> no one in Ireland asked for us to be run by leprechaun economics; that decision was taken by blatantly corrupt political parties

Irish one though surely? What makes them win elections?

We'll soon see, there's one coming up. Usually, irish politics has a lot of subtly. It's a competitive scene rhetoric-wise. I disagree with the OP though. Leprechaun economics isn't something people brag about, but it was and is quite popular, quietly. People think we're getting one over.

Are you from an upper middle class area of Dublin / well-to-do family in the shtix?

In the nicest way I can say this, might you be in a bit of a bubble? For example, did you pay your Irish Water bill and assume everyone else did too?

Historical dominance coupled with a captive media owned by a billionaire (Denis O Brien, good friend of the Clintons) who despite being proved corrupt after a €200+ million tribunal continues to get (highly legally questionable) contracts and deep discounts from the state.

For example, we've gone through multiple Garda Comissioners (head of police), a Taoiseach (head of state) and a justice minister over the treatment of a police whistleblower who was smeared as a child molester - twice, by police and the government agency in charge of childcare. But there was only one paper that remotely properly covered it, and this paper was then bought up. It was insane. And just one example of many.

Still, the two parties I speak of are on a long scale downward trend to the point where they're propping each other up with the help of a couple "independents" to stay in power.

Money