The Truth about Irelands Sex Industry

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will know that I have very little time for FG. They are hiding behind an ideology that even many within their ranks fail to understand. The have sucked the labour party into their lair. One such purveyor of ideological nonsense is Alan Shatter. I cringe when he appears on RTE news spouting government propaganda. Yet some of us have long memories. Whilst the rejuvenated FF, try to spin the working classes. I remember a time when they vehemently opposed divorce and sided with the now discredited Catholic Church on issues of morality. Paradoxically I now place hope in Alan Shatter, as in that moral silly season he was brave about divorce and personal morality. More recently he spoke in the daíl regarding abortion. He threw a pipe bomb into the bland and fearful stance taken by FG on the issue. I admire him for that.

Now he has to consider legislation in relation to the Irish sex industry. This is another hangover from the Catholic dictatorship, and we have failed to regulate for it. Worryingly some county and city councils have voted to petition the minister. They want to adopt the Swedish model which criminalises those who buy sex. This is all high and mighty but it is totally flawed. This model came to be through the endeavours of some ultra feminist members of the Swedish parliament. It has changed the industry I am not denying that. But it has also failed miserably in that it has driven the industry underground. What was once under control is no longer. The clear message from the Swedish experience is that prostitution will always be with us. The question is how do we as a society deal with it?

We have other choices. We can look at the German model. The sex industry in Germany is controlled by the state. Those that choose to work in the industry are treated like any worker. They pay taxes and have access to healthcare. There is no question of forced prostitution or human trafficking. The people who use the sex industry, i.e.- those who buy sex—are not criminalised. The system works very well. It provides a safe working environment for sex workers and for their clients.

In Ireland like in so many areas of personal morality we tend to leave the sex industry to the sleaze mongers. This inherited moral void is passed down through generations of moral cowardice. The Catholic Church set out our morality for us at the foundation of the state. We must always be outwardly pure—we export or abortion problem and hide our prostitution issue. This moral dictate came from an organisation that with government collusion systemically raped boys and girls and covered it up.

But let us not lay all of the blame for this at the door of the Catholic Church. We the citizens have failed to act on this also. It is akin to our attitude on drug abuse—let us criminalise all that we find objectionable and distasteful. Why do we choose to do this? Is it easier for us to face each other in the knowledge that we don’t have things like abortion and prostitution in Ireland? But we do—we send thousands of women abroad for abortions every year. Prostitution is rampant in every city and large town in Ireland. Yet it is in the hands of criminals. The people who work in the industry are unprotected against ruthless pimps. Young girls are trafficked from foreign countries to work in these seedy and dangerous back street brothels. It is an appalling system which only serves the criminal. TV 3 make silly documentaries and the Sunday World write patronising titillating muck about it.

The other aspect in all of this is the question of sexuality. Our attitudes to sex and what it means to us as individuals and as a society. Do we adopt the Catholic model and regard sex as a procreational device shamefully handed down by God. Or do we see sex and sexuality as a holistic gift? How does a society decide who should engage in sexual activity and who should not. Obviously we try to protect minors and quite rightly we associate active sexuality with maturity. But where does society’s intervention stop. Are we implicitly saying that sexual relations can only happen between two consenting adults? Does this not exclude people from enjoying sex like those without regular partners? Are people with disabilities not entitled to have sex? Let us remind ourselves that not a million years ago people were told to confine sexual activity to marriage. Even then they were denied contraception and vital information regarding reproduction—all in an effort to produce more Catholics.

Alan Shatter has a problem. We are still a conservative and closed society. Politicians are afraid of reactionary Ireland. The idea of legalising and controlling our sex industry is an appalling one to many. They would prefer it seems to leave it with the criminals. Then they can righteously refer to prostitution as dirty and unclean. TV3 can continue with their undercover sensationalism. The Sunday world can continue to titillate and patronise. The men and women who buy sex can continue to wander the dark alleys in search of gratification. Many of these people are isolated from the happy safe world most of us inhabit. Some are locked in loveless marriages others are single. Many have disabilities others suffer from mental illness. There are those also who just seek pleasure and comfort. How can a person in Hamburg legally go to a brothel? Pay for a sexual encounter with a person who is safe—well paid and is voluntarily doing their work? The government tax this encounter.

Yet in Ireland a person doing the same thing is taking their chances with their health. The person offering the sex may be forced into the situation. The profit goes to a sleazy pimp and who knows what goes on with drugs and violence associated with the whole process. I think people should have a basic human right to pay for sex if they need to. It is obvious that Alan Shatter will have his hands tied by the moral hacks.
Now they are proposing to criminalise those isolated people who buy sex—and in doing so will make an already dangerous business even worse.

The End

How did the neoliberals sell the citizen the concept of private health insurance? It is for me the biggest trick of all. I know deep down how it worked. It was because the people were frightened. If people are frightened like sheep they will run off the cliff. You see if you underfund something and make it damned uncomfortable for folk, they will be be fearful of it. Create long waiting lists poor facilities and wards that are crowded. That is how it is done.

Once you have private health insurance then you get private hospitals of course. Once again this serves the frightened. Irish society has been divided since the foundation of the state. We have a small underclass, and a large working class. In modern times we have a growing middle-class. This in reality is manufactured or should I say was manufactured by lending and access to credit. There are of course other factors also such as citizens investing in education.

Yet as the state evolved so did its divisions. Thus the concept of private medicine. Basically a state that operates a two tiered health service is admitting that it has ideologically failed its citizens. The government is refusing ideologically to treat it citizens on an equitable basis. To do this the state would have to demand much higher income tax, and divide the premium to care for its people. But the ideological choice was to create mayhem in the public health service, whilst the private sector prospered.

Even now mid-recession the advertisments for private health cover are prevelant. We have stupid and poorly conceived adverts telling us that without VHI or Laya healthcare you are screwed if you get ill. Often these adverts are targeted towards young mothers with small children. The message is clear if you dont have a good plan you are not a good Mum?

Recently I had cause to visit one of our flagship private Dublin hospitals with an elderly relative. I was amazed, this place was like a hotel. Beautifully done airy with lots of space. The wards were super modern and the nursing staff friendly and efficent. I commented on this to a good friend whom has worked at the coalface in the public system for over twenty five years. He told me that the public system was ready to burst at the seams. There is a permanent shortage of beds, and of nursing staff and supporting care workers.

I reflected on my observation that the private sector was awash with nurses who appeared to have alot of time on their hands. The system was peaceful and calm. So how did this happen. Why is the state funded system in such disarray? Most consultants work between the two systems, so the level of patient care is not in question. What is questionable however is the privacy and comfort of patients. Also the length of time it takes to get a diagnosis through the public system.

There is something rotten with an ideology that divides its citizens on the grounds of ability to pay. It makes a mockery of the idea of citizenism and statehood. This particular private hospital is a shrine to neoliberalism and the middle-class greed and fear as induced by the celtic tiger.
I await the citizens roar to disturb what is a very silent place.

Citizenism

It is the worst of times one can say so with impunity. There are times when a person could feel they have woken from a bad dream. I try to engage my business honestly each day. As a writer of fiction I can run and hide in my stories. I can wallow in the imperfections of my characters. Sometimes I even seek solace with them—marvelling at their heroics or their restrained emotions.

Yet it extremely difficult to get away from the news. The spin—the billion euro radio, where small people rattle off sums with an air of superiority. It is like they are saying ‘I mean billions like, I actually said billions not millions!’ The spin continues, and life but not as we knew it goes on.

Politics is a funny business. Politicians are very funny individuals especially within the framework of what we would like to term our democracy. FG for example has
around 35,000 members. This from a population of 4.5 million. Labour would have far less than this. Yet we charged them to battle for our economy free us citizens from bank debt—and create a universal health plan. None of these things has happened. Mainly for ideological reasons in FG. For example the government chose to pay unsecured bondholders.

If you read up on FG they are referred to as right of centre—or Christian democrats whatever that means? But both FG and FF their ideological brothers have stripped this state, and namely you and I the citizen of our natural resources. So when they say that the country is broke and that we must tighten our belts, they are in fact lying. This country is not broke? It struggles because the citizen has no access to his and her assets. They have destroyed our fishing industry which is larger in area than our land mass itself. They have given away our oil and gas and other valuable resources to their friends in high places.

There are many other areas where we as citizens have been robbed. There is a huge potential in forestry and agricultural food processing. But the state sits back and does nought, threatening people with disabilities and bus passes. You see fellow citizens we don’t have a state any longer. We have a government that is unrepresentative of the citizen. It is choked by the outdated and undemocratic whip system. It is served by radio and television and newspapers that serve its interests and propaganda.

One can argue in these blogs for a miraculous conversion to socialism or indeed social justice. But the spin doctors pour boiling water on any ideologies save for neoliberal. Does anyone remember the series of silly speeches made by Enda Kenny? The man was demented—he spoke at length about job creation, and how the entrepreneur was standing by to save the day. I wrote at the time that I couldn’t wait for Enda to part the Irish sea and I would watch in awe as the entrepreneurial hordes marched on us with their jobs. They didn’t and Enda was lying as usual.

This government is anti state. They are bereft of policy. Only state intervention will create the jobs we need in sufficient numbers to refloat our economy. But how can a state intervene if we don’t have a state, but only government. Using the natural resources I have listed above and investing in indigenous projects is the way to job creation. The government I presume deep down know this so what is holding them back. The IMF—or the ECB—I seriously doubt it. What is holding them back is their fascist like adherence to a failed ideology. There is no room for citizenship or state within the confines of neoliberal thinking. So how can a government so slavishly ruled by this philosophy do the right thing by the very citizens they have no respect for?

