The Irish Senate

The results of yet another example of Irish ''democracy'' will be available shortly.That is assuming that, the powers -that -be, bother to let us, the citizens, know at all .
Yes , we may be informed in the next few days of the results of the Irish senatorial ''election''.We have vaguely heard over the past few weeks, about the little political spats over the doling out of these seats in what is laughingly called 'our Upper House.

For those among the Irish citizenry who have not being paying attention closely;we do have an Upper House.It consists of 60 seats.The 'electorate'are,T.D.'s and local councillars, (43 seats)and graduates of our main Universities (U.C.D.,Trinity) (6 seats) and thats about it ......hold-on ..wait...that only totals 49 seats,Joe...Oh yes I forgot to tell you the balance of 11 seats are filled on the whim of our Taoiseach (you know the same man who is leading the party that are ''running the country'' on 41% of the votes cast in our recent General Election.)We have had the usual jokes about Caligua appointimg his horse to the Senate in Rome,but we must assume that that was not a serious appointment.But here in Ireland in 2007 almost anyone can be appointed by our Taoiseach.
The the Senate is being used cynically by politicians as a waiting -room or a departure lounge for up-and -coming politicians or for those who were unable get elected by the proper proportional representation democratic election. People such as myself who did not graduate from either of the above -mentioned Universities,but who have cast their vote in every single general election since coming of age ,people who have a deep ,genuine interest in how this country is run ,have no say in how the Senate is made-up.
The, now practically extinct, Progressive Democrats set out originally to abolish the Senate .They are now using that institution as a political breathing-hole ,to keep them alive for a littlewhile longer.How can anybody,who is not gaining materially in some way from this body,continue to approve its existence?
Some have suggested ''changes'' or ''adjustments'' or even''radical overhaul'' or some other political tinkering.I say ABOLISH it completly.Whatever Eamon DeValera had in mind ,devious and all as he was ,I am quite sure he would turn in his gravy if he could see what it has become.......