Please Sir, I Want Some More!

Ireland's General Election result looks like it has sent out a strong message. Unfortunately, it's not the message many were hoping for.

The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver, while his next neighbours nudged him.

Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:

"Please, sir, I want some more."

The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.
"What!" said the master at length, in a faint voice.

"Please, sir," replied Oliver, "I want some more."

The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle; pinioned him in his arms; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.

So here we are, it’s the day after the Irish General Election of 2024.

Those living in Ireland will need no reminder of what the Irish (Coalition) Government have inflicted on the people of Ireland over the last 4 years in particular; locked down, lied to, gaslighted relentlessly by the media, movements restricted, discriminated against for refusing to yield bodily autonomy, and vilified for refusing to be human pin cushions, receptacles for needles carrying experimental toxic substances from the syringes of Big Pharma.

Not to mention the island being flooded with (predominantly) men from all over the world (Ireland For All, remember?), settling in tent cities in Dublin, descending into Irish villages, no jobs to go to, many with no identification, no traceable history and certainly not making positive any contributions to Irish society. Unless you count spending their benefit money in nearest the off-licence and loitering in public places getting slowly drunk as positive contributions. Having said that, some Irish men have been doing that for decades, but thats another story.

Massive strain on services, such as access to a GP or Dentist, woeful (sometimes lethal) emergency care conditions in hospitals, chronic shortage of homes for those looking to buy, rent or access via social housing provision, increased cost of living, corruption and negligence being rife in the political arena and on and on it goes.

So against this backdrop, you would have thought that the Irish people have had enough. That it’s been a long 4 years, people are at their proverbial wits end. Time for change, time to get rid of those who are destroying Ireland, those that are compromising our children’s and grandchildren’s futures. Time to rise, time to stop the rot.

You would have thought.

Sure, many have called out the treachery and deception. Some have taken stands that have cost them their jobs and relationships with friends and families. Some have ended up in court and in prison for their beliefs and refusal to bow the knee to authoritarian and abusive demands. Communities of “the awake” have sprang up, grown and multiplied, both online and offline. Calls of “Ireland for the Irish” seem to be getting louder and more passionate, protests becoming more frequent, widespread and increasingly well attended. So, when Ireland took to the polls on Friday 29th November 2024, it wasn’t unreasonable to expect change, even a small change, given what everyone in Ireland has been subjected to.

But that doesn’t look like it will be the case. Ireland has been run by a coalition government since 1989. And since 1922, either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael have led every government. Indicators following the closure of the polls are that this will continue; the uniparty have done it again.

Many have lost faith in the electoral process, or never believed in it to begin with. Voter apathy is understandable. Scepticism is justified. But yet that’s the system that is in place, and calls for spoiled ballots and/or abstention would only ever work (possibly) if the numbers of people participating in that strategy were high enough. And a viable alternative plan was proposed, accepted and actioned by the majority. And we aren’t at that place, yet. Not even close.

Which brings me to the quote from Oliver Twist, highlighted above. It’s the first thing that came to mind when I sat down to write this. At feeding time, the hungry, scrawny boys took their places. They outnumbered those who were serving their gruel. Those assisting the “Master” were paupers too, yet slightly higher up the poverty ladder than those about to receive their meagre daily sustenance. The hungry were collectively stronger than the fat, bloated “Master.” Yet they were skinny and he was fat. They were silent as he barked orders. They were desperate and he was content.

Oliver Twist was a lone voice in the dining hall that day; driven by hunger and a desire for personal survival and egged on by the whispers of others without the spine or desire to speak out for themselves.

"Please, sir, I want some more."

The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.”

His delivery was polite and direct. But it was delivered against a backdrop of paralysed wonder and fear.

I believe this is a picture of Ireland at this time. Hungry for change, Desperate for renewal and growth. To see its people prosper and flourish in safety and harmony. More people are saying enough is enough. More are taking to the streets. More are desperate for the right thing to be done in our schools, hospitals, councils and parishes. Yet it’s not enough. The numbers aren’t there, yet.

After all the damage that’s been done, it’s hard not to get disillusioned and despondent when you see how nothing seems to have changed. The masses are happy to accept their meagre ration of gruel from their political masters. Yes, they may whisper and complain about it, but only in hushed tones, remaining ever hopeful that someone with more courage than them will step forward and speak up.

At that point, support of those willing and brave enough to put themselves forth is essential. It’s not enough to spectate and shout encouragement from the safety of the long dining hall benches. There needs to be cohesive unit of Olivers, demanding more, without the grovelling “Please, Sir” mentality.

Maybe as the bowls of gruel get smaller and less frequent (which they undoubtedly will) for the masses in Ireland, they will have no option but to take command of the kitchen rather than begging for more. But until that time comes it will be dirty business as usual for the treacherous and compromised soon to be next Irish government.

Rick.

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