There will be another general election but it may be a few years away yet. They bank on the notion that their ideology is in vogue. The opposition is more of the same well FF anyhow. The social democrats in the Labour party are proven worms, spineless and traitors to their fellow citizens. So we are left with capitalism and the unrealistic unworkable, against human nature socialism. Well how about a good dose of Irish citizenism—something new and very radical.

Why we need Austerity!

There seems to be some confusion in Irish politics. Indeed the electorate in the main are poorly informed about politics in general. We rely on Government sponsored radio and television. Our newspapers are owned and run by very wealthy people who have a vested interest in maintaining the type of society in which we exist.

The confusion as I see it is about choice and the way we form our political opinions. People don’t dare to question the failed system that his led us to the brink of ruin, and we imagine this system will somehow pull the rabbit from the hat and save us. But it won’t because it can’t? Capitalism doesn’t work for the majority of citizens. By its very nature capitalism is selective about those it rewards.

If one is to examine its history it is like the worse excesses of soviet communism, capitalism is dominated by a tiny minority. But these people hold and control the purse strings. So independent states like Ireland have to trade their sovereignty in order to fund its public services. This loss of sovereignty is not just fiscal—but it also erodes our sense of nationhood. The result is catastrophic—soon this contagion will destroy the very fabric of our communities.

The word Austerity has been misused in relation to all of this. Austerity is badly needed after all of the greed and the credit bubble. We as citizens are responsible for the creation of the Celtic tiger—the silly property deals and the mortgage explosion. Each one of us bought into this ideologically driven sham.
Austerity is badly needed—but my problem is with the brand of austerity currently in vogue,it is concentrated exclusively on the poor and disadvantaged.

The well off can absorb austerity with far more comfort than the old and the sick. Yet this Government ideologically have chosen to exclusively punish the poor for the failures in the capitalism system. However what worries me most is the level of compliance shown by our citizens. When voters go to the polls in the next general election where will they cast their vote?

Well we have our FG—suits who claim that AIB bank are so vital to our economic future—that we must pay one billion to unsecured bondholders? There is the stealth like FF, who are so busy trying to reposition themselves they fall over things, until they finally have to stand up and support the government. Labour are not worth a mention—as they will probably disband after the next election. We have a few worthy socialists and leftists who will scream and shout but get nowhere. Of course there is SF—the great white hope.

The problem with SF and many of the genuine people who are supporting them—is not in economic thinking or the war in North of Ireland. No, SF are capitalists too. So their solution is to buy into a system that is proven not to work. A system that is ruthlessly anti citizen. Capitalism that rewards the few but fails the majority. I hear people say that SF are left wing and have a strong sense of socialism. But they are clearly not any of those. In the next government they may get to share power but with whom? Are FF their natural allies?




SF preach a softer brand of capitalism than the suits in FG and FF—but like the labour party how much of that can they bring with them into government? Remembering that part of buying into capitalism is the trading of sovereignty and the adoration of banks. People should realise that socialism is not anti business. In fact under an imaginative socialist system I contend this Island could support 20 million people. At present we can’t support 5 million. People will say get real—and in the real world. The real world as we have it, is imposing austerity on the weak and vulnerable. We have government representatives telling us that in the real world our future lies with banks—and 1 billion payments to unsecured bondholders? The real world indeed!

Why we wont face the truth?

It is a terrible thing. The consensus, the public consciousness, why is it so awful you might ask? Because it is usually wrong—and it is very damaging. We in Ireland are very good at half truths, misconceptions and in many cases downright lies.

We tell lies at all levels. It finally spills over when our political system overheats and burns us the citizen. The people scream why in anger—but it is the citizen who lives the lie and allows the pot to boil unattended.

It starts with simple misconceptions and spoofing. Like I am asked to believe that paedophile priests colluded as young men. They joined the priesthood with one intention and that was to gain access to children. This thesis completely ignores the fact that most child abusers are male, and most abuse takes place in the family home.

But to suit the national consciousness there is no real debate or radical examination to the actual causes of paedophilia we wait as a nation for the next outrage.

We can simplify it further. You go to the pharmacy to buy ‘Solpadeine’s.’ The assistant asks ‘have you taken them before?’ you say that ‘you have [but fail to add that you have been chewing them since 1984.] She whispers something to the pharmacist who gives you the once over before nodding. You pay the exorbitant price and you leave.

Like what area of the public consciousness are we pleasing here? I could have done the same thing in twenty pharmacies for all they know. If ‘Solpadeine,’ are so lethal why are they available without prescription? They are the saviour of the habitual drunk and are laced with Codeine—but the urban legend is that neurotic people were downing them in such doses that their livers failed. My argument is why not come out and say this? Why leave it to individual pharmacists to play God—if they are dangerous make them prescription only. They wont because they will lose money—in the final analysis it is us the citizen who is incidental to their sales figures.

People speak more nonsense re- the public consciousness and politics and as our neoliberal media hammer home, the economy. I often wonder if we had the same type of media when I was a child how they would have reported on the poverty. Of course I was lucky as it was so much worse in my parent’s time.

The national consensus is that the sooner we can get back to the markets the better. The markets will cure everything and sure all will be grand.

Economists are on television commenting on how the government could save money. Cut the public service wage bill, cut social welfare. Let us see if we can impose a property tax etc. The fiscal suited neoliberals are offering us solutions to the very problems that their ideology has caused. Now these people own the media so you get the same drivel repeated time and time again. So our slavish following of the markets and neoliberal economic doctrine got us into this mess. However if we keep the faith in time this brilliant economic religion will save us.

At no time is the citizen asked to ponder on such a preposterous proposition. Under this ideology all alternatives are banished. Any mention of social justice is compared with North Korea. The dictatorship there is used as a whip against any call for real citizenship—and real control of what is after all our nation. When we get past the North Korean spin—we face mind sets that believe that socialism cannot produce wealth. That an equitable society is unworkable and unrealistic. But the truth lies in the bare fact that our country is self sufficient. We have ample natural resources and with the development of indigenous industry we could become self sufficient in a relatively short time.

The real truth I believe is that we are making an ideological choice to live beyond our means. Our economic system has been infiltrated by outside interests that are creaming it off the back of our citizens. We are rewarded by the empire—they will protect us from unseen enemies. It is unlikely that we would ever be allowed to starve. This as long as we keep our levels of corporation tax ridiculously low, and our rates of income tax so low that it is impossible to fund vital services from the take.

The national consciousness, the truth is in the ideology—and the citizen survives on lies.

Where are Ireland's Radical Women

History tells us the women in Dail Eireann were anti-treaty and vehemently so! Many of these women TD’S took leftist republican stand points. This at a time when the new Irish state was fractured for once by ideology. I quote, from

Jason K. Knirck.Imagining Ireland's Independence: The Debates over the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921


Most of all, I am still not sure why women TDs all voted against the treaty without exception--and why the most republican organization was the all-female Cumann na mBan. It cannot just have been typecasting.

So we can clearly see a sense of radicalism associated with women going back to the formation of the state. However it is important to note that many Irish women were unable to vote in the 1922 general election. I quote,

Female TDs also raised the uncomfortable issue of the franchise, which left a large number of women without the vote in the 1922 general election.

Whilst the facts cannot be challenged—it is of interest to examine as to how this radical feminism has emerged in modern Ireland. It may be argued that woman have been emancipated—from the kitchen sink to the boardroom. That woman have equal opportunity in the work place—and within the education system.Yet it is not unusual to hear terms like gender balance—when referring to politics and even political debates.So how emancipated have Irish women really become?


Also back in the early twenties, was the watering down of feminism and female influence a deliberate policy by the male led political establishment?


Knirck argues that the government’s portrayal of republicanism as essentially feminine was part of a wider policy of eliminating both the ideology and women in general from public life, in an attempt to 'restore stability and order.'


One wonders who has inherited the radical mantle as presented by these early pioneering female representatives. Whilst we have had some well meaning and hard working—female TD’s and ministers—one struggles to equate them with any sense of radicalism. Is that because since 1922 –we have failed to elect any radical government? Another question that could be legitimately asked is to see examples of male radicalism? Yet at the foundation of the state the radical mantra was female—so I will concentrate on that.


Yes there have been radical women from time to time. Mostly these women were involved with the republican movement. Some were heavily embedded in the armed struggle. Many spent a long time rotting in Irish or English jails. Although many of these women were radical—they were mainly republican. Socialism or feminism was never outwardly part of their ideology.


In modern Ireland socialist TD’S like Clare Daly could well be labelled as radical and feminist. However one wonders how well she is received in the realms of middle Ireland?


So where did that initial radical republican feminism go? Did its dissipation have any co-relation to the boom and bust fiasco that has ruined this country? Where the new credit card—mortgage consumer—who bought into the ideology of private health insurance, two cars, paid childcare. Are these modern day women in anyway responsible for the current mess? One wonders at the effects of coffee morning conversations about house prices,VHI plans. The complete surrender to consumerism and the world as presented by neoliberalism.



Would the original black widows of Dail Eireann have opted for outlets and shopping centres over cradle to the grave healthcare—and educational access? I quote,


The women’s part was to raise the specter of the dead and to claim the right to speak for them. Even the women who were not widows wore black.

The End of Middle-class Bliss

For those of you who read my tweets and blogs regularly you are most likely sick to death of the word ideology. I have I admit flogged it to death. In case you think that I have lost it completely—let me explain.


In Ireland ideology is stealth like—political entities hate the word. In the gombeen system we use, to label politicians as anything other than party hacks, could be very a dangerous indeed.
So since the foundation of the state all our political parties favour the personality over the ideological.



