As the Republic of Ireland inches closer to a general election, it's as good a time as any for a (useless) reminder that other small countries don't see the need for as big a political class as Ireland has. Consider the opening of this Financial Times article which is mostly about financial markets in New Zealand:
In a country as small as New Zealand, it is no surprise that government ministers sometimes double up on their jobs.
Nevertheless, Michael Cullen takes multi-tasking to extremes. In addition to being finance minister, he is deputy prime minister, leader of the House of Representatives, attorney-general and minister for tertiary education.
Contemplate the Irish attitude that if you stick around long enough in Fianna Fail, there's an apparent entitlement to rotate through every Cabinet position in sequence. There is an alternative.
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