Eddie Hobbs: Open letter to Mary McAleese

pog it

I subscribe to the newsletter Eddie Hobbs sends out to subscribers (it's free) and this evening this came through from him and I think everyone with an interest in this country needs to read this and start fighting back. There is more of this coming folks!

By Eddie Hobbs:



Dear President McAleese,
Last Sunday I returned from a trip to Dachau which opened outside Munich in 1933. Dachau was built as a concentration camp to house those who first objected to radical early departures by the Government of the National Socialists. Pastor Martin Niemöller, one of the lucky few who survived the deaths of 250,000 fellow prisoners in Dachau, left a warning note to free thinkers everywhere to try to explain the strange acquiescence of German intellectuals as their country was slowly subjugated.
First they came for the communists - and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists- and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews-and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me -and there was no one left to speak out for me.
To satisfy EU demands to protect powerful German and French banks from sharing in their responsibility for fuelling the Irish property bubble, the Finance Bill (no 2) 2011 has crossed a crucial first line. Sure, plain as day that the line the Irish Government is crossing in 2011 is nothing like very many lines the Nazi’s would cross - but it’s not too unlike their first radical departures.
This is the forced appropriation of savings from hundreds of thousands of ordinary men and women who’ve put money into retirement funds. This is not a tax on future profit - it is a rewriting of the past, a back tax on capital already saved from past income during years where those many conscientious savers who elsewhere contributed their legitimate requirement to the exchequer. There is no difference between the capital in a deposit account or the capital in a retirement fund, merely a set of operating rules and tax treatment. By crossing this line the Government is openly accelerating the loss of money overseas. That it is choosing to do so without clarifying its intentions with regards to future appropriation of capital from cash deposits at Irish banks, Credit Unions and An Post, is as telling as it is worrying.

In a chilling departure the proposed legislation openly targets trustees who hold pension assets by threatening them, for each day delayed, with a punitive daily interest rates of 0.0219% PLUS a fine of €380 per day. This is without precedent and is an open act of hostility and aggression to those who would, otherwise, question the right of the Government to appropriate savings by asking their trustees to seek the protection of the courts. That’s why the Finance Bill has been crafted this way - in the certain knowledge that this hammer will discourage any individual citizen from standing up for himself or herself.
The first tranche of savings is expected to be handed over on July 25th next and if it’s delayed by just one month the loss to the saver is nearly €11,500 - a figure greater than the entire average value of retirement funds accumulated by those under 35. This is an abhorrent abuse of power by a privileges elite whose own pension scheme has been ring-fenced.
That’s why President McAleese, I am writing to ask you to call The Council of State and refer this abhorrent Bill to The Supreme Court. I feel sure many of my fellow citizens will follow suit by writing to you at Áras an Uachtaráin -and that the ghost of Martin Niemöller would concur.

Eddie Hobbs

First they came for the communists - and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists- and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews-and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me -and there was no one left to speak out for me.

Facepalm.
Poor Niemoeller would be rolling in his grave.
What an absurd piece of rubbish.

beeftotheheels

OP - you failed to reproduce his d[r]aft letters to pension trustees telling them to break the law (and arguably destroy their own careers into the bargain)

http://www.eddiehobbs.com/_blog/EddiesBlog/post/Letter_Campaign_%E2%80%93_Pension_Capital_Appropriation/

alchemist33

Mein Gott!

There may be an arguable point in there, but I can't really take it seriously when he Godwin'd himself in the first line.

beeftotheheels

I forgot to mention his little "golden" plug on his front page - no conflicts of interest there then at all:rolleyes:

http://www.eddiehobbs.com/Home.htm

tayto lover

Eddie runs with the hare and hunts with the hound. Not to be trusted.

OMD

Eddie Hobbs, what an asshole he has shown himself to being.

That is one of the most disgusting pieces of crap I have seen in a long while.

pog it

Couldn't give a crap what certain posters here have said as I'm familiar with their mindset and attitudes about this (particularly couldn't give a crap what beeftotheheels thinks and have already asked him not to comment on any thread I begin).

You all are a scintillating example of why this country is rotting to the ground.