Ideologies after all—are for communists and fascists –not our hard working constituency loving representatives. The media have bought into this also. Creating heroes and villains. Charles Haughey and Michael Lowery—the personalities who survived controversy or who didn’t. No analysis to my knowledge anyhow, from what kind of ideological position, did these individuals spawn.

We get bland comments like, ‘centre right—or Christian democrat,’ what in effect does this mean? The present government have sold our economic sovereignty to our financial masters in the ECB. This it seems to me is an ideological decision taken by a government who were never actually given a mandate to do so. Their respective manifestos both clearly stated that a renegotiation of Ireland’s debt was their brief. Yet once in Government both FG and Lab watered this down—to complete compliance with our financial governors.


Another reason that I go on incessantly about ideology, is that I don’t believe that it is a new disease—this blind adherence to neo-liberal dogma. In essence the Irish state was founded on these values. We have always been slaves to the multi-nationals particularly American companies. This is all well and good—but by proxy we have wilfully neglected the development of our indigenous industry. Also we have allowed the rape of our natural resources –by a small and select few.

I wonder what is the point of having a nation or citizenship at all. If we are to continue with the disempowerment of the same. Why have an Ireland why have citizens—if in effect we are entering an individual competition –us against our fellow citizens from the cradle to the grave. The strongest survive the weak will not—society will prosper?


It is very frustrating to be labelled as idealist—or leftist. There is an extraordinary blandness out there. My twitter timeline is full of angst. ‘How can the government do this?’ or ‘Wake up minister—we won’t take any more cuts!’ it is almost like the tweeters imagine the government to be a separate entity, existing remotely beyond us.

But governments are elected by us—to represent us. If they are not representing us then why? Do they not share our ideology? Is threatening cuts in services to the disabled on one hand—whilst paying 600million to unsecured bondholders with the other, is that not what we elected them to do?


We are in a right old mess. When I as a citizen advocated that we should have free healthcare and education from the cradle to the grave—I am branded an ideological lefty.

But I also advocate that we take control of our natural resources, oil, gas, fishing, food processing. We should as a citizenry be creating a huge amount of jobs through state initiatives in Industry, infrastructure, Forestry, and generic brands of medicines. We should continue with our high-tech innovative enterprises and service industries also. But hey I don’t need our ‘Brightest and Best,’ to do this, no my fellow citizens will do for me thanks.


My last thought this morning—is back to my timeline on twitter. I asked why my fellow tweeters were shocked at the policies as presented by this government. Stating that if one holds an ideological position—they would in all truth be rendered unshockable. Neoliberals do what we expect them to do—socialists do what we expect—is the reason for shock a naivety? Or some sort of discomfort, following years of middle-class bliss?

Savage Ireland

Brian Hayes is a modern politician. He earns his trade indulging in sound bytes and absolutes. He says bland things like—‘This has not been a good day for the government.’ When he really means, ‘This has not been a good few years for the Government.’ He also speaks with forked tongue in claiming that Ireland has lost its economic sovereignty. Which means his government have to deal with realities and thereby impose austerity on its citizens?

Since the coalition lied its way into power—there have been many days like this. Lots of u-turns and almost childish efforts to hit the disabled in particular. But for disabled one can safely read vulnerable. So much so that Enda Kenny had to make a mad media spin visit to the home of a county Meath boy with a disability.It was an sos from a drowning Taoiseach. Yet like the child who is told not to put their hand in the fire—these bozos never learn.

Ireland has not lost its economic sovereignty—it has all but given it away for ideological reasons. You see we have huge untapped natural resources. In fishing oil and gas, and in the food processing area. We also had options in relation to the EU, the ECB, and in whether we were prepared to declare a sense of national pride or not. As a last resort we could have printed our own money, and sourced new markets.We could have created a common purpose, usually only seen in wartime.

Under this government we took the ideological decision to repay the bonds –and to seek artificial outside assistance. This is all underpinned by our ideological enslavement to market capitalism. The core thesis of this lies in the dubious premise that neoliberal ideology—the same ideology which brought us down mind you, is somehow the panacea for our ills.


This is why we end up in ridiculous situation whereby we cut disability services, but pay an Anglo bond at the same time. Brian Hayes does not even consider this a worthwhile distraction—from the neoliberal spin. He goes on about how this artificial money is stopping hospital closures. He has almost resorted to the empty ATM’S. Does anyone out there still believe in this rubbish?


So they are going to solve Ireland’s biggest financial crises –by imposing the same financial ideology that caused it to happen in the first place. He is pointing out positives –improvements brought about by James Reilly’s department. Talking to people on the ground in our hospitals—there is no enthusiasm for government policy. Their solution to all is to run and hide behind this economic savagery.


People enjoy sums—and if you can marry sums to ideology or in the governments case bullying all the better. When one hears the disabled protesting outside of the Dail justifying their right to protest. This is based on the fact that they contribute to society, and they quoting how they work and pay taxes. It is easy to see how the neoliberal virus has spread through our society. All of our citizens should have a value. This is inclusive of the old, the sick and disabled, the unemployed the working.


Ireland neoliberal colony is now at last valuing its citizenry and what they can contribute in monetary terms only. This is a huge indictment on the likes of Brian Hayes and his FG, collaborators. Even if one was to forgive them their cowardice, in the economic battle, it is unforgivable for them to have handed the basics of our society over to greed mongers.
Of course as the government ducks and dives. They will point out to fiscal battles been won in relation to our overall well being. These are just smokescreens, as the prize for the winner, is a return to a system, that doesn’t work. The ideology that makes our disabled spend the cold night, outside Dail Eireann!

Sinn Fein Are Without Ideology

I have no problem with Sinn Féin. Well not in the relation to the war in Northern Ireland anyhow. In fact I have great respect for their will—in the face of constant propaganda from the safety of middle Ireland. The right wing government controlled media have accused them of all sorts of wrong doings. From abduction and murder to a stealth like agenda to unite Ireland.


Martin Mc Guinness and Gerry Adams were both victims of the ranting middle Ireland during recent elections. I admire the way they stood their ground—and refused to cave in, under the relentless lies and dubious accusations thrown at them.
Sinn Féin have assembled some smart performers,with the likes of Mary Lou Mc Donald—and Pearse Doherty—leading the charge against the government.


Of course the Shinners are nothing if not pragmatic—in a valiant effort to deflect from the frowns of the middle-classes they have positioned themselves left of centre. Well left of centre-ish. In doing this they have stolen some of the Labour party—trade union ground, by adopting positions against stealth taxes etc.
Thus their activists are very visible against the household charge.



All well and good. The frightened safe players of middle-Ireland probably see them as dangerous and radical. I can now reassure the people who get out of bed and work very hard for their comforts—that they have nothing to worry about.
The pragmatic Sinn Féin is capable of aligning itself to any ideology. So don’t be surprised if they end up in coalition with FF or FG—down the line.


The problem I have with Sinn Féin is in they don’t have a position. I have often accused FF and FG of hiding their ideology. In Sinn Féin’s case they just don’t have an ideology—outside of some vague notion of a politically correct united Ireland.
The Shinners are about as left as the Labour party. They buy into capitalism and our undemocratic systems. Their vision of a New Ireland is as flawed as the centre-right wing parties they squabble with.


For a party that waves the republican flag—where did they inherit their mandate. Was it from Pádraig Pearse? Or Michael Collins? It wasn’t from James Connolly that’s a certainty. Connolly was a Marxist not a republican. There are no Marxists in Sinn Fein or even interpreters of socialism to suit modern culture. So who are they really then and what are they looking for?



Recent history and the bitter war in the north—show’s us that the Republican movement split into different factions. We had the INLA, and their political wing the IRSP. Also now there are dissident Republicans! The IRSP are still active on community issues—their ideology is inherited from James Connolly. Their aim is for a 32 county socialist Republic.


Sinn Féin however after the Good Friday agreement was a party with a mandate—but without any sense of ideology. So they came south and found that none of parties in Dail Eireann had an ideology either. If they had any inkling of ideology, they didn’t want the electorate to know. This left a common shared ideology, enslavement to capitalism.


When Mary Lou—or Pearse Doherty go on television—they will complain about the bond holders, household charges etc—but they never mention ideology. Sinn Féin do capitalism they may advocate a softer version of it—but like the Labour party when in power you grip it tightly with both hands.



So watch this space, for all those who yearn for social justice, don’t expect the Shinners to provide it. The people with ideology like Clare Daly—Joe Higgins, you know them the cloud Cuckoo crowd, are not there in sufficient numbers to save the poor and disabled. Maybe we should give the IRSP a call?

Capitalism is a failed ideology

There are many misconceptions about politics and the current state of the world. When one eavesdrops on twitter commentary it is hard not to smile. I didn’t need to watch the Vincent Browne show last night. From the twitter timeline it was obviously a discussion regarding property tax and other matters of finance.

Funny isn’t it how we have all become dazzled by the economy above all else. The right wing controlled media have managed to keep the economy at the top of the pile. So much so –that it is now obvious that many people feel they are citizens of an economy rather than a nation.

The neoliberal spin is good and non-stop 24hrs a day. Yet for all its might this ideology has one fatal flaw, it doesn’t actually work. Alright it does work for some people. But they are usually super wealthy or belonging to some high powered multinational enterprise. It doesn’t work for the vast majority of us.

Neo-liberalism has been central to our political system since the foundation of the state. Indeed it was most likely a condition under which we secured our statehood. We declared as a neo-liberal colony of the United States and Great Britain.

Thus we have given away our natural resources, oil and gas, and of course our massive fishing industry as been rendered unproductive. We have suffered under corrupt political regimes, and we were the victims of the heinous Catholic Church.
After our most recent capitalist tragedy, whereby the citizen is flogged with austerity to pay off bank gambling debt, did anything change?


