In the past two weeks, the governments of Ireland and France have won motions of confidence while clinching their probable defeat in the next election over social issues. In both cases, governing and opposition politicians grabbed the opportunity to appear cynically out of touch, devalued parliamentary work, ignored the need for broad consensus on issues of national interest, and left voters with resentment that will fester until the next time they are called to the polls. Many won’t bother to vote; others will focus their anger against the incumbents. As the phrase goes in France, “Sortez les sortants” (“Oust the…

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