FLASHBACK: Urgharda, September 14th 2004

York's Economic Madness Helps Communist Party
by Alaric Veto Julia

Vindrus York, leader and only member of the Páirtí Saoirse Náisiúnta (the "National Freedom Party") has begun to describe his economic vision for the Republic.

"The NFP is an economic conservative party", said its leader at a small gathering in An Clós, embroiling himself in debate with the leading progressive minds of Talamthom, who espouse a just economic policy based on the fair distribution of wealth. Mr York described how his party, if ever seeing power, would simultaneously lower income taxes whilst raising value-added tax, placing the tax burden on the poor of the Republic rather than on those who can afford to pay their social debt.

Mr York has also proposed private meetings with the President and the Prime Minister to discuss with them the complete deregulation of the Tománn economy and the creation of a free-market stock exchange facility. Spokespeople from the Republic's progressive movement have criticised the proposals, telling Urgharda that the people must be consulted about the creation of a functioning Tománn economy so that their interests are properly represented. Workers told this newspaper that without inclusive discussion, parts of the Republic's labour force would become disaffected with the government, which, so far, has not embraced any economic policy.

One citizen present at Mr York's speech turned away in disgust, explaining that he could not afford to pay extra on essential goods whereas the rich could easily up their shopping bills to include Mr York's proposed increases. Like many others in the crowd, the spectator was wooed by a Communist distributing anti-PSN pamphlets and copies of An Camchéachta, the Communist Party's journal.

The Communist cadre spoke to Urgharda about the recent growth in his Party's membership. "Since the refoundation of the CP," he told us, "our membership has more than doubled and even the most conservative estimates show us to be the second-largest party in the country."

Despite the massive growth in the ranks of the Communist Party, its power is still leashed. The Dail Tománn, the country's legislative chamber, currently has no Communist deputies. President Kelly, who appoints deputies to the chamber, has been absent from his office whilst holidaying during the period of the Communist Party's amazing growth. It is hoped that upon his return, Communist deputies will replace some of the TUDP members who currently hold a near-monopoly of the chamber. The very fact that deputies are appointees highlights the disgraceful fact that the Republic has not yet implemented a formal vaguely democratic constitutional framework.

Whether or not the Communist Party can keep up it's growth is uncertain, but if the economic extremism proposed by Vindrus York continues, a polarisation of the Republic's political scene is certain.

This was originally posted in the Tománn publication 'Urgharda' by Alarico Veto Julia on the 14th September. In the week that Vindrus York announced his retirement from Tománnach politics this seemed a fitting tibute to the man that has so often been at the heart of arguments and debate. The original article can be found here http://urgharda.blogspot.com/2004/09/yorks-economic-madness-helps-communist.html.