No surprisingly nothing. People are still twisted against any real alternative—especially any brand of socialism. The spin is that socialism is grey and uniform. Business and entrepreneurs would not thrive. We in Ireland are too small and we would be shunned by our customers abroad.


Socialism is not anti-business! The difference between the capitalist ideology and the socialist thesis is essentially about control. Under capitalism the individual is feted for success. Under socialism all progress is guided by the citizen for the citizen. We are born into the collective of citizenship—nationhood. Our citizens enjoy a free world class health care system—from the cradle to the grave. Also we enjoy a free world class education system at all levels. We provide the infrastructure for economic growth.


In return the citizen works for the collective. Take an entrepreneur with a sound business proposal. The enterprise would be funded by his fellow citizens. If it proceeds and it is successful. Our entrepreneur will pay his just rate of tax and his company would pay a profits tax. Depending on the scale of the business this entrepreneur may become very rich. Yet all is fair and equitable for all parties, and the state is rewarded as it should be.


However us citizens would have reclaimed our natural resources creating huge wealth alongside of creating indigenous industry. We have a huge food processing potential, alongside of farming and fisheries. Socialism is not grey uniforms but a radical way of reforming our nation. Protecting our citizens and creating wealth, so as to be no longer slaves to the capitalist markets.


People talk of cloud Cuckoo ideology. These are apologists for a failed system that has never worked for all the citizens of a nation. Wherever you go in the world and witness strife. It is caused by the excesses of capitalism.


So the next time twitter people complain bitterly about property tax or stealth taxes—take a look at the ideology of the parties in power. Individuals are not the creators of policy—ideology is!

Abortion The Irish Solution

People who are morally opposed to abortion hold a valid position. Those who support a woman’s right to choose-what happens to her own body—also hold a valid position. Yet some of us who are morally opposed to abortion are also disturbed by the fact that we export over 10,000 women to Britain annually for abortions. Like cattle these women are exported-many are young and vulnerable. They are forced to leave these shores to seek abortions. So as individuals we hold our position which is right and proper—but is the state entitled to hold a moral position? Peter Mathews on a recent Vincent Browne show-clearly held a moral position. But as an elected member of parliament is his role not to legislate without referring to his own morality? The legislative process is in limbo-as successive legislators have failed to deal with this issue. Abortion is legal in Ireland -if there is deemed to be a risk to the life of a woman. However Dail Eireann has refused to draft legislation---and the medical council guidelines are clear. ‘The deliberate and intentional destruction of the unborn child is professional misconduct!’ So why won’t the major parties face up to the judgement of the Supreme Court and frame legislation around it. Is it because all government members of parliament hold moral positions like Peter Mathews? Or is it because they are afraid of the backlash throughout middle Ireland at the next election? If this is so, how has this divisive and fundamental issue become so politicised in recent history. When one undergo's a searching moral examination of oneself—is there a logic that says, ‘Well abortion is illegal here-who cares, if they get the boat to heathen England?’ There are two other countries in Europe that like us don’t allow abortion; they are Malta and the Vatican City. Hugely Roman Catholic countries. Is Ireland not supposed to be a secular pluralist state? Are the Irish people saying that we hold a moral position above our fellow European Union colleagues? That we in the Emerald Isle have the inside knowledge on morality—and the right to life. Are we saying that we know how to treat our women with unwanted—or unmanageable pregnancies? In order for a populace to hold such fine opinions of themselves should they not be leading the world by example? Where is our example with our greed culture and our sexual abuse scandals that have rocked our complacency. When one is weighing up our morality—one asks with how much respect did we afford the born. Especially if they were poor and subjected to the arm of the state through exposure to religious thugs. Let us face the truth here Ireland has an ethos—it is sown in our souls from years of Catholic indoctrination. We do not trust our individual morality. Why not allow for the world as it really is-and we will make our choices accordingly. Do we depend on legislation or indeed the lack of it-to shape our decision making. We are like sheep locked in a pen. If all other modern European states save for Catholic Malta and the Vatican-have legislated on this-where is our morality in relation this matter? Of course much of the reality that confronts us in this small Island comes from our right wing friends in the states. Not alone are they determined to wash us with neo-liberalism. Destroying communities and building their churches in the shape of out of town outlets. Retail— is the new religion folks—these people also bring us their sick brand of Christian rightist dogma. Ireland is their last stand on issues like abortion—and their fight against feminism. One does not need to favour a limited form of abortion—to find these people and their agents reprehensible. Abortion will always be a moral crisis for the individual. The state has a duty to legislate without reverting to personal morality. The Irish people watch the cattle boats leaving weekly!

In Reply To Eilis O' Hanlon [Sunday Independent 15/07/2012

An Open Letter to Eilis O’Hanlon [Sunday Independent 15/07/2012] I once had a dream where I caught a glimpse of the best spin doctor in the world. He was educating his colleagues –who all sat around a large table. Their mouths gaping as the best spin doctor in the world-told them how it was. When I awoke—I remembered what it was he had said. ‘My friends there are only two people in the world you need to convince. Mother and father! Think about it—these people are comfortable but not rich! She is standing at the kitchen sink—whilst he sits by the fire reading his newspaper. These are the people my friends who are appalled and offended. You are looking at the consciousness of a nation! Convince these people and you will set the trend. So the scene is set for your article. I have no doubt the mother and father will be with you all of the way. Yet you have made so many sweeping generalisations and the underbelly of your thesis attacking the left—leaves you bereft of argument. To begin with—the Irish media has very few left wing commentators! The frenzy around the ‘Brian Murphy,’ case was more associated with sensationalism. It was a major news story. Posh schoolboys involved in behaviour allegorically belonging to the 'Underclass.' Also you dismiss some of the analysis which identifies this awful carnage with Dance Music and the band themselves. Yet three more people were stabbed at their concert in Milton Keynes on Saturday. There were other concerts held recently—[Stone Roses,] where there was no trouble. But that doesn’t suit the agenda does it? The word Knacker as you politely explain for mother and father—is a derogatory term. Yet you go on to associate this term with the ‘Underclass.’ Which is prospering under the guidance of neo-liberalism. But to be a Knacker must you come from a certain area. Is there really a correlation between Knackerdom and long term social welfare dependency? If so what is the Knacker who comes from Foxrock’s excuse? Is Knackerdom not a state of mind that manifests itself through either a culture of hopelessness—or auspiciousness? To be fair—you do reel in a little later in the article—I will come to that. You refer to no go areas around Dublin. Although I am from Dublin I now live in rural West Cork. I am no apologist for knife crime by the way. I am puzzled by how you can target deprivation and immediately conclude the trouble makers were from certain areas. How do you know this? I have googled and found that one person who was arrested was from West Dublin. I also found that 135,000 people attended the festival over the weekend. In the context of this one wonders what all the frenzy is about? The reason I respond to you Eilis is that you accuse people of not facing up to issues of class. I am I can assure you—and when you refer to an ‘Underclass.’ I agree with you. Yet is the creation of this 'Underclass.' and how it sprang to life that we will disagree on. Unlike many on the right, I have no fear in outing my ideology. This 'Underclass.' has spawned from what used to be just called poverty. Neo-liberalism sent a flood of support into these communities offering cheap credit and cheap commodities. Right wing ideology likes to blame welfare on this. Welfare has nothing to do with neo-liberal ideology, only in a very loose way-as products and services can still be sold. Welfare is a state responsibility it is why we have citizenship. It is called social justice—and it is part of the right wing agenda, to associate welfare with crime—and fecklessness. I quote from your article! 'The problem was identified a long time ago, when Ken Aluetta of the New Yorker popularised the term 'Underclass' to describe that group of poorly educated long-term welfare recipients, and others on the criminal fringe, who were unassimilated with, and hostile to, broader society.' I see now that you have moved from a concern about knife crime to your real agenda. I want to state Eilis that I have no problem with you holding these views. But is it right not to express your ideology for your readers so they will be aware of your politics? Yes you did try to reel back a little—by allowing that the decent people living in 681—may be afraid of the 'Underclass.' in 683—I appreciate that at least,if it is not a little patronising--and most likely a rare occurance. Then you attack again with, Quote, 'In the Celtic Tiger years, the only ones left behind were these very long-term generational feckless who didn't want to improve their lot. Their lot was improved anyway, because we could afford it, thereby entrenching them further in an adolescent state of dependency.' Finally if it is true that the underclass like stabbing people,my God! What do the neo-liberals and the ‘Overclass,’ like doing? Killing people by closing vital services to the old and disabled? Long waiting lists for essential surgery---insufficient mental health services for young people? I watch as Ireland steps right—and it is only the left declaring their ideology.