OMD

pog it wrote: »

Couldn't give a crap what certain posters here have said as I'm familiar with their mindset and attitudes about this (particularly couldn't give a crap what beeftotheheels thinks and have already asked him not to comment on any thread I begin).

You all are a scintillating example of why this country is rotting to the ground.

Comparing such a minor thing as taking 0.6% from pension funds to the hollocaust is shameful. That is what makes Eddie Hobbs an asshole.

pog it

OMD wrote: »

Comparing such a minor thing as taking 0.6% from pension funds to the hollocaust is shameful. That is what makes Eddie Hobbs an asshole.

You need to re-read the letter. It is not a direct comparison. It's not as simple as that.

pog it

pog it wrote: »

You need to re-read the letter. It is not a direct comparison. It's not as simple as that.

No, he was just politely telling the President about his holidays as a complete aside :rolleyes:

Paulzx

Eddie for President.... Then he can convene the Council of State himself.

The man is a wanton self publicist. There is no bandwagon he will not attach himself to in order to keep his name in the public arena.

How many paid radio interviews will he get out of this one?

What a plonker

later12

pog it wrote: »

Dachau was built as a concentration camp to house those who first objected to radical early departures by the Government of the National Socialists. [...] Sure, plain as day that the line the Irish Government is crossing in 2011 is nothing like very many lines the Nazi’s would cross - but it’s not too unlike their first radical departures.

Surely with these lines Eddie Hobbs must have demolished any respect that people following the Irish financial crisis have held for him.

This direct correlation with Nazi activities is an outrageous disregard for the extent of the damage that the Nazis perpetrated in their attempts to exterminate human beings from the earth. What a fool.

The idea that Martin Niemoller would throw in his lot with what is, in comparison, a petty and a shallow monetary dispute between those who are the free and the wealthy is exasperating:

I feel sure many of my fellow citizens will follow suit by writing to you at Áras an Uachtaráin -and that the ghost of Martin Niemöller would concur

This letter does not deserve any engagement on other aspects of its subject matter, to do that would be to overlook the unacceptable mistake that Hobbs has made in likening those paying the pension fund levy to victims of Nazis. There is a place for the levy debate, but it isn't to be thrown in with Nazi war crimes.

It's Godwin's law, and Hobbs loses.

Einhard

pog it wrote: »

Couldn't give a crap what certain posters here have said as I'm familiar with their mindset and attitudes about this (particularly couldn't give a crap what beeftotheheels thinks and have already asked him not to comment on any thread I begin).

You all are a scintillating example of why this country is rotting to the ground.

So, just to get it straight, you post an absurd letter from a man so in love with self-promotion as to make PT Barnum blush, and then engage in a rant against anyone who doesn't line up to praise him? If you want to engage in a Hobbsian circle-jerk, why not post on the fora on his own site, or set up your own site as a paean to the great man?

Seriously, nothing is as irritating as someone who posts in a public forum, and then tells all those who respond that she's not interested in their opinions. Don't bloody post then!

I actually wish that someone would come for Eddie Hobbs- and stick a bloody gag in his mouth.

randylonghorn

Firstly, the correlation implied with even the early exploits of the Nazi Party escapes me ... I would welcome Mr. Hobbs' clarification on this point.

Secondly, the link is obviously made solely for its shock value, and as such is imho quite inappropriate. I find the invoking of Martin Niemöller's name especially distasteful in this context.

Thirdly, whatever anyone may feel about the Finance Bill (no 2) 2011, including President McAleese herself as a private individual, a bill may only be referred to the Supreme Court if there is doubt as to its constitutionality. On what grounds is Mr. Hobbs arguing that this bill is unconstitutional? Might he perhaps have strengthened his argument by outlining his grounds for doubting its constitutionality rather than lecturing a barrister and former professor of law on specious parallels with German history?

It strikes me that Mr. Hobbs is indulging in populist soapboxing ... something which may in fact resonate more clearly with the era and regime he has referred to than the comparison he has attempted to make.

