éireann could do with a course of Public Speaking classes. I learned more about speaking confidently and clearly locked away in a demonstration room every lunch time for two years than most Irish politicians seem to have learned in the terms in government.

Another thing which has caught my attention is the differential ideological approaches of the respective candidates and their parties. Divisions are clear - their policy outlines are precise and we can see where Labour, Lib. Dem and Conservatives differ; in Ireland it seems to come down to a treaty from 1922. That's the sad fact, our country is still overshadowed by a division that is at this point, in my opinion, irrelevant, in the political spectrum at least. I'll probably be shot for saying that, but I honestly believe it. Gilmore's left wing party fails to provide the alternative that the country needs; our choices are limitied to two centre-right wing parties and trade unionists of the left. There is no real choice.

Furthermore these three parties search for no solutions, they are far too content to spend the majority of their time arguing. Ireland has spent enough time locked in internal squabbles; parties are all too happy to pick holes in each others' policies. Having a snipe has taken precedence above finding a solution. We need leaders at a time of economic crisis; we need people we can believe in. Not a single Irish politician has instilled in me the belief that they are fit to be in government or in opposition. Watching those who sit in Dáil Éireann squabble sickens me to the core. Ireland has become a sadistic, cynical, self obsessed country in the absence of the Celtic Tiger - we care only about how to get ourselves back into a position in which we can buy whatever we want; nobody cares about the wealth of the nation. We don't have the kind of leaders we need; ones who will knock our heads together and tell the people of this country to 'wise up'. Squabbling is not the way forward, co-operation is. We're in the red, we won't get out of that without making some cuts. Those in opposition would have to do the same thing were they in government. In-fighting simply won't do at this stage. I'd rather not vote than involve myself in another pointless General Election. Bringing Fine Gael or Labour into power won't change it either.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying we should adopt the British system; First Past The Post is a ludicrous electoral system. Neither am I saying we should follow England's example. What I am saying though is that it's such a pity that we have no figures with the charisma and confidence of Brown, Cameron and Clegg, no leaders who can clearly stand up and simply give a speech in the style of Barack Obama. Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese have had no problem doing so, so why can't our politicians? Why can our politicians not foster a desire to get involved in people my own age? I study politics and the majority of those I study it with would rather not vote than pick one of the current choices we have. It's time that both the politicians and people of Ireland, for want of a better phrase, 'got with the programme'.