We don't know what austerity is

femur61 · 12-08-2012 06:55AM #1

I have just come back from 2 weeks in the Algarve. Tourism there now is 6 months instead of 12. The country is so broke. One person said said we are fine with our €1,000 earnings a month not like their €500. They are working 16 hour days, if they have a job. Prices in shops are little lower but not hugely. The people are so poor it was a real eyeopener, especially for the 5 public sector people we were with except one (I am not PS bashing). One of the PS people works for the OPW (Office of Public Works) and said they are lucky to pay wages at the end of the month and they have so many cutbacks, but the others were totally un aware of the situation in other bailout countrys.

Maybe because of this board and others like it I knew they were in trouble but I ws amazed how poor they were. Along the motorway I saw a few shanty town like make shift houses. We were in two locations ans both shops had closed down everywhere. The houses were severly run down and people just looked so poor. It was very sad.

On a lighter note they complained about the heat like we do about the rain, they might have rain in late September early October!

the keen edge · 12-08-2012 07:57AM

When you have recipients of social welfare owning strolling around town chatting on iPhones and going on foreign holidays, whatever your country is going through austerity it aint.

zenno · 12-08-2012 08:02AM

the keen edge wrote: »

When you have recipients of social welfare owning strolling around town chatting on iPhones and going on foreign holidays, whatever your country is going through austerity it aint.

Theres nothing left after bills on €188 a week from the social welfare so I don't know how anybody on the basic welfare payment of €188 can go on any holidays, it's impossible.

Daveysil15 · 12-08-2012 08:05AM

the keen edge wrote: »

When you have recipients of social welfare owning strolling around town chatting on iPhones and going on foreign holidays, whatever your country is going through austerity it aint.

I think you're confusing recipients of social welfare with dole cheats.

NIMAN · 12-08-2012 08:06AM

If you can still afford Sky TV when on the dole, then are you really suffering as bad as you think you are?

12-08-2012 08:07AM

zenno wrote: »

Theres nothing left after bills on €188 a week from the social welfare so I don't know how anybody on the basic welfare payment of €188 can go on any holidays, it's impossible.

Oh it is possible as long as you didn't take out a massive mortgage (which social welfare was not designed to pay)

zenno · 12-08-2012 08:12AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Oh it is possible as long as you didn't take out a massive mortgage (which social welfare was not designed to pay)

You are obviously thinking of people that are defrauding the social welfare system and getting more money illegally because this is the only way you could go on a foreign holiday. You would have nothing left after food and bills on €188 a week, not a chance. The cost of living here in Ireland is very high, this is what makes €188 vanish so easily. Holidays are for people that actually have a realistic amount of money.

JoeGil · 12-08-2012 08:42AM

When the head of the FAI's salary is more that his counterparts' salaries in Spain and Italy put together then there's no austerity.

godtabh · 12-08-2012 09:02AM

JoeGil wrote: »

When the head of the FAI's salary is more that his counterparts' salaries in Spain and Italy put together then there's no austerity.

That's private enterprise. What has that got to do with austerity?

zenno · 12-08-2012 09:07AM

Some people here are confusing things in regard to enterprise which doesn't go through austerity, it's the less well-off on social welfare that feel it the most.

AlekSmart · 12-08-2012 09:53AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Oh it is possible as long as you didn't take out a massive mortgage (which social welfare was not designed to pay)

Spot-On :eek:

It is this basic isue which is causing SO much anger and disquiet amongst our population.

Many people still do not appreciate that as a country our economic ingredients never actually supported universal home ownership.

The outsize mortgage payment time-bomb continues to tick.

That old CJ Haughey news clip from the 1980's is actually relevant to us today..."We have been living beyond our means"....:(

JoeGil · 12-08-2012 10:08AM

godtabh wrote: »

That's private enterprise. What has that got to do with austerity?

The FAI receives grants from the governemnt. Lower salaries would enable greater self financing and lower public funding.

geneyuss · 12-08-2012 10:21AM

When the Sligo County Council manager gets paid more than the Spanish Prime Minister there is no recession/austerity in this country,

and i agree with earlier post, this welfare state needs to come to an end, E200 per week, free housing, free clothes, childrens allowance for everyone, free elec, free phone, no wonder every doley i know has a better house ,car, lifestyle than i do, considering im paying for both.