HellFireClub

Is this the same guy as Eddie "I'm going to create the biggest property investment in the world and call it Brendan Investments, give me your money to invest in property" Hobbs???

femur61

No wonder we are where we are. Eddie Hobbs may have used an anology which I personally find inappropiate but at least he is saying and doing something. It is very typical of the Irish to sit back, have a few pints winge and complain, sort the world out. We are a nation of bregrudgers, its not Eddie who we should be attacking (even if only through cyberspace) and not the present government either. It is the previous government for taking the money the Europeans gave us and lending it out recklessly.

doomed

To compare the Nazi atrocities and the rise of facism with a taxation measure manages to be both insulting and ludicrous at the same time. Does he actually believe that nonsense?

Eddie you have had way more than your 15 minutes of fame. Time for the grown-ups again.

Benny_Cake

femur61 wrote: »

No wonder we are where we are. Eddie Hobbs may have used an anology which I personally find inappropiate but at least he is saying and doing something. It is very typical of the Irish to sit back, have a few pints winge and complain, sort the world out. We are a nation of bregrudgers, its not Eddie who we should be attacking (even if only through cyberspace) and not the present government either. It is the previous government for taking the money the Europeans gave us and lending it out recklessly.

If someone compares a pension levy to the third Reich then yes,I do think we should be attacking them.The guy has form in this too,he is constantly demonising interest groups (small retailers,public servants...).

Rick Deckard

femur61 wrote: »

No wonder we are where we are. Eddie Hobbs may have used an anology which I personally find inappropiate but at least he is saying and doing something. It is very typical of the Irish to sit back, have a few pints winge and complain, sort the world out. We are a nation of bregrudgers, its not Eddie who we should be attacking (even if only through cyberspace) and not the present government either. It is the previous government for taking the money the Europeans gave us and lending it out recklessly.

How would that bail us out?

WalterMitty

Dont agree with his anaology but why would mary mcaleese care, she has an unfunded pension worth many millions waiting for her and has lived the life of luxury in a mansion with servants ,all living costs covered for past 14 years.

RichardAnd

I don't like Eddie Hobbs for many reasons, none of which I'll get into. However, in spite of this rather dramatic letter, he does have a point. The pension levy was crossing a and perhaps the next step is a tax upon savings. I think simply dismissing this issue just because it comes from a dodgey accountant who was telling people to borrow millions only 5 years ago was be a folly.

Taxi Drivers

Poor old Eddie has lost the run of himself on this one. He has been frothing at the mouth on radio for the past week or so; no more so than on The Last Word last night.

His biggest gripe seems to be the under 35s who have an average pension put of €7,500. This levy will cost them €45 per year or around €180 in total. It's a loss but nothing as catatrosphic as Eddie is making out. Eddie is trying to be the hero to the young worker but they are not really losing from this.

The big losers from this levy are workers close to retirement who have built up a large pension fund. Eddie seems to be ignoring this group.

Could it be that his rants are targetted at a group who could potentially offer 30 years of fees and charges rather than those who do not? Any "consumer advocate" should be focussing on the real cost to those close to retirement rather than on a phantom cost for those under 35.

Cookie_Monster

randylonghorn wrote: »

It strikes me that Mr. Hobbs is indulging in populist soapboxing ... something which may in fact resonate more clearly with the era and regime he has referred to than the comparison he has attempted to make.

so he is clearly soap boxing, so what? Every other attempt to get the Irish populace to sit up and realise the disgraceful things this and the last government have got up to failed and we've just sat back and said "take all our money".

If populist soapboxing is what's needed to finally get people to realise how much money is being stolen off them so be it. The pension tax is a disgrace and I would bet my house (if I had been silly enough to pay 10x its worth with a crippling mortgage for one) that the % will go up and it will not be temporary. It's a sneaky, immoral tax that once again protects the PS and their buddies at the expense of Joe Soap in the private sector.

pog it

RichardAnd wrote: »

I don't like Eddie Hobbs for many reasons, none of which I'll get into. However, in spite of this rather dramatic letter, he does have a point. The pension levy was crossing a and perhaps the next step is a tax upon savings. I think simply dismissing this issue just because it comes from a dodgey accountant who was telling people to borrow millions only 5 years ago was be a folly.

