Ronnie Simpson's Blog

Since the Lisbon Treaty referendum much bafflement has been expressed by the political establishment over the ‘disconnect’ and break down in trust between the public and them.  “How could they not trust us?” seems to be the wail.
 

Rightly or wrongly (and let me lay my cards on the table, I voted yes) I believe that a significant part of the referendum ‘no’ was a protest vote. Many may have believed in the Mary Lou School of Economics that we could always renegotiate (but still get our dig in at the establishment).
 

The surprise is that the politicians are surprised.  The run in to the referendum included the Bertie Ahern explanation to the Mahon Tribunal that he won large amounts of sterling ‘on the horses’.  
 

Since the General Election, the public has watched trusted Government Ministers  queuing outside radio and TV broadcasters to defend the then Taoiseach’s  “dog ate my homework”  evidence. Loyalty to party, and not damaging any future leadership prospects, seemed to take precedent over ethics and responsibility to the people.
 

And now they are surprised that the electorate didn’t trust or believe them on Lisbon?