Captain Chaos · 12-08-2012 10:30AM

zenno wrote: »

You are obviously thinking of people that are defrauding the social welfare system and getting more money illegally because this is the only way you could go on a foreign holiday. You would have nothing left after food and bills on €188 a week, not a chance. The cost of living here in Ireland is very high, this is what makes €188 vanish so easily. Holidays are for people that actually have a realistic amount of money.

I am working full time and I can't afford a holiday this year, or for the next few years the way things are. And it's only going to get harder with the cost of living still going up, there will be more and higher taxes by the end of the year too.

I have no idea how people can exist on €188 per week.

And before the high horse brigade come in here, no I don't have a mortgage. Right now though I wish I had as it would be cheaper than my rent by a good margin.

Icepick · 12-08-2012 10:38AM

Even the Spanish are not poor. If you want a real eye-opener, go to a developing country.

dahamsta · 12-08-2012 11:02AM

I'd love to see the high horse brigade forced to live on social welfare for a month. You wouldn't last the first week. You haven't a notion what you're talking about, no background knowledge or understanding, or even a semblance of empathy. You're just parrots, trotting out the same tripe over and over. You're disgusting, ignorant prigs.

(I'm self-employed and have never drawn a penny a social welfare, so you can hold your stereotyping comments thanks. I'm finding it difficult on the small salary I pay myself though, the idea of having to live on social welfare is terrifying. Perhaps if you actually thought about it, about how it fits into your spending, just for a second while you wind up for your next diatribe, you might get a bit of a judder too.)

golden lane · 12-08-2012 11:06AM

dahamsta wrote: »

I'd love to see the high horse brigade forced to live on social welfare for a month. You wouldn't last the first week. You haven't a notion what you're talking about, no background knowledge or understanding, or even a semblance of empathy. You're just parrots, trotting out the same tripe over and over. You're disgusting, ignorant prigs.

(I'm self-employed and have never drawn a penny a social welfare, so you can hold your stereotyping comments thanks. I'm finding it difficult on the small salary I pay myself though, the idea of having to live on social welfare is terrifying. Perhaps if you actually thought about it, about how it fits into your spending, just for a second while you wind up for your next diatribe, you might get a bit of a judder too.)

apparently it is easy to live on social payments.....nobody seems to have died...yet.

_Kaiser_ · 12-08-2012 11:09AM

geneyuss wrote: »

When the Sligo County Council manager gets paid more than the Spanish Prime Minister there is no recession/austerity in this country,

and i agree with earlier post, this welfare state needs to come to an end, E200 per week, free housing, free clothes, childrens allowance for everyone, free elec, free phone, no wonder every doley i know has a better house ,car, lifestyle than i do, considering im paying for both.

I think you need to stop listening to everything you hear in the pub to be honest..

I was out of work for a year in 2010 and I certainly didn't get all these "freebies" you're talking about - I got €188 a week and rent allowance of €45.. that's it (oh and a medical card which I think I used once for a GP visit)
That was down from a wage of nearly 3 grand a month I might add after 15 years of paying my way honestly (I know.. that last word is a foreign concept to the "cute hoors" of Ireland) in this State.

Out of that "fortune" I was expected to pay my bills (no free electricity, gas or phone here), my debts (that don't disappear with your job/income you know!), look for a job.. oh and eat of course!

And before all the other keyboard economists chime in with their "the dole isn't intended to pay loans, or to run a car, or a mortgage" lines, you try telling your bank then that "hey I have no job so you're alright to just wait for that money I owe you, right?" and see how you get on! While most will work with you, you have to give them something (or are these same people who spout this nonsense the same ones who still expect to just have their overpriced mortgages written off?)

This sort of ill-informed crap really annoys me on this forum :mad:

geneyuss · 12-08-2012 11:12AM

dahamsta wrote: »

I'd love to see the high horse brigade forced to live on social welfare for a month. You wouldn't last the first week. You haven't a notion what you're talking about, no background knowledge or understanding, or even a semblance of empathy. You're just parrots, trotting out the same tripe over and over. You're disgusting, ignorant prigs.

