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The blame game... target EU!

  • 09-04-2011 10:17pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭


    I see a lot of posters are attempting to put the blame of our ills elsewhere. I think it's a disgrace and the Irish have nobody else to blame but ourselves: Ireland demanded a lot of autonomy... IRELAND RAN ITSELF INTO THE GROUND THROUGH ITS OWN FAILED POLICIES AND LACK OF OVERSIGHT. The EU had nothing to do with our fiasco, it was created by the Irish government. The EU has been generous to Ireland, and fundamental to getting the tiger going. I look back now and think, YES the EU should have had more say in our internal affairs, we wouldn't be in the ****ing mess we are today... and this will last a decade at least, young people will have no choice but to emigrate because we are effectively a failed state because of morons like Bertie Ahern

    Shoulod we blame ourselves for the mess we are in? 30 votes

    Yes
    0% 0 votes
    No
    100% 30 votes


«1

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,198 ✭✭✭strokemyclover


    Sit down OP, you're drunk!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 645 ✭✭✭rockmongrel


    The blame game... target average Irish person!


  • Moderators, Computer Games Moderators Posts: 7,944 Mod ✭✭✭✭Yakult


    Who actually gives a **** anymore? We are in this position now and blaming people gets nowhere as we've seen. Many people should be sent to jail but this being Ireland they will get their name in the headlines and a week later they are scot free it with a fat juicy pension.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,551 ✭✭✭SeaFields


    I see Jose Manuel Barroso has got himself a boards account.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭dan719


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    I see a lot of posters are attempting to put the blame of our ills elsewhere. I think it's a disgrace and the Irish have nobody else to blame but ourselves: Ireland demanded a lot of autonomy... IRELAND RAN ITSELF INTO THE GROUND THROUGH ITS OWN FAILED POLICIES AND LACK OF OVERSIGHT. The EU had nothing to do with our fiasco, it was created by the Irish government. The EU has been generous to Ireland, and fundamental to getting the tiger going. I look back now and think, YES the EU should have had more say in our internal affairs, we wouldn't be in the ****ing mess we are today... and this will last a decade at least, young people will have no choice but to emigrate because we are effectively a failed state because of morons like Bertie Ahern

    I try and avoid conversations like this on AH but here goes anyway.

    The reason the ECB and the EU are currently a target for Irish anger is two fold;

    The first is pre crisis- The ECB kept interest rates low to suit Germany (and to a lesser extent France) at a time when the Irish economy was overheating and required higher interest rates to discourage borrowing. Not only that, but some of the larger countries broke the Stability and Growth Pact, so it is a bit rich for them to talk about fiscal rectitude when they haven't practised it themselves.

    The second is post crisis (i.e. now)- Yet again Ireland is at the mercy of a wildly unsuitable interest rate regime. The ECB may be mandated to limit inflation to "close to but less than 2%", but it seems to be failing to realise that the current high level of inflation is imported into the Eurozone in the form of fuel, goods and so on. Increasing interest rates will mean less money in your pocket but will not achieve the the "protection of purchasing power."

    WRT the bailout, many Irish people feel that they have been saddled with an almost impossible to repay debt to protect the banks that leant to AIB, BOI, Anglo etc during the boom. Which just happen to be German and French in the main. If Irish taxpayers are on the hook for OUR banks, then why the hell should the German- Franco alliance not be responsible for their own?

    AH answer- Because Sarkozy is a short little man and merkel is an ugly b*tch!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    morons like Bertie Ahern

    He's not a moron, neither is Cowen. The previous administration ignored the advice of economists, advisors, fellow politicians and experts. To say he's a moron would be to absolve him of blame in some way.

    I blame Cowen personally. I would like to see him face trial for his crimes and I would not like apologists like yourself to interfere with the people's perception of this traikor. These people knew what they were doing.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    did you see freefall of what? its on RTE player, its a good watch and it'll be gone soon


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    dan719 wrote: »
    I try and avoid conversations like this on AH but here goes anyway.

    The reason the ECB and the EU are currently a target for Irish anger is two fold;

    The first is pre crisis- The ECB kept interest rates low to suit Germany (and to a lesser extent France) at a time when the Irish economy was overheating and required higher interest rates to discourage borrowing. Not only that, but some of the larger countries broke the Stability and Growth Pact, so it is a bit rich for them to talk about fiscal rectitude when they haven't practised it themselves.

