Letter to the Editor: Laments of a Misunderstood Dolehead

Dear Editor,

It has been an honour to have my work published in Ireland’s paper of record. However, I am deeply concerned by the commentary that my work has been subject to in the aftermath of its publication.

I suspect, as you have correctly identified, my work has been praised by the employed who seek to live vicariously through the welfare fraud, and conversely condemned by the "perpetually unemployed, and not for want of trying!"

But what are praise and blame but the tools of the many?

It is unfortunate to me that there is a misconception that my piece meant to suggest widespread adoption of the dole lifestyle - this is incorrect. My chief concern is with the liberation of the “better-turned-out” from the corruptive power of employment to the ends of artistic expression.

Such aesthetic beauty can only be achieved through the most intense “eros” via the abandonment of moderation. It is better that our laws and conventions dictate moderation on the grounds that such passions can have a corruptive influence on the soul. This is true, but only if the soul itself is sick. Which I sense of much of your readership.

To those who condemned my article, I am reminded of the words of Aeschines:

“You put to death Socrates the sophist, fellow citizens, because he was shown to have been the teacher of Critias, who put down the democracy.”

To the Trinity art hoes who told me to “just get a job”—funny how you reveled in my mysterious source of income until you learned I was also claiming disability allowance.

And to the unemployed right-wingers who praised my article, thinking I was writing to vindicate your lifestyle—get a job, losers. I need your PRSI contributions to fund my artistic expression.

I speak as a fool unrepentant, and that soon at the end of all

Shall laugh in his lonely heart as the dole is paid once more

And the poor are kept that were needy,

Tho’ I go idle.

The dole ladies have sat in council, the women with the keen, fat faces,

And said, This man is a welfare fraud,’ and others have said, ‘He wasteth;’

O wise men, riddle me this: what if the dole be enough?

What if the dole be enough?

Regards,

Charlie Kennedy