I'm not singling you out Richard but in fairness, Eddie Hobbs gave tonnes of great advice as well, in fact more good advice than bad, and yet people choose/want to remember the bad.

What a shame.

Frank Black

Hurrah for all the ‘right-on’ posters jumping down his throat for an ill-judged ‘Nazi’ analogy. At the end of the day Hobbs is quite correct in his central point. This pension levy is a dangerous precedent and shows that the current government consider the private savings of citizens to be fair game for appropriation.
At least he’s actually doing something about it – I’m not a massive Hobb’s fan who wants to engage in a ‘circle jerk’, but I’ve more respect for him than the people who smugly refer to Goodwin’s Law. You’ll be the first people on here complaining when the Government come for your savings

sollar

Woe betide anyone who tries to speak up against this robbery of citizens.

At least eddie is saying what needs to be said and not meekly going along with the farce..... or uttering comments like - we are where we are etc etc.

How dare the man try and make a point??

sollar

sollar wrote: »

Woe betide anyone who tries to speak up against this robbery of citizens.

At least eddie is saying what needs to be said and not meekly going along with the farce..... or uttering comments like - we are where we are etc etc.

How dare the man try and make a point??

You're wrong because the Nazis!

No seriously, we've had this debate on the other threads and plenty of us have spoken against it. But that piece of drivel from Hobbs is in no way useful or constructive. It makes him sound like a lunatic godwinning himself on the first line.

RichardAnd

pog it wrote: »

I'm not singling you out Richard but in fairness, Eddie Hobbs gave tonnes of great advice as well, in fact more good advice than bad, and yet people choose/want to remember the bad.

What a shame.

That is true, I was probably hasty in my measuring of the man.

dan_d

It's not a great letter to be honest. The central point of it, yeah I get, but bringing the Nazis into it, he just makes a mockery of himself.

The unfortunate thing for Eddie Hobbs is that (from my point of view) he's just not believable any more. He jumped on the property/credit bandwagon in the good times, now he's jumping on the "default" bandwagon. I understand the pension tax concerns - sure, I have them myself, and I think it's so wrong - but Eddie Hobb's credibility is just not the best right now, all things considered.

hadit2here

I actually agree with Eddie on this (apart from the Nazi thing)

I have a small pension fund, but if I become unemployed, and cant make payments into my pension fund, I will still be paying this tax from my existing fund.

This is a retrospective tax !! First time in the State I believe. If they targetted big pensions, I would understand !

Have a look at the attachment, which summarizes it :mad:

beeftotheheels

hadit2here wrote: »

I actually agree with Eddie on this (apart from the Nazi thing)

I have a small pension fund, but if I become unemployed, and cant make payments into my pension fund, I will still be paying this tax from my existing fund.

This is a retrospective tax !! First time in the State I believe. If they targetted big pensions, I would understand !

Have a look at the attachment, which summarizes it :mad:

The problem is, as has already been pointed out on this thread and others, that Eddie offers no reason for suggesting that the levy is unconstitutional. If McAleese has concerns about the constitutionality of the bill she must convene the Council of State which could result in a reference to the Supreme Court. If she has no such concerns she cannot do that.

This is her call based on the law, not based on the level of public anger Mr Hobbs can stoke up. As a one time professor of the law I trust her to make this call, I trust her a lot more than I trust Mr Hobbs.

There are lots of laws that many of us don't like, but not liking them does not render them unconstitutional. The constitutionality of a bill is a legal question and not one which the anger of the people can change.

Given the way Eddie set out his position (which is offensive in the extreme) and his additional daft letters he wants people to send to their pension trustees which the trustees cannot comply with, this entire campaign is farcical and made worse by Eddie's current efforts to sell gold outside the EU. He is purporting to speak for the common man despite the wealth of evidence that he is, in fact, seeking to line his own pockets.

hadit2here

Fully Disagree ...

we all have a right to express our opinions and also raise issues of concern to our president

Also considering the state Ireland currently is in , I actually dont trust any part of our democracy ... it has failed miserably

pog it

The fact that this is a retrospective tax is what may be unconstitutional about it from what I know and from statements made by a law professor at UCD I think it was. It would be up to a legal team to compile the evidence and find out exactly how the case for/against can/could be argued.