    The second is post crisis (i.e. now)- Yet again Ireland is at the mercy of a wildly unsuitable interest rate regime. The ECB may be mandated to limit inflation to "close to but less than 2%", but it seems to be failing to realise that the current high level of inflation is imported into the Eurozone in the form of fuel, goods and so on. Increasing interest rates will mean less money in your pocket but will not achieve the the "protection of purchasing power."

    WRT the bailout, many Irish people feel that they have been saddled with an almost impossible to repay debt to protect the banks that leant to AIB, BOI, Anglo etc during the boom. Which just happen to be German and French in the main. If Irish taxpayers are on the hook for OUR banks, then why the hell should the German- Franco alliance not be responsible for their own?

    AH answer- Because Sarkozy is a short little man and merkel is an ugly b*tch!

    So at the end of the day, you blame the EU for OUR mess? If the authorities here were any way competent, it would have been avoided


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    If a mod could please edit that typo in the poll question, I would be very grateful :o


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    So at the end of the day, you blame the EU for OUR mess? If the authorities here were any way competent, it would have been avoided

    watch freefall and come back to me, these things are not as simple as its 'x' fault, its about being x, y, z, a, b ,c , d's fault, watch it and you should then see that.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    Saila wrote: »
    watch freefall and come back to me, these things are not as simple as its 'x' fault, its about being x, y, z, a, b ,c , d's fault, watch it and you should then see that.

    It's complete and utter bolloxology. The reason ''we'' bailed Anglo is extremely clear to everyone.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    squod wrote: »
    It's complete and utter bolloxology. The reason ''we'' bailed Anglo is extremely clear to everyone.

    did you watch it?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    Saila wrote: »
    did you watch it?

    Yes. The truth gets a small airing in parts alright. But the coverage overall is designed to support FF's notion of the ''only game in town'' was a blanket guarantee. Complete fabrication.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,163 ✭✭✭smk89


    I think we should all just have a nice cup of tea.
    Sure didn't our Lord himself on the cross pause for a nice cup of tea before giving himself up for the world?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭dan719


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    So at the end of the day, you blame the EU for OUR mess? If the authorities here were any way competent, it would have been avoided

    Where did I say that?

    I explained why some Irish people felt a level of anger towards the EU and the ECB.

    The reasons for our mess are many and varied and include (but not limited to);
    • poor financial regulation at a national and international level
    • creation of poorly understood deriritive instruments which increased the risk of contagion throughout the system
    • the unsuitable interest rate regime described earlier and so on

    To try and pin the blame on any one group or failing is both simplistic and stupid. I'm not trying to, and I suggest you avoid it too.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    squod wrote: »
    Yes. The truth gets a small airing in parts alright. But the coverage overall is designed to support FF's notion of the ''only game in town'' was a blanket guarantee. Complete fabrication.

    ok then, what was the alternative


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    Saila wrote: »
    ok then, what was the alternative

    Oh God........ The blanket guarantee was entirely the wrong thing to do at the time. That's not hindsight talking either.

    Here's an alternative supplied by the central bank governor. You gonna argue with him?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    Saila wrote: »
    ok then, what was the alternative

    There was no alternative... the alternative would've been you and the entire population unable to withdraw cash from ATM's or branches, economical suicide and a breakdown of society


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    There was no alternative... the alternative would've been you and the entire population unable to withdraw cash from ATM's or branches, economical suicide and a breakdown of society

    There's no evidence that that was the case. This is just more of it. If the whole world told you differently, will you still believe the opinion of a handful of politicians?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,565 ✭✭✭southsiderosie


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    There was no alternative... the alternative would've been you and the entire population unable to withdraw cash from ATM's or branches, economical suicide and a breakdown of society

    The government could have guaranteed deposits, which is what would have avoided a bank run. Instead the blanket guarantee covered bondholders as well, who could and should have been burned on their terrible investments. If they wanted to turn around and sue Anglo later over false accounting or whatever, that would have been their prerogative, but Irish taxpayers would not be on the hook for it.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod




    http://www.ceps.eu/member/karel-lannoo

    Unilateral decision, without consulting their colleagues in the EU. A decision made in the dead of night etc.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    The government could have guaranteed deposits, which is what would have avoided a bank run. Instead the blanket guarantee covered bondholders as well, who could and should have been burned on their terrible investments. If they wanted to turn around and sue Anglo later over false accounting or whatever, that would have been their prerogative, but Irish taxpayers would not be on the hook for it.

