In Reply To Eilis O' Hanlon [Sunday Independent 15/07/2012

An Open Letter to Eilis O’Hanlon [Sunday Independent 15/07/2012] I once had a dream where I caught a glimpse of the best spin doctor in the world. He was educating his colleagues –who all sat around a large table. Their mouths gaping as the best spin doctor in the world-told them how it was. When I awoke—I remembered what it was he had said. ‘My friends there are only two people in the world you need to convince. Mother and father! Think about it—these people are comfortable but not rich! She is standing at the kitchen sink—whilst he sits by the fire reading his newspaper. These are the people my friends who are appalled and offended. You are looking at the consciousness of a nation! Convince these people and you will set the trend. So the scene is set for your article. I have no doubt the mother and father will be with you all of the way. Yet you have made so many sweeping generalisations and the underbelly of your thesis attacking the left—leaves you bereft of argument. To begin with—the Irish media has very few left wing commentators! The frenzy around the ‘Brian Murphy,’ case was more associated with sensationalism. It was a major news story. Posh schoolboys involved in behaviour allegorically belonging to the 'Underclass.' Also you dismiss some of the analysis which identifies this awful carnage with Dance Music and the band themselves. Yet three more people were stabbed at their concert in Milton Keynes on Saturday. There were other concerts held recently—[Stone Roses,] where there was no trouble. But that doesn’t suit the agenda does it? The word Knacker as you politely explain for mother and father—is a derogatory term. Yet you go on to associate this term with the ‘Underclass.’ Which is prospering under the guidance of neo-liberalism. But to be a Knacker must you come from a certain area. Is there really a correlation between Knackerdom and long term social welfare dependency? If so what is the Knacker who comes from Foxrock’s excuse? Is Knackerdom not a state of mind that manifests itself through either a culture of hopelessness—or auspiciousness? To be fair—you do reel in a little later in the article—I will come to that. You refer to no go areas around Dublin. Although I am from Dublin I now live in rural West Cork. I am no apologist for knife crime by the way. I am puzzled by how you can target deprivation and immediately conclude the trouble makers were from certain areas. How do you know this? I have googled and found that one person who was arrested was from West Dublin. I also found that 135,000 people attended the festival over the weekend. In the context of this one wonders what all the frenzy is about? The reason I respond to you Eilis is that you accuse people of not facing up to issues of class. I am I can assure you—and when you refer to an ‘Underclass.’ I agree with you. Yet is the creation of this 'Underclass.' and how it sprang to life that we will disagree on. Unlike many on the right, I have no fear in outing my ideology. This 'Underclass.' has spawned from what used to be just called poverty. Neo-liberalism sent a flood of support into these communities offering cheap credit and cheap commodities. Right wing ideology likes to blame welfare on this. Welfare has nothing to do with neo-liberal ideology, only in a very loose way-as products and services can still be sold. Welfare is a state responsibility it is why we have citizenship. It is called social justice—and it is part of the right wing agenda, to associate welfare with crime—and fecklessness. I quote from your article! 'The problem was identified a long time ago, when Ken Aluetta of the New Yorker popularised the term 'Underclass' to describe that group of poorly educated long-term welfare recipients, and others on the criminal fringe, who were unassimilated with, and hostile to, broader society.' I see now that you have moved from a concern about knife crime to your real agenda. I want to state Eilis that I have no problem with you holding these views. But is it right not to express your ideology for your readers so they will be aware of your politics? Yes you did try to reel back a little—by allowing that the decent people living in 681—may be afraid of the 'Underclass.' in 683—I appreciate that at least,if it is not a little patronising--and most likely a rare occurance. Then you attack again with, Quote, 'In the Celtic Tiger years, the only ones left behind were these very long-term generational feckless who didn't want to improve their lot. Their lot was improved anyway, because we could afford it, thereby entrenching them further in an adolescent state of dependency.' Finally if it is true that the underclass like stabbing people,my God! What do the neo-liberals and the ‘Overclass,’ like doing? Killing people by closing vital services to the old and disabled? Long waiting lists for essential surgery---insufficient mental health services for young people? I watch as Ireland steps right—and it is only the left declaring their ideology.