State of the nation address - is one needed?

feicim

Is it time for our so called leader Cowen to publicly address the citizens of Ireland and tell us what to expect in the next couple of years.

Nobody is expecting it to be good, but at least some peoples worst fears may be allayed.

(I say this as I saw posts on this forum from people worried about putting their savings into Irish banks, if peoples perceptions have gotten so bad where they are seriously worrying about this this kind of stuff some form of honest communication from the government is required).

Spending will eventually have to come in line with the tax take and that is going to mean a drastically reduced standard and a drastically altered economic/social landscape. Mass unemployment is here to stay until a way is found to create mass employment (which doesn't look possible at the moment, maybe when pay levels are similar to eastern europe?).

The government, in ignoring these obvious truths about the future and choosing not to inform people in an official capacity is hiding their head in the sand and delaying the appropriate measures needed to stabilise the economy.

If they spoke candidly I think people would appreciate the seriousness of the situation and accept the reality of the "new" post celtic tiger Ireland. By doing so people will more readily embrace the tough measures that are coming down the line and might even evoke a bit of solidarity between members of the public who are currently split into three warring factions (public servants vs paye vs the unemployed). Each of these factions are reduced to mé-féinism as they fight their corner in isolation.

The governments spin and BS is making people uneasy (and angry).

A state of the nation address could lay the cards on the tabel and then they could get down to business doing what needs to be done in as fair a way as possible and we'll all have to deal with whatever it is that is coming down the line.

Are the current shower capable of doing this or are they deluding themselves with their own spin?
Any views?

timespast

feicim wrote: »

Is it time for our so called leader Cowen to publicly address the citizens of Ireland and tell us what to expect in the next couple of years.

Nobody is expecting it to be good, but at least some peoples worst fears may be allayed.

(I say this as I saw posts on this forum from people worried about putting their savings into Irish banks, if peoples perceptions have gotten so bad where they are seriously worrying about this this kind of stuff some form of honest communication from the government is required).

Spending will eventually have to come in line with the tax take and that is going to mean a drastically reduced standard and a drastically altered economic/social landscape. Mass unemployment is here to stay until a way is found to create mass employment (which doesn't look possible at the moment, maybe when pay levels are similar to eastern europe?).

The government, in ignoring these obvious truths about the future and choosing not to inform people in an official capacity is hiding their head in the sand and delaying the appropriate measures needed to stabilise the economy.

If they spoke candidly I think people would appreciate the seriousness of the situation and accept the reality of the "new" post celtic tiger Ireland. By doing so people will more readily embrace the tough measures that are coming down the line and might even evoke a bit of solidarity between members of the public who are currently split into three warring factions (public servants vs paye vs the unemployed). Each of these factions are reduced to mé-féinism as they fight their corner in isolation.

The governments spin and BS is making people uneasy (and angry).

A state of the nation address could lay the cards on the tabel and then they could get down to business doing what needs to be done in as fair a way as possible and we'll all have to deal with whatever it is that is coming down the line.

Are the current shower capable of doing this or are they deluding themselves with their own spin?
Any views?

I don't see the point......I do not believe a word they say.

I'd rather if a few of them made a visit to the local Gardai station and handed themselves in with a frank confession.

Liam Byrne

A state of the nation address might be required, but from someone who is respected, believed and has authority.

That rules out Cowen, since everything he would come out with would be a lie, and his spin would be to avoid allocating the required blame and protect his ass and his corrupt party.

Maybe one by Shane Ross or someone.

Cookie_Monster

Maybe Madame President can say something inspiring for us all...

dan_d

I do actually agree with you.

We have no idea what's going on. We don't know exactly how badly our banks are indebted. We don't know what (if any) jobs policy there might be out there. There's a level of hysteria building over bank guarantees/insolvency/should we take our money out of the banks? Our health service is crumbling at the edges, and fast towards the centre. People are getting more and more desperate, and some are quite literally, fleeing the country. The level of general depression and pessimism is appalling, as is clearly indicated around Boards (although there might some over-exaggeration around here). People don't know what's going to happen next, and it's now being made worse by the various statements being made about this year's budget.

On that note, OP, check this out.I heard an ad for it the other day, and couldn't believe that what I was hearing was true. But I just found it on the website.

http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Ian-Dempsey-Breakfast-Show/Petition.aspx

Somebody has to tell us something, because as far as I can see people are really, really, really fed up and scared and all we keep being told is "stop talking things down" and "we need to be less pessimistic"...but they haven't actually done anything that we would be hopeful about.

timespast

[QUOTE=dan_d;67982877
Somebody has to tell us something, because as far as I can see people are really, really, really fed up and scared and all we keep being told is "stop talking things down" and "we need to be less pessimistic"...but they haven't actually done anything that we would be hopeful about.[/QUOTE]


I remember them 2-3 years ago stating "you are talking us into a recession!"

They never got the past right......they seem oblivious to the present so I wouldn't take their word for it reg. the future.

dan_d

Well, I don't expect them to give us solutions, or to tell us they've got a "plan".

But it'd be nice if they could tell us anything at all!!

timespast

dan_d wrote: »

Well, I don't expect them to give us solutions, or to tell us they've got a "plan".

But it'd be nice if they could tell us anything at all!!

I'm sure we'll be spoon fed little bits of info. leading up to the Budget to break the bad news gently.

Long term I think they have as much a clue as us on what will happen.

Biggins

timespast wrote: »

I'm sure we'll be spoon fed little bits of info. leading up to the Budget to break the bad news gently.

Thats what I expect too.
Its exactly what has happened the last few times. Leaked :rolleyes: details to soften the blows and get us used to what's announced officially on a December date.

The usual FF tactics as of previous months/years.

Darsad

Clowen is finished why would he bother seeing as he is deeply uncomfortable when speaking !

MrDarcy

dan_d wrote: »

On that note, OP, check this out.I heard an ad for it the other day, and couldn't believe that what I was hearing was true. But I just found it on the website.

http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Ian-Dempsey-Breakfast-Show/Petition.aspx

What an absolute load of crap. The problem isn't Cowen coming on the TV or not, the problem is Cowen himself, not fit for purpose, no leadership abilities, not a fu*king notion on earth as to what to do or how to do it. Then the other problem is that if we got rid of Cowen, we'd have two bigger arseh*oles there who wouldn't have a clue how to get this country back on track either.

Biggins

MrDarcy wrote: »

...the other problem is that if we got rid of Cowen, we'd have two bigger arseh*oles there who wouldn't have a clue how to get this country back on track either.

Yea, I agree 100%, but thats enough about Harney and Gormless.

imme

Can't see that it would accomplish much really. Maybe if Cowen had have given it a go two years ago his numbers wouldn't be so bad as at the minute.

He's a man that doesn't inspire, he doesn't encourage and he definitely doesn't look like he's enjoying anything of the job that he does.

Interesting article from Indo here, http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/fionnan-sheahan/fionnan-sheahan-kenny-blooms-as-cowen-wilts-under-the-spotlight-2335137.html