Has Ireland lost its way despite an orgy of self congratulation since the recession e

Your Face · 27-07-2019 11:44PM

Id agree with a lot of what the OP has identified as problems facing our Republic.

Also, while I wouldn't regard our reaction to progress as an orgy of self-congratulation - it can come across as smug, ostentatious and empty.

27-07-2019 11:57PM

Tell me how wrote: »

Can you point to anyone, anywhere, at any point in time who was involved in a sensible conversation about the society in which they lived in and felt the need to express themselves in such a way.

Seeing as you appear to have created this thread to denigrate Irish society, what do you think that society would be like if everyone was as rude and argumentative as you appear to be?

What are you doing to make it a better place?

If the poster is a female I apologize for using the word bitch, assumed it was a male.
I do loads of great things by the way. Am not rude, a little argumentative, but society needs that. Now cop yourself on a bit.

Tell me how · 28-07-2019 12:05AM

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

If the poster is a female I apologize for using the word bitch, assumed it was a male.
I do loads of great things by the way. Am not rude, a little argumentative, but society needs that. Now cop yourself on a bit.

On behalf of the nation. Thank you.
We're lucky to have you.

28-07-2019 12:07AM

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

I do loads of great things by the way.

Your modesty is most becoming.

Dr. Bre · 28-07-2019 12:08AM

The famine was a bit worse than now

28-07-2019 12:10AM

Dr. Bre wrote: »

The famine was a bit worse than now

Only a bit..

JupiterKid · 28-07-2019 12:33AM

lola85 wrote: »

blinding wrote: »

Leo is a gob$hite alright but what ya gonna do ?

Love how Irish people blame one person because their lives are so miserable.

Pathetic way to live.

You make you’re own luck, there is opportunities passing every minute in life but people are too lazy to see it and will blame “Leo” for all their failings.

Leo...is that you?

Kermit.de.frog · 28-07-2019 12:36AM

I am Leo.

Hi!

Leg End Reject · 28-07-2019 02:10AM

Knock it all ye want, but I was given a choice to be born again in a country of my choice I'd pick Ireland.

It's not perfect by any measure, but there's plenty of opportunities if you wish to avail of them.

ILoveYourVibes · 28-07-2019 07:14AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Only a bit..

Yeah I mean at least then you had cannibalism to turn to.

super_furry · 28-07-2019 07:42AM

So when's the orgy and more importantly what's the dress code?

riddles · 28-07-2019 09:06AM

I suppose when reviewing Ireland it must also be acknowledged as a nation we are mostly descended from Spalpeen stock who for centuries had no education. As a colony we had to endure oppression and surviving the meant almost a form of one upmanship at the expense of another. It made flouting the law a badge of honour.

Add in the fact that post independence we didn’t have the skills in place to run a state. As a result we have a boom bust model and mentality. We have a large swathe of uneducated people and social responsibility is not very strong here. The compo culture is a good example of this as is fly-tipping etc.

We are currently completely broke, concealed only by our ability to still borrow money. Our cost base is out of all control. We have no clue how many people will enter or leave the country making planning impossible. There is also the pensions time-bomb which people are doing the ostrich about.

All that said I have been around a fair few countries but have not found a place I’d consider moving in place of here. Don’t borrow too much money and you can get along here just fine.

lawred2 · 28-07-2019 09:13AM

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Ireland and self congratulation OP?

Can hardly go any higher than the British and Brexit surely.

https://twitter.com/richardgaisford/status/1155029988791468032

HMS Gammon there heading for the iceberg.

lol

The_Brood · 28-07-2019 11:02AM

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

Lot of self congratulation about what a progressive society we are, but has Ireland largely lost its way?
Health service is disastrous. Two years ago a woman got knocked down by a bus at the Cliffs of Moher and waited over an hour on the road for an ambulance. Dozens of people on trolleys every day at the Regional Hospital in Limerick particularly.
House prices are out of control. Just far too expensive. Homelessness has risen and those who can rent are broke from it. Only people who bought in the recession, or pre Celtic Tiger are okay.
Schools bursting at the seams, many towns where parents can’t get a place, teenagers making long commutes.
Garda corruption very serious, loads of instances in the last few years, Martin Callinan Was actually the commissioner at one point.
Bit of a generalization, but rural Ireland is dying of depopulation while the cities are choking due to growing too quickly since the 90s.
In summary this is not nearly as successful a society as some say, and governments have failed to introduce the required policies in health, education, policing and regional development.

