Putting Ireland in Perspective

micosoft · 21-12-2014 12:02pm #1

Interesting article about the Nordics in todays Guardian. From tear gas being used against asylum seekers in Denmark, Norwegian Xenophobia created by their Oil wealth, Finnish economic damage due to the the dependence on a single company (Nokia), to single party Government in Sweden. What amazes me is the absence of perspective by many if not most in this country as if some nirvana model - the nordics being the main model example given - is the solution for us. The reality is that for the most part we are doing pretty good. Here's hoping next year will see more perspective around our improving situation!

* Responses to the article here from the Nordics.

johnnyskeleton · 21-12-2014 1:01pm

Those things he points out are purely one sided. I mean you could talk about the babies in the oil tank, the failure to provide abortions in medical emergencies, dioxins in pork etc and infer from all that that ireland is the worst xoubtry in the world

AlekSmart · 21-12-2014 2:05pm

micosoft wrote: »

Interesting article about the Nordics in todays Guardian. From tear gas being used against asylum seekers in Denmark, Norwegian Xenophobia created by their Oil wealth, Finnish economic damage due to the the dependence on a single company (Nokia), to single party Government in Sweden. What amazes me is the absence of perspective by many if not most in this country as if some nirvana model - the nordics being the main model example given - is the solution for us. The reality is that for the most part we are doing pretty good. Here's hoping next year will see more perspective around our improving situation!

I suspect your point has been well missed already.......;)

conorh91 · 21-12-2014 6:51pm

I'm also very skeptical about claims of German technological efficiency.

I'd like to notify Claudia Schiffer that Opel Astras certainly do break down.

A lot of German technology was just borrowed from American and French innovation, and achieved better success through because of low unit-labour costs in Germany.

It is true that they are better at re-investing their profits than the rest of us, but I've bought far too many shoddy halogen ovens in Lidl to be impressed anymore.

smurgen · 21-12-2014 6:54pm

conorh91 wrote: »

I'm also very skeptical about claims of German technological efficiency.

I'd like to notify Claudia Schiffer that Opel Astras certainly do break down.

A lot of German technology was just borrowed from American and French innovation, and achieved better success through because of low unit-labour costs in Germany.

It is true that they are better at re-investing their profits than the rest of us, but I've bought far too many shoddy halogen ovens in Lidl to be impressed anymore.

The Germans use a counter - cyclical approach to finance.save in good times , spend those savings in bad times.it's something that I'd love to see the Irish emulate.

conorh91 · 21-12-2014 6:58pm

smurgen wrote: »

The Germans use a counter - cyclical approach to finance.save in good times , spend those savings in bad times.it's something that I'd love to see the Irish emulate.

We did.

It was called the NPRF.

I can see what the OP means as regards people being blind to the stuff we get right. McCreevey's €25 billion "rainy day money" was hotly criticised by the economists and the Labour Party at the time. It saved us further austerity, and its role as such was never really acknowledged.

BoJack Horseman · 21-12-2014 9:35pm

smurgen wrote: »

The Germans use a counter - cyclical approach to finance.save in good times , spend those savings in bad times.it's something that I'd love to see the Irish emulate.

Do they?

Germany hasn't ran a budget surplus for a long time.

They seem to spend like mad, but it isn't surpluses that they are spending.
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/germany/government-budget

braddun · 21-12-2014 9:38pm

travelers racism polish racism,high property price,bank bailouts,long hospital wating lists,murders rapes and other crimes increasiing

AlekSmart · 21-12-2014 10:49pm

braddun wrote: »

travelers racism polish racism,high property price,bank bailouts,long hospital wating lists,murders rapes and other crimes increasiing

And...Horse Racism...take a peep at Paddy Powers last financials.....:)

http://www.paddypowerplc.com/sites/default/files/attachments/2013_annual_report.pdf

Total Staked in Ireland.......€981,000,000. (+6%)

Gross profit in Ireland........€104,700,000. (+4%)

Number of shops.............. 223. (+5%)

I reckon there's a need for a task-force on racism.....:pac:

Putting Ireland in Perspective

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