Is Twitter the new middle-class machine

God be with the days when a group of women living in an upmarket estate could seriously affect the price of their houses. Depending on the mood that was in it—they could talk the prices up or down. It was a simple and reliable process when one bright spark would suddenly announce to the group, ‘We are looking for €500,000 for ours. Much coffee was spilled and envious looks exchanged. Later the grapevine headlined it –and auctioneers were contacted. Around the same time a group of lads drinking coffee after a game of golf. Their slant was a little different—as they would not be looking for anything. Comments like we will get €500,000 for ours went unnoticed as somebody else boasted they had just bought the wife a new car. Those were the days my friends with shopping trips to New York and family holidays to Florida. Irish people had made it at last on the world’s big bad stage. Second homes were sought in Turkey—Hungary and Bulgaria. The mighty euro spoke and all was good. I often have nightmares wondering what things would have been like on twitter—at the start of the boom. Would auctioneers and estate agents have dominated my timeline. Would I have followed a bank? Don’t forget the favoured phrase during this utopian dream was ‘I secured a great rate!’ The borrower was in a position of great power. He could make a bank official squirm with a well placed reference to the opposition. It was a great game to play and I am sure many people sorely miss the buzz. Of course with twitter one will always get the dissenting voice. Perhaps people with some sort of moral soul may have warned us. We may have had soft voices telling us about how this greed will ruin society. Would we have listened coldly and then continued on the yellow brick road. But that is what is good about twitter. It allows for the dissenting voice complete and unabridged. When I joined twitter a few years ago—I was pleasantly surprised by the range of ideas presented. There was left and there was right—with a large centre. Good socially conscious articles came through politico and elsewhere. It also opened up the world. I discovered there is a sizable opposition in the United States for example. A core group of people who would put many of our so called socialists to shame. I learned new things about the world also. Sad facts like that despite our celebrated aid agencies three quarters of the world’s population don’t have enough to eat. To put this tiny point in perspective—I first heard this stat way back in 1975-in a school debate. I have spent the last few days chatting to new people. I have also done some serious analysis of my timeline. I am watching to see what type of discussions are taking place. I am disappointed. Yes there are some strong tweets re-topical issues, and the occasional comment re –ideology. I am afraid that most of the tweets are bland in the extreme. Men do it subliminally by trying to be witty and sound superior. However women are the worst offenders. With tweets that reflect their every thought and action! The reason we got sucked into the greed was that people didn’t question? We were led by the hand. Most of us went along with the false pride-of our tiger economy. There descended from the heavens a great shower of blandness. Where nothing was really questioned or forensically examined. Questions such as will this rising tide lift all boats? Or will it be only me and my neighbours in our suburban cocoon. Has this middle-class culture made a bid for twitter? When people avoid getting to the core of issues. Where much of the conversation concerns trite nonsense. I know some twitter users who like all their followers. They even like convicted bullies and lefty arty farties like me for Gods sake! I hear earnest activists going on about issues that are vital and important to society. They are fighting a losing battle to win over the concerns of the comfortable and the bland.

Irelands Neo-Liberal Soccer Team

Many years ago my late father brought me to an Ireland soccer match—it was against Austria in Dalymount Park—Ireland lost 4-1 but I was smitten! My dad passed away the following year but I kept going to the games as the team moved on to John Giles, and he introduced the brilliant Liam Brady. Giles was responsible for bringing a new professionalism to our game-and under his guidance interest in our national team blossomed-—but yet in its own way versus GAA and Rugby, the national team only had a dedicated hardcore cult following. So when Jack Charlton took control against Wales in March 1986—there were only 13,000 in Lansdowne road—the fans had seen the team make heroic efforts at qualification for the world cup under Eoin Hand only to be denied by dubious refereeing decisions. Charlton it seemed brought hope and the fact that he came from the English game and was a world cup winner himself served to rubber stamp his suitability for the tasks ahead. We lost that match 1-0 but it marked the international debuts of Ray Houghton and John Aldridge. Two years later with considerable good fortune so desperately denied to his predecessors Charlton brought his Ireland team to it’s first major championship in Germany! Even at this stage the interest in the Irish soccer team had still not fully manifested itself—and heading off to Germany to support the team I felt like a member of a cult whom had suddenly found popular recognition. In the years that followed there were many changes and much more success—the empty seats in Lansdowne road were now full and tickets became more expensive and had to be block booked in order to retain your place among the faithful, then we had Italia 90-and USA -94, and the momentum ran away madly with itself—and suddenly the Irish international team became big business. I attended all the home games right up till the end of the nineties and paid a considerable sum of money each year for both myself and my son—it was part of our life and it was heart warming and very emotional at times. However soon the ticket prices went beyond what I could afford as you had to book and pay for six tickets at a time and I settled for watching the games on television. Saipan lives on in the minds of the Irish people as one of the most important events in Irish history never mind soccer. Roy Keane basically refused to play and headed home—he more than anyone had fought for the cause that led to our qualification for the world cup in Japan in 2002! What happened in Saipan was to scar Ireland and Irish soccer for years afterwards. Keane complained of sub-standard preparation accusing both the FAI and manager Mick McCarthy of lacking in professionalism and ambition. Keane went home and John Delaney the FAI CEO let him go—without even addressing the issues that Keane had raised. I for one, and I am sure all true soccer supporters were dumfounded. Ireland went on to perform with credit all the more perplexing as in hindsight one wonders constantly at Keane’s reference to ambition. Irish football went into limbo after the resignation of the tired Mick McCarthy he was replaced by Brian Kerr in 2004—however Kerr needing time failed to qualify for that European championship but only narrowly failed to qualify for the 2006 world cup. Having coaxed Roy Keane back from retirement—a controversial and ultimately pointless effort as Keane had passed his best-Kerr was sacked. Stephen Staunton followed Kerr but his reign was a disaster particularly for John Delaney and the FAI who now needed to react aggressively in the light of the fans displeasure with Staunton and the FAI in general as the wounds of Saipan had not fully healed. Now this is where the neoliberals finally took control—gone were the concerns [he still voices them] by Roy Keane about Irelands stunted level of expectation and in rolled the might of the euro. Ireland appointed Giovanni Trapattoni as their manager in May 2008-nothing wrong with that he was a manager of great experience. Denis O’ Brien controversial businessman offered to pay part of Trapattoni’s salary and Ireland had finally made the transition from an international team with fanatical almost cult like support-to a business complete with merchandising –ticket sales, and a product that had world wide potential. So over the following few years Croke Park was sold out and the one time that I could afford the €70 ticket for Ireland v France world cup play off 1st leg—instead of action replays on the big screen I got Jim from Eircom [failed company] selling me crap. So this was it I thought leaving the stadium Ireland had finally arrived-gone were the days when only 13,000 showed up to watch Jack Charlton’s first game-we now could sell over 70,000 seats in Irelands largest stadium to watch a losing team against a weakfish French side- and us managed by an old hack of a manager. Also we were now sponsored by a controversial entrepreneur –complete with Jim from Eircom selling his wares constantly throughout the game. So 2012 and Ireland head to Poland with the Irish public forever hopeful and John Delaney and the FAI rubbing their hands—money-money—but they were about to slip on their own Banana skin-their manager or Denis O’ Brien’s manager was utterly out of his depth. Someday there will be documentary made regarding this mans ineptitude. His press conferences are designed to confuse and to give the uneducated the false impression that the manager is learned and deeply committed to his football philosophy! Truth is he has no philosophy save to say [Roy Keane again] he has no ambition-he has no faith in his players so he sets them up not to lose—or if they lose not to be hammered. He displays this time and time again by his squad selections-then his team selections and finally his confused substitutions. When we qualified for this tournament it was time to reward the likes of Robbie Keane-Damien Duff and Shay Given not indulge them. The manager’s duty was not to these individuals but to us the fans and the citizens of Ireland. On television Eamonn Dunphy who was visibly intimidated by Liam Brady patronised Liam re-his old friend so often that it rendered his analysis void-to the point where he wondered would Liam ask Trap if he could get it us to play like Swansea city-my goodness.Then he went on to praise the backroom team of the show for well doing what they are paid to do—like there was something heroic about that? Trapattoni could have rewarded his team but also he could have added new young blood to compliment them-the older players looked jaded-we needed an energy more than anything. This is why we were overrun so often! Yesterday Monaghan Utd—folded as a premier league of Ireland club—our soccer panel didn’t mention it—the Republic of Ireland were the only team at euro 2012-without a domestic league player in their squad-this sad fact reflects the crisis that is our game in this country. Whilst Dunphy espouses the greatness of the English league our league is underfunded and poorly supported save for the fanatical few that love the game of soccer. I could get Con Murphy to run a few tapes of the young players throughout our league that Mr –Trap might learn from-it would be as good as anything Swansea city have produced. There you go---no doubt Dunphy has little interest in the huge amounts of money he pockets from spinning the English Premier league.Of course he unashamedly praises the great Irish fans--knowing many of them are resident Man utd -Liverpool supporters who favour the high stool, when watching soccer. So will the Irish fans wrestle the game back from the neoliberals-I doubt it mind you save that if they keep the ambitionless and ridiculous Trapattoni in charge the product might just drop in sales till eventually it is withdrawn altogether—Roy Keane was actually right all along!

