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Religion in Irish politics

  • 05-06-2009 9:42am
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,021 ✭✭✭Hivemind187


    I just spotted this in my mornings persual of the web;


    John Francis Higgins

    I am unfamiliar with these laws in relation to weapons and the interaction
    between state and EU law. I would need to study it more. Would this be a tax
    generated i.e. more tax liable to be collected from sales in Ireland? It
    would immediately strike me, that EU law is dominant. I have stated in my
    Election literature that we have moved from a defensive conservative society
    to an aggressive secular domain. This is happening to have sad repercussions
    because there are more and more people around with less religious scruples.
    They have no fear and leads to a sad increase in gun related crime.
    The
    authorities have to try and stop this sudden breakout of wrongdoing. This
    manifests itself in the Big Brother Syndrome. Sadly the whole legal and
    justice edifice is overseen by people who can´t remember, did not hear, and
    were not there, when asked to account for their own actions. Yes in this
    system it is the normal law abiding citizen who feels aggrieved. This need
    not be the case if leaders have ideals and are prepared to step down from
    office when they get things wrong. It really amazes me that our leaders put
    themselves back up for re-election when they have turned us into a country
    riddled with Debt.

    I have highlighted the important section.

    Deplorable isnt it? The question he was asked was "what is your poisition on recently proposed firearms legislation". His response was to attack the government and blame secularists for shooting up the place.

    My wonder is how many other politicians or candidates are subject to allowing their religious prejudices and fanciful nonsense colour their judgement about right and wrong? Do we have a list somewhere that I can check which candidates are god-squad and which ones have joined the rest of us in the 21st century?

    It might be a handy list to have should people feel the inclination to make a point of not voting for the religious caste.

    (yes yes I know we shouldnt care what a persons religious beliefs are if their policies are sound but frankly I have yet to be convinced that those individuals like Higgins are capable of objective rationality).


Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,857 ✭✭✭✭Dave!


    Will you commit yourself publicly to legislation banning embryo destruction and preventing any regulatory body from rubber-stamping embryo destruction?


    Sean
    My canvassers and I, have just come back from a two day campaign in Cavan-Monaghan. So, needless to say, I am delighted that you give me the honour of replying to your very relevant question. The major problem with the pace of modern day life is that social barriers are continually broken. This results in a breakdown of society. We now have daily murders.

    Respect for life has been a precious grace within the Christian upbringing. If we do not have respect for life from conception; then it opens the gates as to lots of argument as to when life should be valued e.g. should abortion be not allowed at 14 weeks or near full term; at what stage should we introduce euthanasia; should we kill children who are not fully formed; should we saddle our youth with massive debt early on in life in a way that they will be slaves for the rest of their lives. Respect for life begins at conception. Nothing else should be even entertained. No WILL about it. I fully disagree with what Obama has done in reversing the Bush ban on embryo destruction.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,255 ✭✭✭getz


    Dave! wrote: »
    Will you commit yourself publicly to legislation banning embryo destruction and preventing any regulatory body from rubber-stamping embryo destruction?


    Sean
    My canvassers and I, have just come back from a two day campaign in Cavan-Monaghan. So, needless to say, I am delighted that you give me the honour of replying to your very relevant question. The major problem with the pace of modern day life is that social barriers are continually broken. This results in a breakdown of society. We now have daily murders.

    Respect for life has been a precious grace within the Christian upbringing. If we do not have respect for life from conception; then it opens the gates as to lots of argument as to when life should be valued e.g. should abortion be not allowed at 14 weeks or near full term; at what stage should we introduce euthanasia; should we kill children who are not fully formed; should we saddle our youth with massive debt early on in life in a way that they will be slaves for the rest of their lives. Respect for life begins at conception. Nothing else should be even entertained. No WILL about it. I fully disagree with what Obama has done in reversing the Bush ban on embryo destruction.
    at the risk of being banned,i do not think the religious body[already in disgrace in ireland]the, magdalen sistors prisons for young mothers who never comitted any crime,is still a shame on the irish people and church,never any more will i trust any goverment that alows religion to dictate to the people.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 9,082 ✭✭✭lostexpectation


    ohmygod where did you get this from,oh i see http://www.candidatewatch.ie/john_francis_higgins-30374-22685.html, that just that crazy independent running in the northwest.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    Generally speaking I tend to avoid voting for anyone who allows religious dogma to influence their policies. Unfortunately this rules out entire parties*. It's quite hard to find representatives that arent in some way influenced by such things.