Robbo

"Then they came for the middle classes, and there was Eddie to a write a letter to Madam an open letter on my behalf."

If he pulls this off, I'm sure Liam Neeson could play him in the film adaptation.

Jubo

I agree that Eddie has spouted a lot of rubbish over the last few years but take out all the spin and melodrama and he has a very good point. A line has been crossed and even if there is nothing that legally can be done, it at least serves as a warning for the future. David McWilliams wrote an article a number of weeks ago warning that a 'pension grab' was a distinct option for the government: http://www.davidmcwilliams.ie/2011/03/09/keep-an-eye-on-your-savings-you-can-be-sure-the-state-is

The problem is in part what has been done here - but more worryingly what this could lead to. I have heard that the last thing Argentina did before defaulting and complete collapse of their economy was to grab its citizens deposits from their accounts. Perhaps someone more informed than me would know more about the details of that or if indeed it is true. If it is we have serious concerns here, folks.

Frank Black

Jubo wrote: »

The problem is in part what has been done here - but more worryingly what this could lead to. I have heard that the last thing Argentina did before defaulting and complete collapse of their economy was to grab its citizens deposits from their accounts. Perhaps someone more informed than me would know more about the details of that or if indeed it is true. If it is we have serious concerns here, folks.

This article appeared in the Irish Times a couple of weeks ago.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0516/1224297038231.html

Jubo

This article appeared in the Irish Times a couple of weeks ago.
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...297038231.html

:eek:

OMD

pog it wrote: »

The fact that this is a retrospective tax is what may be unconstitutional about it from what I know and from statements made by a law professor at UCD I think it was. It would be up to a legal team to compile the evidence and find out exactly how the case for/against can/could be argued.

If it is not contitutional they can simply change it to a DIRT type tax (or Capital Gains tax). So 27% on increase in fund value over a year. Anyone whose fund grew by more than 2.5% would be worse off than paying a set 0.6%.

later12

black francis wrote: »

Hurrah for all the ‘right-on’ posters jumping down his throat for an ill-judged ‘Nazi’ analogy. At the end of the day Hobbs is quite correct in his central point. This pension levy is a dangerous precedent and shows that the current government consider the private savings of citizens to be fair game for appropriation.
At least he’s actually doing something about it – I’m not a massive Hobb’s fan who wants to engage in a ‘circle jerk’, but I’ve more respect for him than the people who smugly refer to Goodwin’s Law. You’ll be the first people on here complaining when the Government come for your savings

The thing is the many of us are opposed to the principle of the pension levy. I myself contribute to my pension, do you think I'm happy about a levy?

But the very idea that in a free and wealthy economy (yes, we are a free and a wealthy jurisdiction) Eddie Hobbs could compare a levy on pension funds to Nazism, and claim that Niemoller would be on his side, when Niemoller would likely have far more pressing concerns than pension levies, is what is so bizarre and unacceptable.

I don't mind Hobbs advancing the genuine grievances of those of us who save for our pensions, but I do have a problem with the unacceptable way that he has gone about doing so. It destroys his credibility, in my opinion.

Frank Black

later10 wrote: »

The thing is the many of us are opposed to the principle of the pension levy. I myself contribute to my pension, do you think I'm happy about a levy?

But the very idea that in a free and wealthy economy (yes, we are a free and a wealthy jurisdiction) Eddie Hobbs could compare a levy on pension funds to Nazism, and claim that Niemoller would be on his side, when Niemoller would likely have far more pressing concerns than pension levies, is what is so bizarre and unacceptable.

I don't mind Hobbs advancing the genuine grievances of those of us who save for our pensions, but I do have a problem with the unacceptable way that he has gone about doing so. It destroys his credibility, in my opinion.

Fine. I'm not going to defend the letter because as I mentioned in my original post I thought some of his comments were ill-judged.
However, I will say that I have both heard and seen those quotes of Niemoller used numerous times in many different scenarios.
I think you're twisting things to say that he's comparing the pension levy with Nazism - but if it had been me writing the letter I wouldn't have brought Nazis into it - there's way too many people who just want an excuse to shout 'Goodwin's Law' and then run-off feeling pleased with themselves.

later12

black francis wrote: »

However, I will say that I have both heard and seen those quotes of Niemoller used numerous times in many different scenarios.