(I'm self-employed and have never drawn a penny a social welfare, so you can hold your stereotyping comments thanks. I'm finding it difficult on the small salary I pay myself though, the idea of having to live on social welfare is terrifying. Perhaps if you actually thought about it, about how it fits into your spending, just for a second while you wind up for your next diatribe, you might get a bit of a judder too.)

i lasted on it for two years, times were a "little" harder, but i didnt starve, far from it , i actually lived quiet comfortably for doing nothing, im worse of now because my wages have been slashed, and im paying more taxes all for people that dont want to work, or dont deserve certain welfare payments.

A quick glance out my window here and looking at most of my neighbours houses they have two cars outside, and nobody seems to work, ah yes, times are tough

_Kaiser_ · 12-08-2012 11:14AM

geneyuss wrote: »

i lasted on it for two years, times were a "little" harder, but i didnt starve, far from it , i actually lived quiet comfortably for doing nothing, im worse of now because my wages have been slashed, and im paying more taxes all for people that dont want to work, or dont deserve certain welfare payments.

A quick glance out my window here and looking at most of my neighbours houses they have two cars outside, and nobody seems to work, ah yes, times are tough

Sounds to me like you have more of a problem with what your neighbors are or aren't up to more than anything - another typically Irish thing of course!

I suppose any poor fecker who is laid off and on the dole should have an American-style Yard Sale to sell off whatever they have and then go live in a workhouse, yes? :rolleyes:

CptMackey · 12-08-2012 11:14AM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I think you need to stop listening to everything you hear in the pub to be honest..

I was out of work for a year in 2010 and I certainly didn't get all these "freebies" you're talking about - I got €188 a week and rent allowance of €45.. that's it (oh and a medical card which I think I used once for a GP visit)
That was down from a wage of nearly 3 grand a month I might add and 15 years of paying my way honestly (I know.. that last word is a foreign concept to the "cute hoors" of Ireland) in this State.

Out of that "fortune" I was expected to pay my bills (no free electricity, gas or phone here), my debts (that don't disappear with your job/income you know!), look for a job.. oh and eat of course!

And before all the other keyboard economists chime in with their "the dole isn't intended to pay loans, or to run a car, or a mortgage" lines, you try telling your bank then that "hey I have no job so you're alright to just wait for that money I owe you, right?" and see how you get on! While most will work with you, you have to give them something (or are these same people who spout this nonsense the same ones who still expect to just have their overpriced mortgages written off?)

This sort of ill-informed crap really annoys me on this forum :mad:

I was also unemployed from early 09 to late 10 and it was no fun. Go from earning 500 a week to 188 and see can you do something like holidays or iPhones.

Bills have to be paid no matter what. I had a car loan that wasn't waiting for any thing and various other bills like esb and food.

People really need to get off their high horse

geneyuss · 12-08-2012 11:15AM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

I think you need to stop listening to everything you hear in the pub to be honest..

I was out of work for a year in 2010 and I certainly didn't get all these "freebies" you're talking about - I got €188 a week and rent allowance of €45.. that's it (oh and a medical card which I think I used once for a GP visit)
That was down from a wage of nearly 3 grand a month I might add after 15 years of paying my way honestly (I know.. that last word is a foreign concept to the "cute hoors" of Ireland) in this State.

Out of that "fortune" I was expected to pay my bills (no free electricity, gas or phone here), my debts (that don't disappear with your job/income you know!), look for a job.. oh and eat of course!

And before all the other keyboard economists chime in with their "the dole isn't intended to pay loans, or to run a car, or a mortgage" lines, you try telling your bank then that "hey I have no job so you're alright to just wait for that money I owe you, right?" and see how you get on! While most will work with you, you have to give them something (or are these same people who spout this nonsense the same ones who still expect to just have their overpriced mortgages written off?)

This sort of ill-informed crap really annoys me on this forum :mad:

i was talking about the welfare state in general, not you in particular, sorry if it came across that way, and i cant afford to go to the pub, anytime i do go, ironically enough, its usually full of people on the Dole

zenno · 12-08-2012 11:15AM

geneyuss wrote: »

When the Sligo County Council manager gets paid more than the Spanish Prime Minister there is no recession/austerity in this country,

and i agree with earlier post, this welfare state needs to come to an end, E200 per week, free housing, free clothes, childrens allowance for everyone, free elec, free phone, no wonder every doley i know has a better house ,car, lifestyle than i do, considering im paying for both.