Dogs of War

Ever since I was a small child I have had a rather ambivalent relationship with dogs—but in those days at least where I lived dogs were treated differently than the general pampering they get now. Back then the dog assimilated into the family—they ran wild around the streets growing benignly with children. The dogs around our place took on the general likeness of the family and sitting at the garden gate—they often appeared allegorically to express the personality of the family who owned them. All our dogs adopted the surnames of their owners thus we had Kim Young a likable little mongrel who changed personality once you got by the front doorstep—and we had Darkie Larkin who was dark and a great barker but you might only pet him once—if you valued your hand. We also had the never to be petted Spot Heffernan and another little thing called Patch White who was white and that seemed to fit perfectly. We used to play games by opening and shutting gates corralling our dogs like the cattle in the cowboy films. Alas perhaps my new found problem relates to an incident when I was about four whilst riding my tricycle and a neighbouring dog took a bite of my thigh as I rode by—it was a horrible invasive feeling to feel his teeth break my skin. Yet years later we got our own little dog –he was called Sam a delightful little cross between a sheep dog and some mongrel that had made it false promises. He was a great little fella full of tail wags and affection. Sam was really intelligent also if I brought him for a walk to Killiney beach he would stop suddenly and investigate what turned out to be my mother’s car parked at the dart station. Years later when I moved to new estate near my mother’s he would suddenly appear looking in the window whilst I watched television—he was really my brothers dog but he knew us and he loved and was loyal to us all. There is a problem though you see when my mother moved house all those years ago—Sam moved to his new environment without fuss—but he took an instant dislike to the postman and when the poor fella came delivering our letters Sam would growl-that deep doggy growl that we all know comes directly from the wolf. Whoever was close by might tell him to stop and laughingly tell the uncomfortable postman—'that he is grand really and he would never bite.' In that last passage of play lies the problem with dogs-and the main problem with dogs is the stupidity and selfishness of the dog owner. Dogs are no longer the child’s best friend who go exploring the world alongside their beloved companions—as described so often literature the dog that swam lakes-or disarmed thugs to save the kid—no now with the advent of neo-liberal social dogma,the dog has become an adult plaything. I am convinced people use then to replace some sort of lost emotion-and it is not hard to figure really considering that our sole purpose is to create wealth and if we can’t do that for any reason we become the runts of society. Men and women have adopted different attitudes to dogs with women favouring the smaller cuddly dogs they can dance with or put clothes on and see if they fit. Men prefer the hunting companion and they like a good hound—and whilst the boxer breed is still popular I detect a worrying trend in the arrival of the Alaskan Husky whom I am sure would be more at home in Alaska but there you go. So where is my problem with all of this I hear you scream everyone loves dogs and so what if you need a companion---how bad is that? Well let me explain I will leave the disgusting and dangerous amount of dog shit left on our pathways, fields, beaches and parks and other amenities to share with you the crucial point of my thesis which is true to my own personal experience. I had a heart-by pass when I was 46 in 2005—and luckily for me I made a decent recovery I had also been diagnosed with type two diabetes so exercise was suggested as a cure—or at least as a good way of keeping this horrible disease under control. So walk I did in what was my beautiful local park in Shankill—this is before I moved to West Cork. So off I went gradually building up my confidence from a short worrisome walk to really power walking which helped me both re-build my mental and physical strength—I got really good at this walking lark until I could walk a few km’s in a very reasonable time. I was doing really well the only problem I experienced was that for some reason one of the medications I was taking made sound seem a little distorted—it was uncomfortable to hear the loud screech of an engine—or a bird calling to another-sometimes a leaf falling from a tree would be more like the sound of a bowling ball than a leaf. You guessed it—then I went to war with dogs, a particularly nasty little black thing that lived in St Anne’s park took a partial dislike to me and a complete dislike to my recovery. He would come a barking and a growling as I heroically walked by—but then even worse a boxer dog who couldn’t understand how such a an undeserving specimen as I had survived open heart surgery had a go also—till I had to stop one day—frozen by a sudden and explicable fear. I asked the lady owner to control her dog and she then lazily and only half apologising at the interruption of my power walk, said casually, ‘She doesn’t like your hat!’ I spent sometime later wondering firstly about hats and then about dog owners and the way they form logic—how could a human know for sure what a dog is thinking—do dogs think in that way—why wasn’t the dog on a lead? There are signs up at all the entrances to Shankill park regarding leads—they hadn’t then but they have their own dog walking area now. I digress, I now have a mental image of people walking the stupid mutts in these enclosures—perhaps if they put the owners in the pens and allowed the dogs open and close the gate? Here in Courtmacsherry there are not the same amount of dogs as you get in urban areas—indeed when I lived here first time round I rarely met any dogs whilst walking. Although the footpaths in Cobh are fouled with dog excrement I didn’t have any major run in with dogs when I lived there. Recently while out the walkway I met a limping stray dog who came towards me with great speed and purpose—of course I stopped my power-walking and went rigid. However this dog whom I can only describe as a cross between a brown bear and an Alsatian, took a shine to me and on the way back to the village for once I got a chance to tell a local female dog walker that he was alright and that his bark was worse than his bite— and that he wasn’t about to devour her and the two whippets she walked. So the dogs of war—each day a small dog attacks me from the stable yard beyond the hotel—but it is the beach car-park where I have most problems. People pull in here and lazily sit in their cars. They then allow Fido piss and crap with impunity in what is one of our beauty spots—three times I have been barked at growled upon and chased by dogs there, and on the beach itself. Maybe only fellow survivors of open heart surgery will fully understand the extent of the anxiety these invasive attacks on the person causes. Perhaps only true dog-lovers really want this nonsense to continue where dogs are more valued than people, as all of this is a true account. A little dog came a growling and a biting recently as I chilled out. Feeling the wind blow across the waves in one of the most beautiful places on earth, rigid me called to the owner wondering why her dog wasn’t under control.You got it her reply referred once more to my hat—and I have now declared war on dogs and their owners.

The Evils of Democracy

I have been thinking about our sad little referendum and I search myself for answers as to why the majority of people voted the way they did. There are the obvious reasons like fear and greed –but are the yes voters anymore greedy or fearful than the no voters? By their action most of them are. Then if one studies humanity there are clues to be spotted—and as previously highlighted in my blogs the whole damn thing really comes down to whatever ideology a person indulges in. There is a huge movement in the USA—it is neoliberal Christian and right wing—it is also racist and anti-poor. These people look on welfare recipients as spongers and lazy—their ethic is to be hard working and rich—they also frown upon sexuality outside of the narrow frame of pro-creation,they are anti-womens rights and they are distinctly- anti gay. These people have inherited the world and they are spreading their poison across the Atlantic Ocean to a polling booth near you. They are aided and abetted by right wing politicians here who spread their neoliberal muck for them—people like Lucinda Creighton, Leo Varadkar---and Simon Coveney to name but a few. Fianna Fail have them also as do the Labour Party with their recent converts like Joan Burton and Eamonn Gilmore. Of course all is done by stealth if you asked anyone voting yes last week about neo-liberalism they would look at you incredulously and ask 'neo-liberal who?' So all stays fine for the pushers of this ideology as people won’t run unless they see the tsunami coming. Neo-liberalism comes gift wrapped in the form of economic sense versus the cloud cuckoo land madness espoused by the left. Whatever about the role that Christianity plays here [perhaps that is best left for another day]—democracy plays a leading role in this. Democracy is feted by the neoliberals basically because they can control it completely—as they own the media and if you own the media you have complete control. The lies and misinformation spouted leading up to the referendum were noting short of scandalous. Also the amount of bribery and the instillation of fear on the electorate was hugely decisive in raising the yes vote. 'People have fought wars and died for the right to vote,' is a quote one hears quite often, this is more neo-liberal nonsense as many of these said people were so poor that they fought wars for their political masters and the prospect of money—they had no ideology outside of this. Democracy is corrupted by the neo-liberal agenda and if you own everything you can convince the majority of people that what is blatantly wrong is good for them. If I present an issue to six people in a room—who are ignorant and the only source of information they can have is through channels that I control—all six will vote my way so what is so great about that system? The neo-liberals have control over mighty armies also—and if they feel threatened they will use them—they are at present restoring democracy to Iraq and Afghanistan they are on their way to Iran—anywhere they can victimise non-whites and non Christians they will. I sometimes wonder about it all—the fast cars and the nice clothes-the hard workers who can afford all of these things—remember these are people who get out of their beds in the morning—I wonder do they think of the unemployed father or the unmarried mother who live in some of their ideologically created ghetto’s? I doubt it as they work so hard for what they have-and they want this to be allegorically announced to the world. I am certain that in one stage of evolution people celebrated the end to autocracy—and neoliberals will tell us of mass murder and present the whole image as dark and dangerous—but the amount of humans killed both directly and indirectly by neo-liberalism is incalculable,how great our democracy is for the small few that control it!

Sinn Féins Joan of Arc

I hear the anguished cries of middle Ireland as they watch over the marching Sinn Féin with trepidation. One can almost feel the shudder, how could such a crowd of thugs and bank robber’s rise from the fires of hell—to debate equally with our respectable suited neoliberals, on important matters too like the European fiscal treaty. What is more they send out their Joan of Arc—Mary Lou and she spreads her venomous message across the clothes lines of Ireland, and even Pat Kenny has to take her seriously. The neoliberals present us with a successful business woman who knows how to balance books; she is suitably serious if not a little out of her depth with Joan of Arc eyeing her contemptuously. They also have Eamonn the radical Eamonn that once stood for the Workers party and then Democratic Left, these radical left wing parties that sold their souls and were annexed by the Labour party. Eamonn is not convincing as he constantly gives the impression that the line he is spouting is beyond his comprehension, government politicians are all guilty of this, it is like they are reading from a script but the information is passionless and second hand. Eamonn needs to attend more neoliberal night classes as he has not yet mastered the technique. Declan Ganley that grand warrior of the right who gets to appear on national television because he is wealthy plays a stormer mainly because he agrees with Joan of Arc to a degree, and if you have St. Joan on your side you are on a winner. I wonder why they don’t ask other Declans to go on, like maybe the Declan from the St. Vincent de Paul, or all the Declans or Deirdre's out there in community groups. Back to the poor old middle Irelanders the shuddering wrecks who imagine the Northern Bank funds been divided out at every mention of the shinners. These are the same people mind you who think it was alright for a sovereign government to sit back and allow its citizens be torched out of their homes, and also allow them be systematically cleansed from their traditional areas by sectarian bigots. There were like all wars atrocities committed by all sides during the war in northern Ireland, yet according to middle-Ireland it was the Shinners who were responsible for all of it, these same shinners that were feted by the partitionists during the good Friday agreement—but you see they didn’t see it coming at all, the shinners have a vibrancy and as Joan of Arc said, Sinn Féin have a wealth of experience in tough negotiations unlike our middle –Ireland friends who were more worried about our living standards, than the welfare of their fellow citizens during the war in the north. Personally my only worry about Sinn Féin is that they are not radical enough—and I can see them taking part in future coalitions and perhaps Joan of Arc will have transformed into Joan Burton—a nightmare scenario. If they possess any stealth like plan or suspicious underbelly this is it—the worries as expressed by the neoliberal middle-Irelanders don’t exist. If Sinn Féin are anything they are pragmatists and don’t be surprised if that daft republican party Fianna Fail get very cosy with them in time. So what of the Fiscal treaty itself—I think it will be a narrow yes vote based on the conservative nature of this society, going forward I doubt if it will make any real difference as events are constantly changing. I welcome the election of Hollande in France as some sort of dart in the arse of neoliberalism, and also it gives me some hope that the federated Europe we are heading towards may not be totally dominated by the right. As I have pointed out much of the far right stuff been pushed on the citizens of Europe is based upon ideology that is new to Europe and thus has that distinct second hand feel to it. Politicians this side of the pond don’t understand it fully so they sell it very poorly, and the people will not have continued austerity without a major battle. So folks you heard it here first a future Fianna Fail and Sinn Féin coalition and a United states of Europe I hear lots of sighs, but don’t begin to tell me that we are still a nation. I am afraid our nationality was stolen by outside forces a long time ago and our natural resources were gifted to wealthy interests at a terrible price for our citizens, we as a people have allowed this happen. Remember we don’t do ideology we do personality and we still admire entrepreneurs despite the austerity. But let us not despair as we still have Joan of Arc and that has to be worth something.