Indeed. And it was appropriate at Srebrenica, it isn't appropriate to use it in the context of a pension levy in a society such as this.

The reference to Germans, too, which reflected on our current European problem was just in too poor a taste in my opinion. The whole things stinks.

there's way too many people who just want an excuse to shout 'Goodwin's Law' and then run-off feeling pleased with themselves.

Nobody is implying there is anything particularly clever or complex about Godwin's law (it is a pretty straightforward observation) nor, as far as I can see, is anyone running off feeling pleased about this. I think a lot of people are pretty ticked off with the correlation with Nazis, that's all.

oceanclub

The negative reaction above to Eddie Hobbs' letter is nothing like the many lines the Nazi’s would cross - but it’s not too unlike their first radical departures.

As Martin Niemöller might have said:

First they came for the communists - and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists- and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews-and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for those who mention Dachau and Nazis in letters about taxation -- and I didn't speak out because I don't mention Dachau and Nazis in letters about taxation

Then they came for me -and there was no one left to speak out for me.

I think the ghost of Martin Niemöller would be weeping at my eloquence right now.

P.

randylonghorn

femur61 wrote: »

No wonder we are where we are. Eddie Hobbs may have used an anology which I personally find inappropiate but at least he is saying and doing something. It is very typical of the Irish to sit back, have a few pints winge and complain, sort the world out. We are a nation of bregrudgers, its not Eddie who we should be attacking (even if only through cyberspace) and not the present government either. It is the previous government for taking the money the Europeans gave us and lending it out recklessly.

I agree with you on a lot of that, actually. I have said on Boards a few times over the last few years that it surprises me that the Irish in general have not been expressing their anger a lot more loudly at much of what has gone on, and especially in the twilight days of the previous government.

However, to have any hope of being effective, that anger must be well-articulated and strategically targetted.

Throwing an ill-thought-out temper tantrum will achieve little, and certainly reflects no credit on a man with such a public persona and, presumably, some level of expertise in the matter at hand.

RichardAnd wrote: »

I don't like Eddie Hobbs for many reasons, none of which I'll get into. However, in spite of this rather dramatic letter, he does have a point.

He does, but the way he has gone about expressing it shoots himself in the foot.

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

so he is clearly soap boxing, so what? Every other attempt to get the Irish populace to sit up and realise the disgraceful things this and the last government have got up to failed and we've just sat back and said "take all our money".

If populist soapboxing is what's needed to finally get people to realise how much money is being stolen off them so be it. The pension tax is a disgrace and I would bet my house (if I had been silly enough to pay 10x its worth with a crippling mortgage for one) that the % will go up and it will not be temporary. It's a sneaky, immoral tax that once again protects the PS and their buddies at the expense of Joe Soap in the private sector.

I don't actually have a problem with him soapboxing, if he did it like a "grown-up" as someone put it above, rather than like an eight year old throwing a tantrum.

black francis wrote: »

Hurrah for all the ‘right-on’ posters jumping down his throat for an ill-judged ‘Nazi’ analogy. At the end of the day Hobbs is quite correct in his central point.

Yes, he has a point.

And he could have made it in a way which would have been listened to. He chose his words, and is responsible for them.

hadit2here wrote: »

Fully Disagree ...

we all have a right to express our opinions ...

Yes, we have.

hadit2here wrote: »

... and also raise issues of concern to our president.

Why the president?

She has no role in running the country.

The only reason to address this issue with the president, given her role and powers, would be if there was reason to doubt the constitutionality of the measure.

And maybe there is, I'm no lawyer ... but if so, the reasons for this is what Hobbs should have been outlining in his letter, not some spurious correlation with Nazi Germany.

pog it wrote: »

The fact that this is a retrospective tax is what may be unconstitutional about it from what I know and from statements made by a law professor at UCD I think it was. It would be up to a legal team to compile the evidence and find out exactly how the case for/against can/could be argued.