    *I won't name anyone now because I don't want to be seen as trying to influence people on poll day.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 27,857 ✭✭✭✭Dave!




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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,816 ✭✭✭Acacia


    That's unbelievable. Did he come out with this tripe before or after the report about child abuse emerged? Because I don't know how anyone could still defend our 'defensive conservative society' after that came out.

    In any case, why do people try to apportion blame on secularists , especially for crime issues? It's as if they assume of you don't follow a book of rules because somebody told you to, you're automatically an immoral violent thug. Scape-goating, anyone?

    Of course, violent crime never existed in Ireland before it became more secular...

    non-violent ireland.jpeg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 21,191 ✭✭✭✭Latchy


    John Francis Higgins

    I am unfamiliar with these laws in relation to weapons and the interaction
    between state and EU law. I would need to study it more. Would this be a tax
    generated i.e. more tax liable to be collected from sales in Ireland? It
    would immediately strike me, that EU law is dominant. I have stated in my
    Election literature that we have moved from a defensive conservative society
    to an aggressive secular domain. This is happening to have sad repercussions
    because there are more and more people around with less religious scruples.
    They have no fear and leads to a sad increase in gun related crime. The
    authorities have to try and stop this sudden breakout of wrongdoing. This
    manifests itself in the Big Brother Syndrome. Sadly the whole legal and
    justice edifice is overseen by people who can´t remember, did not hear, and
    were not there, when asked to account for their own actions. Yes in this
    system it is the normal law abiding citizen who feels aggrieved. This need
    not be the case if leaders have ideals and are prepared to step down from
    office when they get things wrong. It really amazes me that our leaders put
    themselves back up for re-election when they have turned us into a country


    Jeeze, the biggest can of worms opened in the states history involving the religious institiutions and this tuplip comes out with this .

    Peoples religioius beliefs should not obstruct putting the right people in to do the right job ,regardless of their own beliefs .


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,354 ✭✭✭Urizen


    It's a typical mistake. He doesn't realise that corrolation doesn't necessarily mean causation. Just because both are happening doesn't mean one causes the other.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 232 ✭✭DTrotter


    Urizen wrote: »
    It's a typical mistake. He doesn't realise that corrolation doesn't necessarily mean causation. Just because both are happening doesn't mean one causes the other.

    Didn't prevent it either, doesn't the abuse scandal show the danger of what happens when you put an organisation on a pedestal due to their self proclaimed moral superiority?
    Obviously because someone is a christian/priest doesn't mean they are more likely to abause children but if a paedophille sees an organisation that is almost beyond question and knows if they are in that organisation they can have access to children and get away with a crime then they will join it. Much in the same way as corrupt guards.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40 Schumacher1


    People who have religious convictions should not be allowed to hold any office or position in the state. How can I take a person seriously when they believe this rubbish.

    Religion is a mental illness.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,408 ✭✭✭studiorat


    It would appear there's no shortage of headbangers running in that particular region.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 538 ✭✭✭markopantelic


    think he was on WB last week, he said 'ireland has changed from a conservative defensive society into a progressive circular(:D) society''

    hahah


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,354 ✭✭✭Urizen


    Religion is a mental illness.

    That's a bit harsh, no?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,021 ✭✭✭Hivemind187


    Urizen wrote: »
    That's a bit harsh, no?

    No.