This is a falsehood attitude, as I and many others who were left unemployed don't have kids and so do not get these additional payments from social welfare and also do not get (as you stated) free housing, free clothes, childrens allowance, free elec, free phone etc...

All I get is €188 per week and i'm damn happy with it as i'd be in a right bad way without it until i secure a job soon.

zenno · 12-08-2012 11:18AM

golden lane wrote: »

apparently it is easy to live on social payments.....nobody seems to have died...yet.

That is not an intelligent comment at all.

geneyuss · 12-08-2012 11:22AM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Sounds to me like you have more of a problem with what your neighbors are or aren't up to more than anything - another typically Irish thing of course!

I suppose any poor fecker who is laid off and on the dole should have an American-style Yard Sale to sell off whatever they have and then go live in a workhouse, yes? :rolleyes:

No, i have been laid off numerous times,im well aware of the hardship but most of these people are long term doleys,,,and yes i do have a problem with them,especially when im going to work in the mornings and they're sitting out in the lawn sunning themselves

and its hardly reserved for just my neighbours , its a typical small town, im sure its the same up and down the country, i just wish a social welfare inspector would arrive and ask them "what are you doing here when you should be looking for work or doing a coarse "

golden lane · 12-08-2012 11:23AM

zenno wrote: »

That is not an intelligent comment at all.

that is not a well thought out reply.....

_Kaiser_ · 12-08-2012 11:23AM

Just to throw in another point... although I'm working now and doing well again, I know that could change overnight and I have every sympathy for any poor fecker just trying to pay his bills, look after his family and worrying about giving all his debtors just enough to keep them off his door another week

Although I feel the burden of tax needs to be spread more evenly, I don't begrudge anyone the €188 they get and for which they will most likely be treated like a junkie scumbag by those helpful people in the Dept of Social Welfare (or whatever name they're calling it this week)

Welfare cheats or those who are too feckless to even want to work though I've no sympathy for

looksee · 12-08-2012 11:30AM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Just to throw in another point... although I'm working now and doing well again, I know that could change overnight and I have every sympathy for any poor fecker just trying to pay his bills, look after his family and worrying about giving all his debtors just enough to keep them off his door another week

Although I feel the burden of tax needs to be spread more evenly, I don't begrudge anyone the €188 they get and for which they will most likely be treated like a junkie scumbag by those helpful people in the Dept of Social Welfare (or whatever name they're calling it this week)

Welfare cheats or those who are too feckless to even want to work though I've no sympathy for

I had occasion to sign on a couple of times due to seasonal work, and was never treated with anything other than courtesy.

geneyuss · 12-08-2012 11:34AM

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

Just to throw in another point... although I'm working now and doing well again, I know that could change overnight and I have every sympathy for any poor fecker just trying to pay his bills, look after his family and worrying about giving all his debtors just enough to keep them off his door another week

Although I feel the burden of tax needs to be spread more evenly, I don't begrudge anyone the €188 they get and for which they will most likely be treated like a junkie scumbag by those helpful people in the Dept of Social Welfare (or whatever name they're calling it this week)

Welfare cheats or those who are too feckless to even want to work though I've no sympathy for

i have signed on many times over the years and have never came across this
but i wholeheartedly agree with your last line

zenno · 12-08-2012 11:35AM

The point of this thread was to do with "We don't know what austerity is"

You don't have to die just to prove austerity is bad on the people, i'm sure a few people have committed suicide over it here in Ireland from being left unemployed with a wrath of bills and loans to pay back and seen no way out.

The well-being and mental health of people has been affected and this is not good. In relation to Golden Lane.

Mint Sauce · 12-08-2012 11:35AM

geneyuss wrote: »

When the Sligo County Council manager gets paid more than the Spanish Prime Minister there is no recession/austerity in this country,

Seriously?

No wonder the county council is broke.

We don't know what austerity is

Comments