Taking the Bollix out of Bollixology

I have sorted it out in my head, and there is no need to worry about austerity or fiscal treaties or politics in general I have it sorted and in the end it was a very simple process. No longer will I need to sit up all night worrying about our future, my nightmares have been replaced by bouts of restful sleep full of twitting birds, and meadows awash with wild flowers. I have found the secret folks and it came upon me at 4.02 am this very morning, in an instant my life has changed, as I have found the key to unlock the madness and mayhem that surrounds me. If I was a mathematical person I would describe it as a simple formula one that can be applied to many things in life, but particularly when it comes to media and spin and our perceptions of same. This formula doesn’t require serious issues it works just as well with ordinary things, such as a visit to the shops. You are probably unable to contain your excitement so I will let you have it people it is the simple awakening that comes to all jaded men and woman at 4.02am after another sleepless night, the dawning realisation as to what is wrong with the world and how does one go about fixing it, well? We start with the very simple term ‘bollix,’ hah I hear, he is resorting to vulgarity not true my friends as when I complete the sentence you will see, ‘Taking the bollix out of bollixology.’ I will allow you a moment to digest the importance of this statement, and I will take a little of your time to explain from where the said term has come from, and how my mental state at 4.02am was just about perfect for this Eureka moment. We could just about take anything you wish but let us start with something ordinary, like do we really believe things like ‘every little helps,’ or that a certain supermarket chain want us to spend less, like why would they want us to spend less? It doesn’t make any sense, yet they actually use this in their advertisement. It is hardly crucial or important but all of this nonsense has to start somewhere, and in the early hours the mind ponders many a small matter and allows them a pride of place they hardly deserve. I guess there is a room somewhere where the practitioners’ of bollix from the school of bollixology make up their routines. These guys are so successful they can more or less make us believe whatever they want. They claim that a two party state which is the natural home of capitalism is an example of true democracy at work—this country fights war after war to inflict its brand of democracy on other societies. These victims are rarely white they are usually Asian,or African—or Arab in ethnicity. Thus they spread the great capitalist virus around the globe and boy are we seeing it now in the Eurozone. These people have managed to put the bollix into the European union also, what started out as an economic and social revolution has been annexed by the power of the capitalist markets to the extent that it has become dangerous. The school of bollixology have gone to great lengths to turn even the most innocuous event into a competition—the recent Tv3 debate on the forthcoming treaty is a classic example. The empire holds its games and in the most recent debate it was Martin and Coveney 2—Higgins and Mary Lou 0. But what were they scored on, certainly not ideology Higgins was berated for not answering a question that he wasn’t allowed answer. Joe Higgins is not great on TV people say, but that’s because he is not a performer Joe deals in ideology—Martin and Coveney deal in spin and rhetoric but according to the public they won—how is this or more importantly why is this? Of course the bollix goes well beyond political debates and it goes into every area of our lives—people just won’t face the truth, the choice is there to be made, do we want to be citizens of a nation or consumers in an economy? Are we willing to allow self serving political parties forge the future for us, or will we as citizens reclaim what is indeed ours—can we take the bollix from the bollixology.

Irelands Stolen Red Flag

When James Connolly died the Irish labour movement died with him. It can be argued that following the sacrifices made in 1916, that Ireland entered a crucial period in its history. As we moved forward two distinct models presented themselves, one of course was Home Rule and the other was to further the aims of the men and women of 1916 and seek an Irish republic.

Had Connolly lived there is little doubt that he would have fought on to achieve the Irish Republic but of course in Connolly’s vision this was to be a 32 county socialist republic. When one revises the history of the period it is little wonder that Irelands possible first leader a committed Marxist was tied to a chair in 1916 and shot---it is important to remind people that at this time Ireland was one of the poorest countries in Europe—and Dublin housed some of the biggest disease infested slums in the World. Connolly and Jim Larkin had led the workers in a vicious fight against the employers during the great lockout of 1913-14, Connolly founder of the Irish citizen army was as they say a marked man.

But what of his ideology can one imagine an Ireland where Connolly’s thesis had risen to the fore—how different a place we would live in now, of course our entire history would be different and if it were not in the light of what is taking place in Ireland today, it would be a fruitless exercise to even consider its implications.

Yet what concerns me as an individual and as a citizen of this state is the roaring question as to why within a supposedly democratic system did Connolly’s doctrine go unheard, or if heard then why unheeded. Historians may point to a very conservative church dominated society the very church who were persecuted in other socialist regimes, is it understandable that the church should have feared talk of equality and the individual taking a stake in the collective?

Again if one uses a casual revisionist approach could there have been any institution more totalitarian than the catholic church alright they didn’t take people out and shoot them [not in Ireland anyway.] but how many people suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of these clerics—to whom the state mindlessly handed over power in areas of health and education and in the area of imprisonment such as in the industrial schools.

Other reasons that Connolly thesis was ignored after his death was the advent of the Irish ruling class. There was always an Irish upper class whom were educated at the best schools either here or in England. These people saw themselves as the natural inheritors of fiscal power--they included both the catholic and protestant ascendency, and were mainly composed of professionals like lawyers and Doctors and medical consultants.

The war of independence made the option of home rule redundant and the watered down version gave us the Anglo Irish Treaty of 1921. As a result this was probably the only time in Irish history that ideology over pragmatism set the agenda---many on the republican side still believed in the all Ireland 32 county socialist republic—but shamefully and with the help and support of their former British masters the free state as it was now called, entered into a bloody civil war—whereby 3000, people were killed. In all wars there are atrocities carried out by all sides—but the systematic executions of over 77-republicans in 1922-23, tells its own tale.

So the new state evolved in the most divisive of circumstance but not on the grounds of ideology –the differences were easily categorised as one side yearning for a united Ireland and the other wanting to go with what was conceded and make a fight for it later—with this simplistic explanation many an Irish child passed through our educational system.

Nobody asked the relevant question what the hell happened to socialism or even social justice, the labour party minus a leader like Connolly became the conscience of the centre right—and Ireland grew as basically a two party state—both with centre right leanings and one which even had some far right elements in the mid – 1930’s.

The modern labour party under Eamonn Gilmore had an opportunity never before trusted on to the Irish left. After the last general election it had won the most seats to Dail Eireann in its history. Faced with a critical choice that was to enter government in coalition with the neoliberal Fine Gael—or align with fellow 'left wing' elected TD,’s and Sinn Féin and form a decent and noisy opposition to the criminal monetarism that is enslaving our citizens. They chose to enter government and I as a committed disciple of social justice wonder why?

Perhaps when we examine the labour party and seek to understand their motives we would best take a long hard look at ourselves. Who votes for labour is it the working person on low income who lives in social housing or who maybe is out of work and is actively seeking same—or is it the retired school teacher who started life modestly but now can sit back each morning with a copy of the Irish Times—and spout armchair socialism to anyone who might listen.

The labour vote has changed, and in essence labour is in fact representing those that voted for them by staying in coalition with the neoliberals. The average labour voter is middle-class or on the fringes of the merchant class—[By class I am not only referring to financial status but even more so to a specific mind-set]these people do not do ideology as they were not raised or educated to do so, they solely exist to maintain an acceptable standard, many of these people did come from humble origins—but it is not out of any loyalty to a miserable childhood that they vote labour over FF OR FG. They vote labour because they see no difference between the three and if there is no ideological difference then the only thing separating them is spin and personality.

We should take a long and hard look at ourselves we the citizen the inheritors of a state that was formed dubiously with outside influence from God knows where—we have arrived at a very difficult place and what we choose to do now, will have a major impact on our children and their children. I am not bowing to economics here but I am pointing to an examination of what it is we are—us the citizens of the Irish Republic what values do we hold—what is it that we cherish, are we willing to sacrifice things to create a more equal society.Are we willing to act like citizens within a state that in its definition is a collective for the common good. Or as this present government insists –are we going to promote individualism—greed, and base our prosperity on the volatility of the market place—the question remains and all that is left is our choice of ideology.

Enda Kenny's Ghost Writer Lacks Substance

There are some out there that think this government are doing a good job in what are extremely difficult times. These are people to whom the body of politics is still about personalities and localism they have no realisation that due to neoliberalism, politics is now global without personality, and very often devoid of substance.