This is pretty much the story of a lot of European/Western governments. More economic inequality than ever before, banks fatter than ever before, people struggling with basic needs they didn't struggle before in the past in the same situation -- but hang on a minute -- slap a rainbow flag on top of it and you can't criticize Mr. Politician over anything or you're a bigot. Checkmate!

Wanderer78 · 28-07-2019 11:07AM

The_Brood wrote:

This is pretty much the story of a lot of European/Western governments. More economic inequality than ever before, banks fatter than ever before, people struggling with basic needs they didn't struggle before in the past in the same situation -- but hang on a minute -- slap a rainbow flag on top of it and you can't criticize Mr. Politician over anything or you're a bigot. Checkmate!

The neoliberal/neoclassical model is a bust, it ll be interesting to see how long it takes for this to be accepted

Tell me how · 28-07-2019 11:49AM

The_Brood wrote: »

This is pretty much the story of a lot of European/Western governments. More economic inequality than ever before, banks fatter than ever before, people struggling with basic needs they didn't struggle before in the past in the same situation -- but hang on a minute -- slap a rainbow flag on top of it and you can't criticize Mr. Politician over anything or you're a bigot. Checkmate!

There's plenty room for improvement in today's societybut you're completely looking at the past through rose tinted glasses if you things people are struggling more now (on the whole) than they did then.

People have much more access to the basic needs you talk of now but there is also much more expectation to have everything available to everyone which leads people to ignore what they do have.

A lot of our parents shared beds with 2 or more siblings, walked to school until they left at 14 or so, cycled 10 or 12 miles to work which they could be let go from at a minutes notice.

As for implying Leo's sexuality absolves him from criticism. That is not the case. There's plenty criticism aimed at him for the right reasons, his performance in government.

NoteAgent · 28-07-2019 12:06PM

We're wealthier than we were 20 years ago.

Even the poorest of households all have smartphones, get takeaways, etc.

(We take these things for granted now but they were a real luxury 20 years ago)

lola85 · 28-07-2019 12:07PM

NoteAgent wrote: »

We're wealthier than we were 20 years ago.

Even the poorest of households all have smartphones, get takeaways, etc.

(We take these things for granted now but they were a real luxury 20 years ago)

We’re spoiled as a nation.

NoteAgent · 28-07-2019 12:11PM

lola85 wrote: »

I’d love to see the majority of Irish people try survive one day in 90% of countries around the world.

We are so lucky and spoiled as a nation.

You have the correct attitude and outlook - unfortunately you're in the minority.

People prefer to whinge about homelessness and house prices when in reality these problems were always here (even in peak Celtic Tiger there were homeless people on the streets)

Imagine complaining about mortgage payments now when they're at all time lows. Lets see how they would fair paying 20% interest on their mortgage like in the 80's.

jobeenfitz · 28-07-2019 12:22PM

We need to tighten our belts.

28-07-2019 12:38PM

NoteAgent wrote: »

You have the correct attitude and outlook - unfortunately you're in the minority.

People prefer to whinge about homelessness and house prices when in reality these problems were always here (even in peak Celtic Tiger there were homeless people on the streets)

Imagine complaining about mortgage payments now when they're at all time lows. Lets see how they would fair paying 20% interest on their mortgage like in the 80's.

Reeling in the years on RTE is always a good watch. They had 1975 last night.

We had the highest unemployment in the EEC and people were queued up for rationed petrol.

lawred2 · 28-07-2019 12:39PM

Topgear on Dave wrote: »

Reeling in the years on RTE is always a good watch. They had 1975 last night.

We had the highest unemployment in the EEC and people were queued up for rationed petrol.

That was the Suez crisis no? Rationing was not limited to Ireland.

But yeah Ireland was a backwards kip.

One I saw recently from the same era was to remove the notion of illegitimate children from the statute books. Room full of nuns and clerics against any such changes.

Such basic civil rights hard fought for against a dictatorial church are taken so much for granted now.

