Mary Robinson tells it like it is

fedor.2. · 07-12-2010 03:27PM #1

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Mary-Robinson-to-Irish-people---blame-yourselves-111374459.html

Are we really that greedy?

starbelgrade · 07-12-2010 03:28PM

Stupid bitch.

Duggy747 · 07-12-2010 03:30PM

I broke the dam economy.

seamus · 07-12-2010 03:30PM

"Greed was the main problem"

Yes it was. She's right. What am I missing here?

Sanjuro · 07-12-2010 03:33PM

Usually, I like Robinson. But in this case, she can fuck right off.

starbelgrade · 07-12-2010 03:34PM

seamus wrote: »

"Greed was the main problem"

Yes it was. She's right. What am I missing here?

Quite a lot:

Bad management of the country's finances.

Poor banking regulation.

Bad management of the housing market, leading to inflated land & property prices.

A near global recession.

Ridiculous property led tax breaks.

The Irish government bailing out foreign bond holders debt.

etc etc.

But, sure it's a lot easier to say that people got greedy & ignore the bigger picture.

minidazzler · 07-12-2010 03:35PM

Not my fault at all TBH. I am 21, I have had no effect on the economy to date.

prinz · 07-12-2010 03:36PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Quite a lot:
Bad management of the country's finances..etc...

By people voted in by...?

Listen she's not absolving any of the issues you made. A lot of which can also be put down to greed. What's wrong with what she said? Forget the financial jargon and get down to it.... it was greed pure and simple, and from top to bottom.

Wazdakka · 07-12-2010 03:36PM

[Trollface] Problem? [/Trollface]

starbelgrade · 07-12-2010 03:37PM

minidazzler wrote: »

Not my fault at all TBH. I am 21, I have had no effect on the economy to date.

Apart from costing it a few quid in health, education & transport costs.

Don't worry though - you'll soon have it all paid back in taxes!

JonB · 07-12-2010 03:37PM

I always new that second portion of chicken balls would come back to bite me in my pocket.

Stabshauptmann · 07-12-2010 03:38PM

minidazzler wrote: »

Not my fault at all TBH. I am 21, I have had no effect on the economy to date.

Actually, I could presume from your age that nearly every expense you have is living beyone your means.

Got a car? Been on a J1 or gap year? Go to college?

Sharkey 10 · 07-12-2010 03:38PM

I dont think she is far off , there was something very toxic about some people during the celtic tiger.

Bjorn Bored. · 07-12-2010 03:38PM

Very short sighted remarks there from a former President. Just as well we dont look to them for guidance, infact now that I think about it, why the hell do we need the ridiculous expense of a pointless figure head such as a President anyway? Get rid I say.

maglite · 07-12-2010 03:40PM

If only i was in a position of power to have effected some change in the economic policy of Ireland... To have hilighted what was going on in the banking world.

Might run for some ministerial office, or maybe president ?

starbelgrade · 07-12-2010 03:40PM

prinz wrote: »

By people voted in by...?

Listen she's not absolving any of the issues you made. A lot of which can also be put down to greed. What's wrong with what she said? Forget the financial jargon and get down to it.... it was greed pure and simple, and from top to bottom.

That's rather like saying that poverty is caused by people not having enough money.

It's true, of course, but it's over simplistic & really doesn't say anything of any use.

fontanalis · 07-12-2010 03:42PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Quite a lot:

Bad management of the country's finances.

Poor banking regulation.

Bad management of the housing market, leading to inflated land & property prices.

A near global recession.

Ridiculous property led tax breaks.

The Irish government bailing out foreign bond holders debt.

etc etc.

But, sure it's a lot easier to say that people got greedy & ignore the bigger picture.

They didn't walk in there by themselves.

minidazzler · 07-12-2010 03:43PM

Stabshauptmann wrote: »

Actually, I could presume from your age that nearly every expense you have is living beyone your means.

Got a car? Been on a J1 or gap year? Go to college?