Enda Kenny is the CEO of Ireland Ink [sic] self appointed I may add, as far as I knew he was Taoiseach of a very small country with around 4.5 million people—I wonder can he do both like be a Taoiseach and a CEO, at he same time. This is where the substance comes in—Enda Kenny has no qualifications or even experience to be CEO, of Ireland Ink, [sic], in fact what is he actually, he is just the leader of Irelands most right wing party- Fine Gael.

Enda is nothing if he is not dapper—he likes to pull up his pants before he sits down, straighten his blazer when he is standing, Enda is a fast walker immaculately groomed his stylists have him looking ten years younger than he is—this is learned political behaviour and learned from you guess where? That is right you are correct! The spin is in the appearance and the substance is unimportant.

Take his interview with Sean O’ Rourke at the weekend—the man is so busy he hasn’t time to make it to the studio to discuss the matters in question regarding Denis O’ Brien—the household tax, and the Fiscal treaty-leave all that to the hacks, this is the CEO-of Ireland Ink [sic] we don’t mix it with the rabble. So Sean respectful of your title O’ Rourke- interviewed the impeccable Enda on his own turf and entirely within the no substance agenda.

Enda of course had a bucket load of excuses about Denis O’ Brien and how he as CEO, of Ireland Ink [sic] wasn’t responsible for who was invited and who was not, he then waffled on about the household tax and the Fiscal treaty and he urged us all to put our differences aside and protect the generations to come by voting yes. On the jobs front he assured us that the entrepreneurs will deliver- and only as they can, the jobs will flow and the people will soon see the promised land. Sean reverential O’ Rourke didn’t ask him a hard question and that was it.

I wonder about all of this, and as I said recently in a tweet, that I always get the impression that Enda Kenny is speaking from a script rather than from the heart. It is like he is possessed by a Ghost writer who in a previous life wrote inspirational verse for gift cards. When one examines what Enda is actually saying, you come up with the awful realisation that he is saying nothing sustainable. His usual rant about entrepreneurs for example –what does this mean? Who are these people he refers to—are they waiting somewhere to be called to action.

Lets examine the substance, the Banks are still operating a credit embargo, and as the CEO admits there has been no progress on upward only rent review reforms. So let’s allow that Enda parts the Irish sea -and the entrepreneurial hordes are set free to create these illusive jobs, the conditions that Enda’s government have set for them are restrictive, and many would be slain and counted as statistics within the first two years, and any jobs created would drown with them. So what has this government achieved—well the austerity measures they introduced have deflated the economy, the measures they have put forward to aid their entrepreneurial crusaders are negligible- so what have we left ,more austerity because the country is spending more than it earns etc.

In summation Enda Kenny’s government should resign—they are a failure of epic proportions, they rely on one single element of economic stimulus that is to attract multi-national investment mainly from you know where? That’s right you have guessed correctly—this whilst providing some jobs only assists our economy rather than allows it to flourish.

Enda is redundant on plans outside of his Ghost writers brief—as leader of this state and not Ireland Ink [sick] he should be aggressively introducing action by the state in areas of job creation using the state owned sector in areas like forestry, fishing, agriculture and our natural resources, to assist in the growth of this economy.

State is the collective of all of us citizens—right now we need a CEO—like we need kick in the face, what we need is leadership-not lazy scripted words devoid of substance.

The Battle Rages But The War Has Still To Be Won [update]

The massive energy coming through the social media—where people are rallying against the household charge would be refreshing if it were not for the naivety exposed by those earnest lefties—that their fight against the might of neoliberalism is but a skirmish.
Boldly the protagonists wave the starry plough and throw insults and accusations against the suited politicians who represent an unaccountable—[at least in the short term] government. The government spokespeople who normally use RTE as their spin accomplice, dither and stutter to defend what they even admit is an unfair tax.

A neutral would be stupefied by it all the first question they might ask is why introduce an unfair tax—the ditherers would say because we have to, if we wish to keep services at a level that people are used to and expect. Yet this is in itself a complete lie—as funding can be sought and taken from a wide source of revenue options the fact that they have chosen the unfair tax route is simply down to ideology.

Here we go again ideology—now when am I going to learn that Irish politics has nothing to do with ideology—sure isn’t it all about fixing our road—or getting Johnny a job, but hey folks all you bearded lefties out there and I am referring to the women also, [joke] this is about ideology and if the only matter that is getting your fire lit is the household tax and a little bit of corruption then wait for the big stuff. At the moment you are only creating a skirmish in what is the undeclared World War three.

I am a lefty as well in case you are all worried and I am only growing a beard, but to my simple mind the fact that we have since the 50’s gifted our natural resources to private interests is the biggest shame and robbery of the Irish citizen—it is akin to every man woman and child in this country getting mugged. What do I hear about it very little—how would our angelic government ministers explain that to RTE -3000’ barrels of oil per day from the new Barryroe field-- and gas also, all going to private interests stealing from the citizens of this state. Surely that is a bigger issue than the household charge as to my mind it epitomises the corruption and the ruling class agenda in this country since the foundation of the state.

Getting back to World war three for a second—the ideological battles are raging right across the globe as we speak particularly within the Euro countries right now—whereby economic blackmail is used to subject citizens to the power of capitalism—and perhaps at its most sinister accuses the citizen of being wasteful and dishonest living above their means—and now these rigid fiscal measures are to be imposed not only as solution but also as retribution for wastefulness, for example those who responded to the phone call or letter from the bank offering them loans or properties abroad—etc.

Neoliberalism has many guises it propagates individualism at the expense of the collective—as the collective is bad for the select few but great for the citizen—however it holds all the aces and this is where the lefties should be careful about their strategy—midst all the screaming and shouting about the household charge, Fine Gael went up in the polls by 4 points. Why is this –the austerity saintly no-ideology party are getting more popular, yes you see because they own the spin machine and they have frightened the lives out of the middle-classes.

Throughout the history of our state—left wing collective type politics has been successful parked in the economic nonsense car-park—the idea of a country becoming as self sufficient as possible in relation to size and geography is sneered at, and branded as lunatic. Why? Because it means they might have to share not just wealth but power and democracy. Imagine an Ireland in control of its natural resources, as in fishing-agriculture-oil and gas, an Ireland where its citizens mattered and the infrastructural services to its citizens were paramount. The lefties should tread carefully and don’t inflate a skirmish into a battle, the war has just started, it will be long conflict, remember that this war is about ideology, as Brian Hayes said that income taxes may be increased if the household charge is defeated or deflated by non participation. Wow! Income tax increased like we might have to pay more according to our wealth and ability to pay—to provide for the very services his government are spoofing about, now we might have got him alright.

Neo Liberalism The Truth

It is a grand little country after all—where our austerity preaching politicians are feted as celebrities and people like Lucinda Creighton and Paschal Donohue come across as angels such is their innocence and horror if there is a mention of ideology or in their case codology.
The name of the whole game here is spin—because spin works and spin is politics—Paschal in particular likes to lecture you and I Mr and Mrs Joe citizen—that we are broke and Government are being forced to borrow money just to pay our public service bills—if he is good form he will throw in a bit about the nurses and the doctors, and social protection is another favourite.
Somebody should tell Paschal that Ireland has a long history of borrowing money from the markets to pay all of these bills—and the crisis began when we just couldn’t go back to the well anymore. The funds that we are using now come at a much lower interest rate-but perhaps the real problems we face is in what we have chosen to do with these funds, and what caveats were attached to us receiving this money. Paschal of course has no ideology at all he is as much for the worker as he is for big business in fact nobody in this coalition will admit to having ideology be it left or right.
Lucinda Creighton is well able to speak but she tends to get lost down blind alleys and often looks completely perplexed like the questions she is fielding are grossly unfair and bare no relevance to her daily experience in Fine Gael—the no ideology party. The new buzz word from the government is to tell us little citizens that we will march out of this crisis and it is only a matter of time before Enda Kenny parts the Irish Sea and the hordes of neo-liberal suited entrepreneurs are going to save us from this politically imposed austerity.
Little Joe citizen is asked to believe this patent nonsense like we are about to accept an apology from an aggressor who has dropped an atomic bomb on us by mistake—and then we put them in charge of clearing up the mess.
Let us look at the spin and the way it works and how they are managing to keep the stench of neo-liberalism away from our sensitive noses. There was a very important statement made by Joan Burton earlier this year where she referred to social welfare fraud and how successful the reporting of people who were thought to be abusing the system—was to the increase in detection of welfare fraud—she of course is using fraudulent figures herself in this area—as Michael Taft has so graphically enlightened us the figure is near to 26 million euro rather than the 600 million the government are spoofing about. Why do they do this—well it is spin and it is purposely done to paint those on welfare as been central to the current mess we are in.
If that hurts wait for this, do the government ever publish figures as to how much money would be saved if we were to implement the following—means test children’s allowance—and college grants—and state old age pensions. We Joe citizen will accept a fair threshold of income and correlated assets and anybody above this reasonable line will be deemed to be in no need of these benefits, so the money saved I suspect billions would be redirected to the poor and the needy perhaps into educating disadvantaged children.
There is no chance of this happening for those people who are wealthy enough to do without these state payments basically control politics in Ireland and they are fundraisers for Fine Gael etc, one does not cut off one’s own foot but are people who claim benefits that they don’t need, are they not defrauding the state?
Michael Noonan stood up and said it and I could not believe what I was hearing he is offering a 30% tax break to certain high value foreign citizens to come and live here and create loads of magical jobs now before you stop laughing I tell you he was very serious about this fairy-tale from fairy land. We must understand that not only do neo-liberals not do state or sense of nationhood they profess that the state has no role in job creation. This of course just means that the state has no role but to make the conditions favourable for entrepreneurs and foreign high value entrepreneurs at that. This from the no-ideology party who are whipping the poor and the vulnerable with austerity.