  • Posts: 0 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Layton Gifted Preschool


    I don't know about mental illness, but I don't think I want people in charge who would be perfectly happy shooting up the place/wouldn't see anything wrong with it, if it wasn't for an omnipotent being threatening eternal punishment. As opposed to, say, a general sense of right and wrong.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Religion is a mental illness.
    Religion in general is not a "mental illness" in any reasonable sense of the term, and you've been carded for ten days for using inflammatory and unhelpful language.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40 Schumacher1


    robindch wrote: »
    Religion in general is not a "mental illness" in any reasonable sense of the term, and you've been carded for ten days for using inflammatory and unhelpful language.

    I have to disagree.

    It is a complete delusion. It is a proven delusion.

    These people seriously believe that there is a
    (1)guy
    (2)girl (not the catholics)
    (3)thing
    (4)omnipetent being
    (5)smoke monster
    (6)something unexplainable

    that can see every single living thing, in all the billions of galaxies and billions and billions of planets in those galaxies

    AT THE SAME TIME.

    If you f*ck up once then you will be punished.

    Number of possible habitable planets

    1,000,000,000,000 (this figure represents only a fraction of them)


    Can life start on its own ... YES
    Did god make us ... NO we evolved from bacteria


    All you have to do is read Jakass posts or watch the intolerence of the mods in Crhistianity to see the delusion.

    I can say that religion is a form of madness. Madness is a mental illness.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 143 ✭✭Benhonan


    Would you equate ignorance to madness? Be realistic in fairness.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 40 Schumacher1


    Benhonan wrote: »
    Would you equate ignorance to madness? Be realistic in fairness.

    Religion wants people to be ignorant. Otherwise there would be no religion. I have very briefly described the delusion of the religious teachings, only a madman could believe they were true.

    Religion brainwashes, has no proof, stems from superstition. It has broken every one of its own commandments and is responsible for more death and destruction than anything else in human terms.

    In this day and age its not acceptable or possible to believe unless you are suffering from a mental illness..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,021 ✭✭✭Hivemind187


    Religion wants people to be ignorant. Otherwise there would be no religion. I have very briefly described the delusion of the religious teachings, only a madman could believe they were true.

    Religion brainwashes, has no proof, stems from superstition. It has broken every one of its own commandments and is responsible for more death and destruction than anything else in human terms.

    In this day and age its not acceptable or possible to believe unless you are suffering from a mental illness..

    Mate, I agree with you in principal if not in aproach, but you are light-years away from the original point.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    frankly I have yet to be convinced that those individuals like Higgins are capable of objective rationality).

    I have yet to be convinced that any human is capable of objective rationality.

    I disagree if he claimed that gun crime was caused by secularism. He doesn't have the guts to admit that the gun crime is really caused by the prosperity of our society. Which is also the cause of our secularism.


  • Posts: 5,121 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Unfortunately I gave this guy a preference at some point.

    Still I would be happy about it if it got him elected instead of Ganley or SF.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    In this day and age its not acceptable or possible to believe unless you are suffering from a mental illness..
    You sound like you are suffering from the early stages of atheius angstious.

    That to you, and many of us, belief in religious stuff seems bizzare, doesn't make us the only sane people in a madhouse. You really need to delve more into the reasons why people believe rather than throwing about daft generalisations that encompass many of our wives, partners, families, friends etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,824 ✭✭✭ShooterSF


    bluewolf wrote: »
    I don't know about mental illness, but I don't think I want people in charge who would be perfectly happy shooting up the place/wouldn't see anything wrong with it, if it wasn't for an omnipotent being threatening eternal punishment. As opposed to, say, a general sense of right and wrong.

    This would be my concern with what he is saying. I get nervous of people who see god's vengeance as a reason not to go around killing people.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,182 ✭✭✭nyarlothothep


    One is on very thin ice when you apply a blanket explanation for a social problem, as its usually multifaceted, involving a lot of complex interactions, the one answer fits all approach isn't very reliable.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,021 ✭✭✭Hivemind187


    Húrin wrote: »
    I have yet to be convinced that any human is capable of objective rationality.

    I disagree if he claimed that gun crime was caused by secularism. He doesn't have the guts to admit that the gun crime is really caused by the prosperity of our society. Which is also the cause of our secularism.

    Gun crime is caused by affluence ...