No car, no holidays in years and when I was it was paid from working events, no college.

Duggy747 · 07-12-2010 03:43PM

Well, it was nice for our former pressie to step up say we were greedy.

It all becomes so clear now...

She's right but it's nothing different from what others are saying.

prinz · 07-12-2010 03:43PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

It's true, of course, but it's over simplistic & really doesn't say anything of any use.

That's right, when I am being fed absolutely nothing of use I like it to be complicated, long winded, full of business terms, catch-phrases of the week, and a lot of ahhhs, and ummms and that sort of thing.

bonerm · 07-12-2010 03:43PM

So is this the same Mary Robinson who's received in the region of €180k+ in Presidential and Senatorial pensions from the Irish taxpayer every year since 1997 ? Ah ok then.

Butterflylove · 07-12-2010 03:44PM

minidazzler wrote: »

Not my fault at all TBH. I am 21, I have had no effect on the economy to date.

Me either, probably will never get approved for a mortgage now.....

I worked from 16 throughout my leaving cert to pay for college to get where I am today only to be told Im actually going to be coming out with less then what I was at 16,

fedor.2. · 07-12-2010 03:45PM

minidazzler wrote: »

Not my fault at all TBH. I am 21, I have had no effect on the economy to date.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0807/1224276359790.html

Well ye students have an effect on loads of economies really, fair play to ye.

Pace2008 · 07-12-2010 03:46PM

Anyone have a link to her original statement? These two comments seem somewhat contradictory?

Mary Robinson has said that the Irish people have only themselves to blame for the country’s economic downfall

While admitting that a lot of blame could be placed on people with political responsibility and in charge of banks

When it comes to any difficulties - be it illness, social problems, or the current economic crisis - people always try to isolate one single factor that's to blame for the situation. But with complex issues likes these it's never as simple as that.

COYW · 07-12-2010 03:48PM

I generally don't agree with Mary but on this occasion she is bang on. Her viewpoint wont sit well with most but the truth never does. The sorry state of an individual's personal finances are predominantly his/her own fault.

Riddle101 · 07-12-2010 03:53PM

IMO the Celtic Tiger did make people greedy, but not what Mary Robinson is implying. We got too big for our boots. Once the boom started, we just kept on spending, and not even bothering to save for a rainy day. I mean Ireland's had recessions in the past, we should have learned from them, and been more careful. We should have known a recession could come about, and prepared for it. But we failed in doing so and now we pay the price. Of course I lay the blame on past and present governments for being the greedy ones(And not the individual people of Ireland), trying to role with the big dogs as well as living it up in their fancy houses and luxury cars, as well as taking bribes. Then of course there was things like the property market, the banks, selling our resources and as someone already said the bad mananagment of our finances.

Namlub · 07-12-2010 03:53PM

fedor.2. wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2010/0807/1224276359790.html

Well ye students have an effect on loads of economies really, fair play to ye.

He just said he wasn't in college, but don't let that get in the way of some good old-fashioned student bashing right?

Son Of A Vidic · 07-12-2010 03:55PM

starbelgrade wrote: »

Stupid bitch.

Totally! The fcuking twat with her generalisations. Did she learn nothing from her Human Rights work? Surely she learned never to generalise or make assumptions about people or nations. Her pockets are well lined I'm sure.

Minstrel27 · 07-12-2010 03:55PM

I never borrowed beyond what I could afford. I didn't buy a house as I knew I wouldn't be able to afford it. Does that make me greedy too Mary? Sweeping statements like hers are not needed. Dumb bitch.

bonerm · 07-12-2010 03:57PM

Have never had any loan/mortgage in my life either btw Mary, nevermind one I couldn't afford.

DEVEREUX · 07-12-2010 03:58PM

This from a woman who receiving €160,000 odd presidential and ex senator pension!

When she takes at least 50% cut to that then maybe I'll listen to what Noddy has to say....the swine!:D

Mary Robinson tells it like it is

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