InTheShadows · 28-07-2019 12:44PM

Sunny Disposition wrote: »

Lot of self congratulation about what a progressive society we are, but has Ireland largely lost its way?
Health service is disastrous. Two years ago a woman got knocked down by a bus at the Cliffs of Moher and waited over an hour on the road for an ambulance. Dozens of people on trolleys every day at the Regional Hospital in Limerick particularly.
House prices are out of control. Just far too expensive. Homelessness has risen and those who can rent are broke from it. Only people who bought in the recession, or pre Celtic Tiger are okay.
Schools bursting at the seams, many towns where parents can’t get a place, teenagers making long commutes.
Garda corruption very serious, loads of instances in the last few years, Martin Callinan Was actually the commissioner at one point.
Bit of a generalization, but rural Ireland is dying of depopulation while the cities are choking due to growing too quickly since the 90s.
In summary this is not nearly as successful a society as some say, and governments have failed to introduce the required policies in health, education, policing and regional development.

We've never had a proper functioning society in this country. We are world leaders at spin and bluster and i guarantee you FF will get in the next election cycle, followed by FG rinse and repeat. The cold hard reality is that we are all to blame because we all will not break the cycle as an electorate. Unless you are part of the solution you are part of the problem.

nthclare · 28-07-2019 12:51PM

The op is an observer that's for sure, I used to observe a lot of what's going wrong around me instead of what's right.
It's a lonely sometimes observation of the dark side of Ireland.

Anyhow I think Ireland has a lot to offer when you sit back and take stock.

Get out of the rat race get a few hobbies, head into the wilderness and bring a backpack flask and make your own lunch, bring fruit and yogurt's in a cool bag.
Find a nice place to sit down with a good view take a deep breath and be grateful you have the ability to be where you are.

There's people employed to fix our problems and I see them going around sometimes with brief cases and laptops and phone's full of problems.
Thankfully getting away from the rat race is the way for anyone who finds themselves getting tired of every day mundane things.

ToddyDoody · 28-07-2019 12:53PM

When was the Irish Golden period?

Tell me how · 28-07-2019 12:59PM

InTheShadows wrote: »

We've never had a proper functioning society in this country. We are world leaders at spin and bluster and i guarantee you FF will get in the next election cycle, followed by FG rinse and repeat. The cold hard reality is that we are all to blame because we all will not break the cycle as an electorate. Unless you are part of the solution you are part of the problem.

How would a proper functioning society look compared to ours?

We have virtually zero effective unemployment, we have access to high quality education, we have access to decent (but not exceptional) healthcare. We have low levels of homeless comparatively speaking.

We have local, national and EU elections at least every 5 years.
We have frequent referenda on questions if national interest.

I'm not saying this is Utopia by any stretch but to say we do not have a functioning society is ignorant.

blinding · 28-07-2019 01:00PM

ToddyDoody wrote: »

When was the Irish Golden period?

Irish Hooker with Trump in Moscow Allegedly !

JohnnyFlash · 28-07-2019 01:02PM

Tell me how wrote: »

How would a proper functioning society look compared to ours?

We have virtually zero effective unemployment, we have access to high quality education, we have access to decent (but not exceptional) healthcare. We have low levels of homeless comparatively speaking.

We have local, national and EU elections at least every 5 years.
We have frequent referenda on questions if national interest.

I'm not saying this is Utopia by any stretch but to say we do not have a functioning society is ignorant.

The internet is crawling with ineffectual losers who endlessly moan and crib about how bad they have it. It’s a form of self-indulgence.

ToddyDoody · 28-07-2019 01:07PM

blinding wrote: »

Irish Hooker with Trump in Moscow Allegedly !

I'll say the 70s just for the craic.

Mad_maxx · 28-07-2019 01:09PM

NoteAgent wrote: »

You have the correct attitude and outlook - unfortunately you're in the minority.

People prefer to whinge about homelessness and house prices when in reality these problems were always here (even in peak Celtic Tiger there were homeless people on the streets)

Imagine complaining about mortgage payments now when they're at all time lows. Lets see how they would fair paying 20% interest on their mortgage like in the 80's.

It was way cheaper to buy a house back then even with 15% plus interest rates, most houses were no more than four times a persons wage.

Has Ireland lost its way despite an orgy of self congratulation since the recession e

Comments