    Well that's a head scratcher. I thought it was caused by criminals ... but maybe I'm old fashioned.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    What would be interesting would be a poll amongst 'gun crime' offenders as to whether they believe in (a) God, or whether they ever, say, wrote letters to the papers denouncing the proposed blasphemy laws.

    I'm oddly not convinced 'secularism' is a priority amongst any of them, or indeed, how it could be seen as a factor in criminal life.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    Gun crime is caused by affluence ...

    Well that's a head scratcher. I thought it was caused by criminals ... but maybe I'm old fashioned.

    Gangland Gun crime of the type we have got used to is typical in societies which undergo economic booms. Simply saying that it's criminals wot done it is laughably simplistic. Criminals exist in every society, but cocaine shootings don't.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 25,848 ✭✭✭✭Zombrex


    Religion wants people to be ignorant. Otherwise there would be no religion. I have very briefly described the delusion of the religious teachings, only a madman could believe they were true.

    Mental illness and being "mad" implies that the brain is not functioning normally or has been damaged in some fashion.

    Given that religion stems from instincts that appear to be quite normal and in fact helpful from an evolutionary sense it is some what inaccurate to say that religion is a form of mental illness as that implies that it is the product of a defective brain.

    Religion is a by product of the way our brains have naturally evolved to view the world around us by modeling the world through human like interactions. It is an instinct to help us with human to human interaction but it has lead to a lot of people seeing "humans" where none exist, in natural interactions and objects (rain, the sun, big bang etc)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,011 ✭✭✭sliabh


    Dades wrote: »
    What would be interesting would be a poll amongst 'gun crime' offenders as to whether they believe in (a) God, or whether they ever, say, wrote letters to the papers denouncing the proposed blasphemy laws.

    I'm oddly not convinced 'secularism' is a priority amongst any of them, or indeed, how it could be seen as a factor in criminal life.
    My memory is that every time a gang member is gunned down in Limerick they seem to go all out to outdo each other with the most over the top ostentatious tack religious funeral they can manage.

    It isn't exactly conclusive evidence that they are theists, but I have yet to hear of any Collopy, Keane, Dundon or McCarthy getting a secular or humanist ceremony.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,746 ✭✭✭✭Galvasean


    Those people who shoot up abortion clinics sound like right secularists alright.
    Ditto for the troublemakers up north.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,021 ✭✭✭Hivemind187


    Húrin wrote: »
    Gangland Gun crime of the type we have got used to is typical in societies which undergo economic booms. Simply saying that it's criminals wot done it is laughably simplistic. Criminals exist in every society, but cocaine shootings don't.

    The issue of gun crime that wesee in Ireland is not related to the economic sucess of the nation insofar as causation. It is the importation of firearms by gangs and criminals as a tool to protect their drug and prostitution interests.

    The affluence of a society is irrelevant since many societies with huge numbers of poor and GDP's lower than a 9 year olds pocket money have horrendous criminal activity involving guns.

    It is more reasonable to say that the level of gun crimes is not related to the affluance of the society but more directly to a combination of which items are considered contraband and thus generate a black market trade as well as the proximity of criminal territories for the distribution and trafficking of such products.

    It is also worth noting that El Salvador, South Africa and many other areas of high violent crime are also some of the most devoutly religious.

    ... perhaps they are the "wrong religion" ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 576 ✭✭✭pts


    In regards to OP, didn't know this but it looks like someone is redeeming the "Higgins" name :)
    From the Irish Times, the part that I didn't know about:
    A native of Co Kerry, Mr Higgins(60), once studied for the priesthood but later became an atheist.
    Don't know if it would have effected my opinion on his suitability, but a pleasant surprise nonetheless.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 145 ✭✭Otaku Girl


    robindch wrote: »
    Religion in general is not a "mental illness" in any reasonable sense of the term,

    I can imagine a hypothetical world where religious belief is in the minority rather than the majority.In such a word it would undoubtably be classified as a mental illness. What's normal is not the same as what's true or condusive to mental health. It was normal in the third reich to believe the Jews were genetically inferior,does'nt make it true.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 24,421 Mod ✭✭✭✭robindch


    Otaku Girl wrote: »
    I can imagine a hypothetical world where religious belief is in the minority rather than the majority.In such a word it would undoubtably be classified as a mental illness.
    I don't at all see why.

