Electionitus is a serious condition that afflicts most of the adult population at election times. The symptoms range from acute lethargy to fanaticism. What I was unaware of was that many of the election candidates suffer from an egoistical condition which described in great detail by Gerry Adams in his blog Leargas. http://leargas.blogspot.ie
I have an extract below where he explains the condition:
"Every candidate and everyone else should be mindful of the particular and peculiar stresses and strains that comes with being a candidate. It’s a form of ailment called Candidatitis. It begins with the candidate coming to believe – with a certainty known only to the prophets of old – that they are going to win.
This syndrome is capable of moving even the most rational aspirant or shy wallflower into a state of extreme self belief. It strikes without warning, is no respecter of gender, and can infect the lowly municipal hopeful, the aspiring Parliamentarian, as well as the lofty presidential wannabe.
The late Screaming Lord Sutch, or his Irish equivalent, who stands just for the craic, can fall victim to candidatitis as much as the most committed and earnest political activist. I believe this is due to two factors. First of all most people standing for election see little point in telling the voters that they are not going to win. That just wouldn’t make sense. Of course not. So they say they are going to win.
Listen to Joan Burton the Labour leader. Does she admit that Labour is going to lose seats. Not a chance. Or does Micheál Martin admit that his refusal to consider going into coalition with Fine Gael or Sinn Féin (not that there’s much chance of that) means that Fianna Fáil will not be in government after this election? Not on your nelly. He spent five minutes vainly trying to convince listeners to RTE that Fianna Fáil can be in government. Even though they are clearly not running enough candidates.
That's when Candidatitis starts. As the 'we are going to win' is repeated time and time again it starts to have a hypnotic effect on the person intoning the mantra. By this time it’s too late."
This syndrome is capable of moving even the most rational aspirant or shy wallflower into a state of extreme self belief. It strikes without warning, is no respecter of gender, and can infect the lowly municipal hopeful, the aspiring Parliamentarian, as well as the lofty presidential wannabe.
The late Screaming Lord Sutch, or his Irish equivalent, who stands just for the craic, can fall victim to candidatitis as much as the most committed and earnest political activist. I believe this is due to two factors. First of all most people standing for election see little point in telling the voters that they are not going to win. That just wouldn’t make sense. Of course not. So they say they are going to win.
Listen to Joan Burton the Labour leader. Does she admit that Labour is going to lose seats. Not a chance. Or does Micheál Martin admit that his refusal to consider going into coalition with Fine Gael or Sinn Féin (not that there’s much chance of that) means that Fianna Fáil will not be in government after this election? Not on your nelly. He spent five minutes vainly trying to convince listeners to RTE that Fianna Fáil can be in government. Even though they are clearly not running enough candidates.
That's when Candidatitis starts. As the 'we are going to win' is repeated time and time again it starts to have a hypnotic effect on the person intoning the mantra. By this time it’s too late."
A good example of the affliction see below:
On Thursday 6th Ms Burton said "I'm very confident as ever of our chances. It's a good time for an election"
On Monday 8th Joan Burton said "No seat is safe in this election for any party", but when asked if her own seat was safe, she replied: “Absolutely!"
Today Thursday16th: Tánaiste Joan Burton is facing a massive battle to save her own political career!
A poll result in her constituency shows
According to herself she gave the pensioners a generous increase of €3 per week after having stood by and allowed them to face Water Charges and Property Tax and cuts in their Winter Fuel allowance. The lady is falling in popularity I wonder why ?
He's right about every candidate telling us they're sure to win, even if they only had 17 votes at the last election. I love all the obscure factors they dredge up to prove how good their chances are. "Private polling says I've got the solid support of apartment-owners with pet rabbits. This seat is totally winnable."
ReplyDeleteHa' ha' ha' You are spot on Nick :)
DeleteMust be the opposite of Optirectumitus, where the eye ball is connected to the asshole and everything one sees looks like shit!
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard that one for a long time ! :)
DeleteSome great points here, Mel! Imlike what he says about the hypnotic effect being on the candidates and not on the voters :)
ReplyDeleteAh' Gerry's a great observer.
DeleteOops, did I spot a spelling blips as I pressed 'publish'. One day I'll get the hang of typing on a tablet!
ReplyDeleteThat's the way always blame the tool :) :)
DeleteYou make it sound as though your politicians are truthful, realistic, modest and well-balanced at all other times. What a wonderful country you must live in!
ReplyDeleteI never said that they were perfect did I ?
DeleteAll you're lacking is Donald Trump. €3 a week? She shouldn't get so carried away!
ReplyDeleteIt is a difficult sum to spend all in one go Mitchell :)
DeleteNo it is OK you can keep hold of Trump - thanks all the same ! !
Hi Mel - we are all going to be fed up to the back-teeth with the news and all the ramifications of voting .. we don't get much of yours over here .. though they do feature at times.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long drawn out battle ... I guess they have to keep their swords drawn for success or failure ...
I'm cynical, but interested to a point too - though it'd be good not to have sound bites - we can't seem to get away from those ..
Cheers Hilary
Thank you for your comment Hilary :)
DeleteMy personal view is that :-
Elections are an exercise of democracy where rash promises are made and later broken... or so it seems by the last few governing parties.
I'm not sure what's going to happen in the three elections we can see on the horizon .. yours, our referendum and the Americans ... life could be very different shortly ...
DeleteInteresting - is an understatement .. cheers Hilary
I forgot one - I can't vote in it .. but it affects us here in the UK - in May the Mayor London comes up ... another mix into the pot. H
DeleteThat is right Hilary you cannot vote over here however, your opinion is just as worthy!
DeleteI have learned never to believe a word of what any politician says at election time. They all just say what they think we want to hear. And any intention of carrying out their promises is entirely accidental.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Pat however, it is time that we applied the Trades Description Act to the what they say when electioneering and that way we would a better government.
DeletePoliticians seem to be very similar the world over. However, we in the States seem to have cornered the market on obnoxiousness during campaigns. Sigh, just 9 more months to go...
ReplyDeleteYes, it seems that way Tilda, there are though a few who break the mould and are decent people.
DeleteOthers are the empty vessels who make a lot of noise.
They also have all the followers around them telling them how great they are and how they are going to win, no wonder they are all so egotistical! X
ReplyDeleteYes but only because they are weak and needy that they have to have their egos massaged - bah to them !
Delete