    Sorry, but the banks were broke... there was no mention of a bank run?? Regardless of a run or not, everybody wouldn't have access to their cash... the banks were on the verge of collapse!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭sock puppet


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    So at the end of the day, you blame the EU for OUR mess? If the authorities here were any way competent, it would have been avoided

    So you don't think low interest rates had an effect on our overheating economy?
    The government could have guaranteed deposits, which is what would have avoided a bank run. Instead the blanket guarantee covered bondholders as well, who could and should have been burned on their terrible investments.

    I'm not sure if that would have been possible legally?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 387 ✭✭force majeure


    As this is after hours i reserve the right to blame my granny for not bringing me up to be a god fearing bigoted nercon miser who distrusts everything and never once championed anything other than a shot off Scottish water. :D:D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    squod wrote: »
    There's no evidence that that was the case. This is just more of it. If the whole world tell you differently, will you still believe the opinion of a handful of politicians?

    Did you see what happened when northern rock crashed sometime before the guarantee?, that was the proof, it would have been 100 times worse than that

    edit: I see from another post that they guaranteed the bond holders and not just deposits so that changes everything..

    if was was possible to guarantee the depositors without the bond holders then it looks like it was indeed a rash decision, so what would be the consequences of not guaranteeing the bond holders back then?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    So you don't think low interest rates had an effect on our overheating economy?

    That would've been an Irish government issue to work around, and here's news, THEY DIDN'T DO THERE JOB!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    Saila wrote: »
    Did you see what happened when northern rock crashed sometime before the guarantee?, that was the proof, it would have been 100 times worse than that

    There's no evidence for anything you are saying. You do realise that right?
    How many time do you have to be told. It was the wrong decision. It's not just me telling you that. I doubt that even RTE would try keep this fantasy going any longer.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    squod wrote: »
    There's no evidence for anything you are saying. You do realise that right?
    How many time do you have to be told. It was the wrong decision. It's not just me telling you that. I doubt that even RTE would try keep this fantasy going any longer.

    But there is evidence... the banks would've collapsed overnight...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭sock puppet


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    That would've been an Irish government issue to work around, and here's news, THEY DIDN'T DO THERE JOB!

    So what? No one's saying FF were not at fault. But central banks play a very important role in regulating the economy. You can't discount its influence just because it suits your argument. It's as dishonest as FF supporters blaming it all on the global financial crisis.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,565 ✭✭✭southsiderosie


    So you don't think low interest rates had an effect on our overheating economy?

    Interest rates were too low for the state of Ireland's economy, but the government could and should have used fiscal and tax policy to cool things down. Instead, they threw petrol onto the fire.
    I'm not sure if that would have been possible legally?

    And the blanket bank guarantee was legal? If they had the leeway to do one (which is far more expansive), I fail to see how they could not have done the other.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    But there is evidence... the banks would've collapsed overnight...

    Say's who? Some bankers? Some bankers mates? Seriously.......


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,565 ✭✭✭southsiderosie


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    There was no alternative... the alternative would've been you and the entire population unable to withdraw cash from ATM's or branches, economical suicide and a breakdown of society
    CommuterIE wrote: »
    Sorry, but the banks were broke... there was no mention of a bank run?? Regardless of a run or not, everybody wouldn't have access to their cash... the banks were on the verge of collapse!

    Do you have any actual evidence of this, or are you just going to keep saying it over and over again?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    So what? No one's saying FF were not at fault. But central banks play a very important role in regulating the economy. You can't discount its influence just because it suits your argument. It's as dishonest as FF supporters blaming it all on the global financial crisis.

    The regulator was working within his remit and regulation at the time, which was described by an FF politician before the bust as "He really doesn't have much to work with" The banks were allowed to run like it was the wild west


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,586 ✭✭✭sock puppet


    And the blanket bank guarantee was legal? If they had the leeway to do one (which is far more expansive), I fail to see how they could not have done the other.

    I'm just saying that since bondholders and depositors are equal in Irish law would it not be illegal to guarentee deposits and not bondholders?
    CommuterIE wrote: »
    The regulator was working within his remit and regulation at the time, which was described by an FF politician before the bust as "He really doesn't have much to work with" The banks were allowed to run like it was the wild west

    And?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    Do you have any actual evidence of this, or are you just going to keep saying it over and over again?

    Thankfully I don't have evidence!


