Sir, - In this land of the rampaging tiger there are a number of certainties, traffic gets worse, housing becomes more unaffordable for private sector workers and politicians make bleating noises in tones of peeved bewilderment at the ever increasing number of citizens choosing to abstain from voting.
As an aid to enlightenment for members of the Kildare Street Gentlemens' Club busy with their five-year (if they are lucky) nest-feathering exercise, let me offer a few headings for contemplation:
Too many TDs,
Too many recesses,
Exorbitant expense claims,
Unopposed cross party support for granting themselves pay rises,
Multiple pensions,
Golden circles,
Neverending tribunals that never seem to achieve anything except keep impoverished barristers from the breadline.
And so on . . .
If TDs genuinely don't know why people are so disenchanted with the wonderful "through the looking glass" world of politics, maybe they should try living on an average industrial wage, not collect extra expenses just for turning up to do a days work. And when the question of pay arises, let them undergo six-monthly performance reviews like the rest of us in the workplace.
To paraphrase the drunken politician, "Maybe then even they will understand. Then again, maybe not." - Yours, etc.,
Alan Dawson, Portobello, Dublin 8.