    Kids who believe that Santa's bringing them pressies aren't classified as mentally ill, any more than people who go to homeopaths, chiropracters, astrologers, acupuncturists and so on.

    Maintaining a profoundly inaccurate mental model of how the world works certainly could imply that the brain isn't working right, but I don't know any sociologist or psychologist who believe this is the general case. On the contrary, as Wicknight implied above, most believe that the whole creaking edifice has been conjured into existence by the impartial forces of cultural evolution for no other reason than religion runs perfectly well on, or alongside, the vast majority ordinary human brains.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭CerebralCortex


    Otaku Girl wrote: »
    I can imagine a hypothetical world where religious belief is in the minority rather than the majority.In such a word it would undoubtably be classified as a mental illness. What's normal is not the same as what's true or condusive to mental health. It was normal in the third reich to believe the Jews were genetically inferior,does'nt make it true.

    Godwin's law!... I'll get my coat.


  • Posts: 5,121 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Name Party Sitting 1st Pref. Vote % Votes Elected/Excluded
    HARKIN, Marian 84,813 17.1%
    GALLAGHER, Pat The Cope 82,643 16.7%
    HIGGINS, Jim 80,093 16.2%
    GANLEY, Declan 67,638 13.7%
    MacLOCHLAINN, Pádraig 45,515 9.2%
    MOONEY, Paschal 42,985 8.7%
    O'REILLY, Joe 37,564 7.6%
    O'KEEFFE, Susan 28,708 5.8%
    McNAMARA, Michael 12,744 2.6%
    Ó LUAIN, Fiachra 6,510 1.3%
    HIGGINS, John Francis 3,030 0.6%
    McCULLAGH, Noel 1,940 0.4%
    KING, Thomas 1,124 0.2%
    0.6% of the vote and eliminated on the first count.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,021 ✭✭✭Hivemind187


    0.6% of the vote and eliminated on the first count.

    Deadly.

    I'd still like to know which of our representatives hold strong or extreme religious views. Strong defined as any system of values which demands that a particular delusion be held in higher regard than established, verifiable and testable fact and extreme to mean any supernaturally inspired system of values which deems another group to be anathema (gays, jews, blacks, atheists, catholics etc etc).

    Mainly because I find the idea of superstition being responsible for our legislation.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    The issue of gun crime that wesee in Ireland is not related to the economic sucess of the nation insofar as causation. It is the importation of firearms by gangs and criminals as a tool to protect their drug and prostitution interests.
    The drug and prostitution interests have been caused by prosperity.
    The affluence of a society is irrelevant since many societies with huge numbers of poor and GDP's lower than a 9 year olds pocket money have horrendous criminal activity involving guns.
    Nearly all such societies have a super-rich westernised minority that fund their gang crime, such as El Salvador and South Africa.
    It is more reasonable to say that the level of gun crimes is not related to the affluance of the society but more directly to a combination of which items are considered contraband and thus generate a black market trade as well as the proximity of criminal territories for the distribution and trafficking of such products.
    This wasn't an issue when Ireland was poor, even though the same drugs were banned, and the country was in the same geographical position.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    Deadly.

    I'd still like to know which of our representatives hold strong or extreme religious views.

    Sounds like you're seeking Reds under the bed!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    sliabh wrote: »
    It isn't exactly conclusive evidence that they are theists, but I have yet to hear of any Collopy, Keane, Dundon or McCarthy getting a secular or humanist ceremony.

