Water charges seem to have done it, the straw that broke the camel's back so to speak. We will not pay is the slogan of the protesters, and it's a misrepresentation. We already pay for water through our various taxes. Like we pay for heat, electricity, Refuse waste, television, radio, transport, and every other utility, amenity and service that you care to mention. Look around your house now, or go through your daily schedule and tell me what you don't pay for? And what you don't pay the Government in some way, shape or form for? Depressing isn't it?

I don't mean to trod on the already beaten, but we need to face facts people: we are being ripped off by the people we pay to represent us. Here's a question: You own your own company or business and you have a job vacancy. What politician would you employ? None? Well you do. Every time you vote. Your vote is your power, and we waste it every time we vote. I would not hire one politician from the current mob, and that says something when out of 190 odd politicians none of them are employable in the private sector. But some sit on boards I hear you say? For no other reason than access to power either present or past.

Another line trotted out by voters is that the politician is "great for the local area". How? What huge jobs outlet did that politician single-handedly bring to an area? What government initiative did the politician rebuff or get reformed? Look at the government members currently running for the high ground over the water charges? Yet they all sat around government tables or think tanks when the proposal was mooted. Which one of the them threatened resignation then? Or objected? Has your politician managed to get your area 'water charge free'? No?

Why do we continue to elect representatives that in no way represent us nor are capable of doing so? Why do we embarrass ourselves with the standard of candidate we elect? Phil Hogan anyone? Who voted him in? We did. Who are we blaming? Everyone else but ourselves. Bertie? Biffo? Charlie? Michael Lowry? The list is endless. And these are just some of the ones we know about. How many have gotten away with misdemeanours that we don't know about? And the one thing they have in common? Their employers, us as voters who continued to employ them or in some cases re-elect and re-employ them. We haven't learned our lessons, so we're not really in a position to now complain. The next crowd will be better we said, because they're different we said. From my distance it's much of  muchness and we bought it. Why would they be different? They probably set out to be different until they realized how cushy a majority is and sat on their laurels. James Reilly is a case in point. People are now saying that we should have a universal health care package just as James Reilly suggested. But poor old James couldn't get it across the line. Quick question: why couldn't he? He was Minister for Health, and he couldn't? Heaven help us. Within the answer we'd be spun there would probably be reference to lobby groups, and the politics of keeping everyone happy. I'm sorry, but that's a childish answer. The largest lobby groups screams, and logic is forgotten to keep the biggest voice (and payer) quiet.

We're so parochial and we focus on one item, that we're suckers for the small things. In the last budget, people focused on the water charges whilst the USC was jacked up. Distract people with the small item, while we rob them with higher taxes. Take the independent candidates that have been successfully elected on single issues. Paul Murphy and Michael Fitzmaurice were elected on the back of opposing the water charges. Which begs the question of what they will stand for AFTER the issue of the water charges dissipates? Which brings us to independents. What is the point of independents? All they are doing is diluting the power within the Dail. Think about it. Independents cannot achieve anything within the Dail because they lack power individually and collectively they lack unity. They make huge noise on the election trail, get elected to great fanfare as the brave (local) knight heading off to the Dail to fight the 'big party politics'. With what? They cannot achieve any substantial success as they lack punch. Vote against the Government and tick that box. Voice the odd concerns, and let it be known that they did. And that's it. They won't get a bill changed or the big issues of the day tackled as they lack the power to do so.

There is an answer or two in my humble opinion which could solve the impasse. However, it entails Turkeys' voting for Christmas and let's face it, there's too much handy money in Politics to see Politicians vote for change. But I live in hope. The first thing we need to do is not vote next time around. Let's make a serious effort for change. There isn't a candidate worth voting for anyway, and we've proven our inability to exercise our vote properly anyway. If we don't vote, nobody gets elected and it sends a clear message that enough is enough. Public demonstrations don't have the wherewithal to force real change. Minor concessions at best, no more than that. A blanket refusal to vote forces real change.

We should not tolerate any candidate running for 2 elections. You get one campaign and that's it. Why would you get a 2nd campaign if you've turned out to be poor in your first campaign. It also removes the idea of making 'political' decisions for fear of not being re-elected. If you want to make real change, make it and don't wait for fear of upsetting the voters. Get elected on the back of proper ideals, achieve your goals and move on. Treat the job with the respect it deserves. Listening to the Government row back today and telling us they will have to renege on child allowance increases made in the budget to pay for us as voters railing against the water charges. Such nonsense. When will politicians realize that THEY WORK FOR US and not the other way around?

Finally, I honestly believe a country should be run by fit and proven business people. None of the current, nor past politicians are capable. None. People on the ground will tell you it's the civil service that make the decisions anyway. Well then they're not up to scratch either. So sack people who aren't pulling their weight. Everyone should endeavour to do their best. If you're not doing it, leave or be sacked. It's a rule all other workers must adhere to so let's make the highest ranking officials in the country adhere to. Imagine what a difference a few Michael O'Leary's or Michael Smurfit's would make to the civil service, and in turn the country? Now they are people I would vote for. They have the perfect skill set for the job, and would have the knowhow necessary to make things work.

People we need to wake up and take responsibility for our voting powers. If we keep wasting it like we have, well then we deserve what we get. Expect better people, and refuse the average.