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    Guaranteeing the deposits and any future loans was a more sensible plan. More to the point, I can remember people shock, hearing the news that Anglo was getting a 100% blanket bail-out.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    squod wrote: »
    Guaranteeing the deposits and any future loans was a more sensible plan. More to the point, I can remember people shock, hearing the news that Anglo was getting a 100% blanket bail-out.

    Anglo owned the majority of corporate leases and mortgages in the State, it was impossible to let it go bust... nobody wanted to bail them out but that was the stark reality


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 458 ✭✭Craebear


    Whole thing was deliberate, incompetence alone does cause a mess like this, there is intent in there somewhere.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    we need to settle the legality of guaranteeing the bondholders as well as the deposits issue and the one and not the other situation before moving on, any sources about the legalities of both of those options?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    Anglo owned the majority of corporate leases and mortgages in the State,

    So you're saying it wasn't possible for someone in the previous administration to negotiate with the appointed receivers about these corporate leases and mortgages?

    Somehow, I don't believe you.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    squod wrote: »
    So you're saying it wasn't possible for someone in the previous administration to negotiate with the appointed receivers about these corporate leases and mortgages?

    Somehow, I don't believe you.

    lmao, what recievers, who the **** would want a bank billions in the red??


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    lmao, what recievers, who the **** would want a bank billions in the red??

    You apparently.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 462 ✭✭CommuterIE


    squod wrote: »
    You apparently.

    Lets not resort to stupidity here, ANGLO WAS TO BIG TO FAIL! Is there something you don't get about that fact


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 36,634 ✭✭✭✭Ruu_Old


    Is this the new RTE gameshow? I heard Derek Davis will present it.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    Saila wrote: »

    if was was possible to guarantee the depositors without the bond holders then it looks like it was indeed a rash decision, so what would be the consequences of not guaranteeing the bond holders back then?

    This was discussed ad-nauseum pre election like. All water under the bridge etc. The web seminars from the celebrity economists over on newvision.ie or the Peoples economy could have explained all this to you at the time.

    People voted pro-austerity for the benefit of the bankers. That's what the people want.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    Lets not resort to stupidity here, ANGLO WAS TO BIG TO FAIL! Is there something you don't get about that fact

    It's not a fact. You will supply no evidence to support your claim because there is none. Getting angry and using shouty capitalisation won't prove your point.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,573 ✭✭✭pragmatic1


    squod wrote: »
    It's complete and utter bolloxology. The reason ''we'' bailed Anglo is extremely clear to everyone.
    Did you watch the part where Jean Claude Trichet told lenihan that he must save Irish banks at all costs, the reason being they owed so much to European banks. People act like Ireland is the only country with corruption, the EU is one big giant corrupt entity.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 7,751 ✭✭✭Saila


    squod wrote: »
    This was discussed ad-nauseum pre election like. All water under the bridge etc. The web seminars from the celebrity economists over on newvision.ie or the Peoples republic could have explained all this to you at the time.

    People voted pro-austerity for the benefit of the bankers. That's what the people want.

    a little summary will do, if they were good points you would remember them, it was two years ago I cant go routing through the pages to find it!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 8,704 ✭✭✭squod


    pragmatic1 wrote: »
    Did you watch the part where Jean Claude Trichet told lenihan that he must save Irish banks at all costs, the reason being they owed so much to European banks. People act like Ireland is the only country with corruption, the EU is one big giant corrupt entity.

    I'm sorry, who voted Jean Claude Trichet into government over here? I genuinely do not recall Trichet appearing in person on the tele making that remark.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,573 ✭✭✭pragmatic1


    CommuterIE wrote: »
    I see a lot of posters are attempting to put the blame of our ills elsewhere. I think it's a disgrace and the Irish have nobody else to blame but ourselves: Ireland demanded a lot of autonomy... IRELAND RAN ITSELF INTO THE GROUND THROUGH ITS OWN FAILED POLICIES AND LACK OF OVERSIGHT. The EU had nothing to do with our fiasco, it was created by the Irish government. The EU has been generous to Ireland, and fundamental to getting the tiger going. I look back now and think, YES the EU should have had more say in our internal affairs, we wouldn't be in the ****ing mess we are today... and this will last a decade at least, young people will have no choice but to emigrate because we are effectively a failed state because of morons like Bertie Ahern
    Its very simple. Banks are private institutions. When they make a profit they dont share it with the people, so why should we pick up the bill for foreign banks which made a fortune from this country and now expect us to pay for their stupidity. Thats not how capitalism works.


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