Then *that* is what Hobbs *should* have been focussing on in his letter, not some spurious parallel with the early days of the Nazi party.

later10 wrote: »

But the very idea that in a free and wealthy economy (yes, we are a free and a wealthy jurisdiction) Eddie Hobbs could compare a levy on pension funds to Nazism, and claim that Niemoller would be on his side, when Niemoller would likely have far more pressing concerns than pension levies, is what is so bizarre and unacceptable.

I don't mind Hobbs advancing the genuine grievances of those of us who save for our pensions, but I do have a problem with the unacceptable way that he has gone about doing so. It destroys his credibility, in my opinion.

+1

black francis wrote: »

I think you're twisting things to say that he's comparing the pension levy with Nazism ...

No, we're not twisting things, he IS comparing this measure with the measures of early Nazism:

Eddie Hobbs wrote:

Sure, plain as day that the line the Irish Government is crossing in 2011 is nothing like very many lines the Nazi’s would cross - but it’s not too unlike their first radical departures.

keithclancy

What a Bloody Muppet. :mad:

Balmed Out

Music Career

On March 23, 2011 it was announced that EMI Ireland had signed a recording contract with Eddie Hobbs, estimated to be valued in the region of €25 million. "It's been a little known fact that Eddie had such a wonderful voice and I feel that it's now time to exploit it to its full potential" said Sean Pearse of EMI on the deal. "I'm absolutely delighted" remarked Eddie. His album, "How to be an Annoying Prick and Make Shagloads of Money for it or Die Tryin'" is slated for a Summer 2011 release, when it is expected to top the charts.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Hobbs

Good loser

On the substantive point the budget deficit is so large unusual/creative ways of raising taxes have to be adopted.

IMHO the jobs initiative is a waste of money - where money was spent. There may possibly be a positive return from the VAT reduction; that is the only measure I would support.

We are soon to have a much needed house tax (already on holiday homes) - there will be no difference in principle between the objections to that tax and EH's objections to pension levy.

MadsL

So Eddie, you were at Dachau. I might be wrong, but I think the President might just have heard of it. Your second sentence therefore;

Dachau was built as a concentration camp to house those who first objected to radical early departures by the Government of the National Socialists.

Makes me want to go...



Did you even think of humbling the tone a little; "Whilst I was there I learned that..." "I discovered that Dachau was built as..."

Sigh...

Firetrap

I'm no economics expert by any means but Eddie Hobbs wouldn't be the first person I'd listen to when it comes to weightier economic matters. Economists can and do make mistakes but in my layman's eyes, he has gotten more wrong than others. He should have stuck to getting people to cut up their credit cards and stop buying dozens of shoes at a time on TV.

ixtlan

I must add that the pension levy was included in the Fine Gael manifesto (though at 0.5%). Therefore FG might feel a bit mystified at the reaction that it has garnered.

Personally, I think it was a bad idea, and even though it would hit me far more, I'd be more agreeable to the idea of reducing the tax relief on all pension contributions to 20%. Even though I benefit from it, I realise that there is a significant degree of inequality associated with higher relief for higher earners. I wonder would those people complaining so much be happier with this likely far bigger hit which perhaps does not have the same resonance?

In any case the reduction to a standard rate of relief is likely to happen anyhow. I believe it's part of the IMF agreement. So I'd suggest biting the bullet and doing it now. It will result in a reduction of pension contributions but it looks like that is going to happen anyhow.

In response to Eddie Hobb's letter, I think he has made a ridiculous and extremely distasteful comparison.

Ix.

Yahew

On the subject of Godwin's , Niemöller's comments were designed to pre-empt something like Nazzism happening again. So they can be applied elsewhere.


First they came for the communists - and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists- and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews-and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.
Then they came for me -and there was no one left to speak out for me.

As an aside I have a problem with the logic and morality of the Niemöller formula. He saying morality and speaking out comes from self-interest; they may come for me eventually if I dont speak out. That is not the most moral position, and wouldnt have applied to most aryan German's anyway. In fact they might have come for you if you did speak out as an ethnic German, but wouldnt if you kept your mouth shut. The moral case is you should - speak out anyway.