We're awash with money

RandomName2

The catch-cry of yesteryear seems fairly out of place today, doesn't it?

Does anybody remember it?

Typical attack on the government would take the model:

Problem: Ethnic minority children in schools without adequate grasp of English; or children in the education system with learning difficulties.

Campaign launched on the national hectoring centre of Joe Duffy.

Cause taken up by opposition politicians hoping to gain from dissent.

Campaign finds that it is pushing at an open door.

Solution: Every child who needs it should have a permanent one-to-one helper

Rationale: We're awash with money Joe!

Result: Fianna Fail maintains public approval rating, opposition politicians fume because a stick to beat the government has been removed, a crazy level of public spending is introduced.

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Problem: Ireland doesn't have much world recognition

Solution: Irish foreign aid is one of the largest per head of population in the world (Bertie Ahern gave money to America for instance during Katrina).

Rationale: We're awash with money

Result: Fianna Fail maintains public approval rating due to feel-good factor incurred by helping the Irish to be 'liked' abroad; opposition politicians fume because a stick to beat the government has been removed; a crazy level of public spending is introduced.

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Problem: Exponential rise in the cost of living in Ireland

Solution: Raise all social welfare + minimum wage

Rationale: You... get the idea.

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Problem: Lack of financial regulation of banks

Solution: No solution is required as this is not actually a problem. Bank loans were a necessary part of the Irish economic miracle

Rationale: As above.


etc. etc. etc.


But today it is a slightly different story. Today everything is precessed with 'bankers', 'fat-cats' 'the government' etc. People say 'anybody but Fianna Fail, whilst in reality it looks as if elections in the future will have little significance in our devolved position of sovereignty (if you laws and budgets are decided elsewhere, what really is left to say?). Meanwhile folk like Gilmore are waiting in the wings as if they actually pose a SOLUTION to the crisis they themselves facilitated.

People say 'Don't make cuts. Our level of deficit should only be addressed as long as public expenditure is not affected.'

People say 'sure a bailout/ loan would be grand. Can't be worse then what we've got at the moment'

Is there any potential that Ireland will actually learn from its mistakes?