    I love the way Irish people more often than not pretend that class isn't an issue. Self-identified "secular humanists" in my experience are all middle or upper class.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    Húrin wrote: »
    The drug and prostitution interests have been caused by prosperity.
    That makes no sense. Drugs and prostitution are always more prevalent amongst the less well-off. People don't usually become affluent and turn to drugs or prostitution. It's the other way around.
    Húrin wrote: »
    This wasn't an issue when Ireland was poor, even though the same drugs were banned, and the country was in the same geographical position.
    Access to guns and drugs has increased hugely since Ireland was 'poor'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,824 ✭✭✭ShooterSF


    Húrin wrote: »
    I love the way Irish people more often than not pretend that class isn't an issue. Self-identified "secular humanists" in my experience are all middle or upper class.

    Well my background would definitely be working class. I doubt I could be considered middle class now either. One suggestion might be that be that people struggling to make ends meet or are having a hard life may have more to gain psychologically by believing in a faith. Even if their beliefs is in something highly unlikely.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    Dades wrote: »
    That makes no sense. Drugs and prostitution are always more prevalent amongst the less well-off. People don't usually become affluent and turn to drugs or prostitution. It's the other way around.
    So when Ireland was poor there were more of drugs and prostitution, and thus more gangs going around shooting each other? Is that what you're saying?
    Access to guns and drugs has increased hugely since Ireland was 'poor'.

    Yes. That's my point. Gang shooting has not been caused by religion or the decline of it, but by the ascent of our economy. Some people, I see, just don't like to admit that the Celtic Tiger had any negative side-effects.
    ShooterSF wrote: »
    One suggestion might be that be that people struggling to make ends meet or are having a hard life may have more to gain psychologically by believing in a faith. Even if their beliefs is in something highly unlikely.

    This isn't about belief, but tradition. I doubt there are many devout believers among the gang bosses. But none of them have a cultural interest in rocking the boat enough to break away from their family's traditional Catholicism. This is why they all have Catholic funerals. It's not that Catholics are more likely than atheists to be gun-toting drug dealers.

    Really, this issue has very little to do with religion or lack of it, and everything to do with class and money.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    Húrin wrote: »
    So when Ireland was poor there were more of drugs and prostitution, and thus more gangs going around shooting each other? Is that what you're saying?

    Yes. That's my point. Gang shooting has not been caused by religion or the decline of it, but by the ascent of our economy. Some people, I see, just don't like to admit that the Celtic Tiger had any negative side-effects.
    You seem to be missing the key point. There aren't more shootings because people are wealthier - it's not the rich shooting each other. Drugs and weapons are much easier to come by as Ireland no longer the same "island" it was in terms of access. You can fly anywhere in Europe for a tenner on the right day, the borders have come down for EU citizens, and communications advances help to facilitate crime.

    None of this is the fault of the "celtic tiger". It may be the 'cost' of human progress, but it is far outweighed by it's advantages.

    Also, you can't discount both the huge increase in Ireland's population and the blanket media coverage that simply wasn't there a few decades ago.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,045 ✭✭✭Húrin


    Dades wrote: »
    You seem to be missing the key point. There aren't more shootings because people are wealthier - it's not the rich shooting each other.
    So who's buying the coke? There's a reason why nobody was bothering to smuggle a lot of drugs in back in the 60s.
    Drugs and weapons are much easier to come by as Ireland no longer the same "island" it was in terms of access. You can fly anywhere in Europe for a tenner on the right day, the borders have come down for EU citizens, and communications advances help to facilitate crime.
    I would have to agree. Easier communications and transport certainly have exacerbated the problem. These advances have come about through increased weath.
    None of this is the fault of the "celtic tiger". It may be the 'cost' of human progress, but it is far outweighed by it's advantages.
    Contradiction?


  • Registered Users Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭CerebralCortex


    What is your point Hurin? Are you saying prosperity is a bad thing? Or that wealth casues more crime?


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    Húrin wrote: »
    Easier communications and transport certainly have exacerbated the problem. These advances have come about through increased weath.
    The above indicates that you clearly have some odd agenda where you're determined to blame 'wealth' for societies ills. You're scraping for evidence to support some vague, pre-conceived conclusion.

    Maybe you'd be more at home with the Amish? No wealth or any of the trappings such as electricity or modern medicine. :)


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