The Passing of the Progressive Democrats is to be Welcomed via Speedie's Blog
This weekend's decision of the members of the Progressive Democrats(PDs) to cease to exist as a political party was good news. While the PDs came into existence in 1985 with noble aspirations to expose state and political corruption as well as to secure on progress on liberal social issues such as divorce and contraceptive, they soon become closely identified with promoting the free market Thatcherite economic policies of successive governments over the last few decades. Whilst this led to the Celtic Tiger phonomena that gave Ireland unprecedented levels of growth and wealth, the monies gained were wasted on over-development, property speculation and in creating a dehumanising urban sprawl of concrete jungles and sterile greens . A new Irish identity emerged that was characterised by...