Editorial May – June 2007

Are you a TV? No. not a television – a Thinking Voter.

With only hours to go to the start of voting. there is still time to become a member of the Thinking Voters club. TVs are the key voters in this and all elections, and every political party aims its manifesto at them, not at the loyal party supporters. TVs are the many thousands of intelligent floating voters who really decide the destination of Dail seats, especially in marginal constituencies.

TVs are mainly non-party people who see beyond their own selfish interests and instead focus on the common good. Their principal characteristics are: to listen keenly, to focus on issues rather than on personalities. read-up on these same key election issues, think seriously about how these policies will impact on family life, their community, county and country, their immunity from propaganda and crack-pot ideologies, the ability to use their genetically endowed gift to detect political bluff, guff and bull manure at 10 metres. and finally to reflect deeply before deciding which individuals and party will win their votes.

Why are TVs so fastidious about how they vote? At stake is the transfer of their power to a government to spend a massive annual €4O billion of their money (taxes). They seriously consider who will best use these monies for the benefit of the common good, not that of selected elites, but rather on core services that sustain and strengthen everyday life: improved investment in primary education and health, decent pensions and carers’ allowances, more and better public transport, affordable homes at fair prices, reform of local government, and special financial investment in services for people with disabilities, families living in poverty and the homeless.

There is still time to become a TV by dispelling the political smoke screens that cloud and seek to hide the core issues at the heart of this election. lt calls for the casting aside of personal animosity towards political personalities and their policies. It demands clear thinking and examination of all policies, and to arrive at a decision who to vote for.

Finally, TVs are not ‘fence straddlers’ or ‘an armchair voters’. Rather, they treasure their right to vote and exercise it at the polling station. So, how about it? lt’s your right, your choice and your vote. Right!

Congratulations

To the boys and girls who made their First Holy Communion in May.

Well done to 2007 All-Ireland Quiz Winners, Newcastle N.S., whose quiz team of Jamie Quinn, Fiona Gannon, Liam Coppinger and Jamie Gannon and their teacher, Ms. Cathy Treacy, has brought glory to their school and community.

Congrats also to the Athenry Senior Camogie team and mentors after winning a most exciting county senior League final.

Heartiest congratulations to Athenry Soccer Club after winning the Premier County League, the first club outside Galway City to do so.

Gerry Ahern, Editor