Socialism

Socialism and Ireland.

There are those in Sinn Fein who dream of a Socialist Republic in Ireland but the track record of Socialist Republics in the world isn’t good. At one time there was the USSR and there remains North Korea and Cuba. Those who dream of a Socialist Republic for Ireland are Sinn Fein conservatives. These people may say they are Marxist not conservatives but one can be a Marxist and a conservative. Stalin was a Marxist and a conservative who would countenance nothing other than the control of the USSR by the politburo of the communist party. How ever change came to the Soviet Union in Gorbachev’s new ideas of glasnost and perestroika. Democracy followed but this democracy is now corrupted with criminality. Change always needs new ideas. Change came to the Church in Luther’s new ideas on Christianity. Sinn Fein is devoid of new ideas.

This is not a rebuttal of Socialism but questions the package in which socialism is delivered. For those in Sinn Fein who dream of Ireland as an off shore Cuba in relation to Europe such a package would not be acceptable to the Irish people. Socialism in the package of a liberal democracy would be acceptable. The constitutional monarchy of Sweden is a prime example. Sweden is the wealthiest and most egalitarian country in the world due to the progressive insightful policies of successive socialist governments. Ireland as a liberal democracy within a Federal Kingdom constitutional monarchy could emulate Sweden and become a wealthy egalitarian society to be cherished by the people.

Michael Gillespie