Einhard wrote: » We all knew what was going on. FG or Labour didn't have any unique insight. It was obvious to anyone who gave a shit that we were on an unsustainable road. Unfortunately, not enough people gave a shit. And are you really stating that FG are more responsible than FF for the decisions that FF made?
Monty Burnz wrote: » It was worse than that: if you actually pointed out that we were in a bubble, people used to ridicule you, call you a doom-sayer, marginalise you. I had lots of arguments with colleagues where I worked back in 2003, 2004, telling them not to buy houses, that we were living in a bubble etc. etc. I would have gotten a better reaction from people if I told them I was a child rapist. In the end, when yet another colleague or friend did some stupif bubble-thing like pay half a million for a little 2 bed apartment, or bought a house with a friend (we'll sell it for a profit in a few years) I just nodded and smiled at them. It wasn't worth warning people anymore, it cost me too much.
bladespin wrote: » Brian Cowen, full stop.
Xavi6 wrote: » So if there was a new Taoiseach everything would be ok? Really?
R_H_C_P wrote: » No, but it doesnt help that he was the FINANCE minister and now leader of our country. He packs alot of the blame.
OisinT wrote: » I blame jesus.
Morlar wrote: » Surely atheist wetdreams like dawkins with an anti-god philosophy that culminates in a culture of instant gratification, no afterlife or morality to consider, churning out perfect little soulless consumers has more to blame for this ?hehe
OisinT wrote: » Nope. Just that jesus bloke.
Morlar wrote: » Surely atheist wetdreams like dawkins with an anti-god philosophy that culminates in a culture of instant gratification, no afterlife or morality to consider, churning out perfect little soulless consumers has more to blame for this ?
And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables." John 2:13-15 (KJV) The moneychangers of Jesus' day were the equivalent of the international bankers of our day. With the consent and approbation of the Jewish leaders, these bankers set up shop in the Temple. Their purpose was to exchange whatever currency the Jewish worshipper brought with him or her into Jewish currency, which would then be used to purchase whatever sacrifice the worshipper required. Of course, the exchange rates benefited only the bankers and Jewish leaders (and Caesar, who collected a tax on the exchange, of course). For everyone else, the system was nothing more than legalized extortion. When Jesus saw what the bankers were doing, He was incensed. And throughout the Gospel narratives, this is the only occasion where Jesus is recorded as resorting to violence. He made a scourge (or whip) and drove the bankers out of the Temple by force and destroyed their tables, along with their records, receipts, etc.
Deleted User wrote: » You have a point. Atheism is dangeous, not only for our kids, but for our economic stability. People these days are too busy having sex or smoking the Cannabis (which contains ACID and causes PSYCHOSIS), or being too doped up on their antidepressants to go out and work hard, both for their country and for the Lord.
OisinT wrote: » I hope to FSM you are not being serious! :eek:
Tricked wrote: » Bertie's Boys. McCreevey for his sheer inability to listen to the hoards of economists shouting at him to follow even the most basic of counter cyclical policies. Bertie for being oblivious to the impending doom despite the ECJ and European Bank telling him he's taking the piss. I guess the electorate during this period of time but due to FF's policy of spend spend spend and telling us it would all be fine we were none the wiser to what would actually happen. IMO Lenihan, while failing to save the economy, is by no means to blame for the heap of **** left on their doorstep by the FFers that preceded him. Cowen deserves blame purely for not piping up
Old_-_School wrote: » I think it's fair to say that the blame for the current financial crisis is shared amongst most of those mentioned in the poll, but who do you attribute the majority of the blame to?
I am a friend wrote: » A lot of people, who dont know better are buying into the media fed popular notion that this is a crisis caused by certain sections of society only.... That is pure ignorance... 99% of people on this island are responsible for this mess -
Morlar wrote: » What about the people who did not vote FF or Green, never agreed with their policies, didn't overextend with silly mortgages and who work in the private sector and have always worked in the private sector ? Are they in your 99% or your 1% list there ?
fluorescence wrote: » The banks are the main culprits - the bubble simply couldn't have been created if they hadn't been lending out borrowed money which they had no way of repaying.
fluorescence wrote: » Advertising 100% mortgages to anyone who could fill out a form was pure idiocy.
fluorescence wrote: » why would you let an idiot take out a mortgage he has no way of repaying just because he wants it or thinks it's the right thing to do?