This article is from page 24 of the 2011-02-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 24 JPG
AS POLITICAL parties encourage people to exercise their democratic right to vote, one Shannon group is controversially calling on the electorate to do the opposite.
Led by former chairperson of Shannon Town Commissioners Peter Flannigan, a group of so called “former political activists” have urged the Clare electorate to abstain from voting in the upcoming 2011 General Election.
The group have now begun a shortterm campaign “to urge the electorate in Clare to show its total rejection of the economic mess created by an Irish ruling political elite” by not voting.
“The group had met because as individuals they held a view that each political party contesting the General Election in Clare has stated that it will be behind imposing financial hardship. This has been clearly demonstrated. As all the larger political parties have been prepared to support a Finance Bill of unbearable and unjust proportions with those parties who are seeking to offer an alternative to the present coalition, being prepared to withdraw their no confidence vote in the current Government, thus proving that they only seek power irrespective of the cost,” said Mr Flannigan.
“The former political activists who attended Sunday’s meeting feel there is a requirement to show real opposition in the county to the despicable political actions which have brought misery to people. The actions of those former TDs deserting the sink- ing Irish economic ship akin to rats, creaming their large severance handouts of tax payer’s money after creating a Universal Tax Levy on workers to pay for their unscrupulous pay off has to be challenged by way of protest,” he added.
The group, who has organised itself to encourage people not to vote, will not be entering a candidate in the election.