Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 11:53am

Squabbling politicians forget us

by Editorial Department

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Dear Sir, - As a young person, I think Stormont and all the mainstream parties are a sad joke on the electorate.

Elsewhere, politicians seem to be able to work together despite their differences. But Stormont, as per usual, bucks the trend and instead offers us re-runs of the staid politics of manufactured crises and brinkmanship. It seems that for our parties, politics comes down to squabbling incessantly about sectarian issues while quietly agreeing to enforce ever more cutbacks, ever greater stealth taxes and further privatisations.

All the parties have no problems digging their heels in for days and nights of negotiations over issues which divide our community such as whether to devolve policing and justice powers, Orange parades and the Irish language but wring their hands when it comes to preventing job losses, reversing the plummeting wage levels or saving our schools from closure.

Last week, we heard that cutbacks prevent staff in the Erne Hospital from unblocking toilets. I ask your readers, how long do they think a toilet in Stormont would be left blocked?

Our politicians make sure they get first-class treatment while the rest of us are forgotten until they want our votes. As the latest crisis rolls on, our councillors, MLAs, MPs and Ministers can be safe knowing that their fat salaries and expenses claimed are safe. Meanwhile, at the wings, sectarian dissidents exploit their failure while further ratcheting up the tension.

Young people want change but it can only happen if we make it happen. We deserve a future. We need more than the choice of joining dole queues, taking up low paid jobs stacking shelves or emigrating.

Our politicians have failed us. If we want change we will have get active and make it happen. If any of your readers are interesting in getting involved, I ask them to visit our website: www.youthfightforjobs.com and join the campaign.

Yours faithfully,

Tyler McNally,

Youth Fight for Jobs,

Fermanagh