Political Road Movies
With resignations and reshuffles the order of the day in Dublin, the Irish Times' Miriam Lord gave some sage advice to aspiring TDs this morning, warning them that if Brian Cowen "dangles the keys of a Mercedes Benz under your nose, do not give in to base political impulse."
But, like Mr Toad in the Wind In The Willows, the lure of the automobile is too much for some politicians. Tomorrow Brian Cowen will hit the road for a high level meeting with his Stormont counterparts. As one wag put it "the Irish government were due to arrive in a coach, but now they might all fit into a mini".
Whilst the southerners head north, the easterners are driving west. Officials from Stormont are due to be at the University of Ulster's Magee campus tomorrow to meet voluntary and community groups from west of the Bann and to pass on practical tips about how they can get more involved with Stormont committee inquiries. MLAs from various western constituencies will be in attendance for a question and answer session.
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“Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has welcomed the setting of the General Election date. “Sinn Féin looks forward to the General Election campaign and to presenting our vision for Ireland’s future and our proposals for economic recovery to the people across the length and breadth of this State".
Maybe when Mr Cowen is talking to Stormont MLA,s they could remind him of the assemblies commitment on double jobbing as he would seem the only way he can get anyone to take up the posts vacated by his former ministers was to give the posts to his hangers on and hanging on they are.
The general election on 11 March will see a sea change in Irish politics.
Will the people vote for the continued cuts or will they side with Sinn Fein in scrapping the IMF aid, shutting down the Anglo Irish Bank, nationaliseing AIB and Bank of Ireland and establishing a wealth tax and new tax bands?
Eyes wide open but no sight of the Gaoler's Daughter Mr Cowen.
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1. At 9:25pm on 20 Jan 2011, eyeswideopen1 wrote:
The general election on 11 March will see a sea change in Irish politics.
Will the people vote for the continued cuts or will they side with Sinn Fein in scrapping the IMF aid, shutting down the Anglo Irish Bank, nationaliseing AIB and Bank of Ireland and establishing a wealth tax and new tax bands?
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If you scrap as you put it the IMF aid then you will loose the ECB aid and as such default in the public debt. The ramifications of which are too dreadful to even consider. For both bodies are interlinked with the package and one would not act without the other. There is also the fact that Ireland would then not meet the criteria for being a member of the Euro hence would be asked to leave. Once again another nail in the coffin.
With regards to the banks;
You can't just close a bank you would have to shift assets and compensate share holders and investors. This would cost a considerable amount. The running down of the bank which is what is happening already is the much better option.
Again to nationalise the other two banks would cost and if you did not offer compensation you would loose credibility and thus cut off your credit line which would make them worthless as a lack of credit would make their very existence pointless for they would be no more than a credit union.
With regards to tax I think there is a good reason for re visiting the tax bands, however the establishment of a wealth tax would have the reverse effect on the economy as those who would invest in the Irish economy would think again. The level of Irish tax on individuals is already high and crippling many normal people. Corporation tax should be looked at and brought into line with the rest of Europe.
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Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the MD of the International Monetary Fund recently said "Many nations saw the IMF as "the devil".
He is certainly right because for the past decade many have believed the stringent conditions imposed by the IMF when giving loans created more problems than solved. The IMF,s track record has been one of attacking the working class to preserve the ruling class wherever they have intervened. Ireland is only the latest to fall victim to their predatory manipulations.
As a condition for receiving loans, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank require countries to adopt austerity programs known as structural adjustment.
By agreeing to take on that debt, and sticking it to the Irish taxpayers who will be forced to accept various austerity measures to pay back that debt, Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen and Finance Minister Brian Lenihan sold Ireland and the hopes of the nation.
The priority of the new Dail must be to reverse those disastrous measures. The Irish government has offered the sovereignty of the state as collateral to the Bond markets this will be reversed. The stand we take here will have a direct bearing on the struggles of other peoples across the planet.
In the coming weeks Sinn fein will be putting its proposals to the Irish people and will be confident of receiving an enhanced mandate. Commentators have predicated Sinn fein as having 14 seats when polling close,s. This imposes a huge responsibility on those in positions of political leadership in Sinn Fein who will show as in the north that they will not shirk responsibility.
Voters in the south have fled en masse from the economic policies of the present Government. Sinn Feins popularity has risen from 6.9 per cent to 40 per cent in polls last week.
Already the establishment and some in the media have called the rise in following for Sinn feins alternative plans for the economic growth as a symbolic protest vote so watch in the coming weeks as this sort of language takes hold. Sinn fein has already called for those who expouse such rhetoric to join with them in building a new future for the people.
It really will be a battle a day. So I ask those who would read the attacks on Sinn fein in the coming weeks to look for the small print in any rambling views.
Eyes wide open and remember folks "Before you can begin to think about politics at all, you have to abandon the notion that there is a war between good men and bad men". Walter Lippmann
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3. eyeswideopen1
"Before you can begin to think about politics at all"
When one's choices become limited: One can do nothing; one can acquiesce; one can leave; or one can do one's best!!!
TAL
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3. At 8:52pm on 21 Jan 2011, eyeswideopen1 wrote:
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Quote from Mr. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement Nov 2010 on Ireland:
“I welcome the response from the European Union and euro-area Member States to the Irish Government's request for financial assistance to safeguard financial stability.
“At the request of the Irish authorities, the IMF stands ready to join this effort, including through a multi-year loan. An IMF team, currently in Ireland for technical talks, will now begin to hold swift discussions on an economic program with the Irish authorities, the European Commission, and the European Central Bank.”
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5. Chris London
"an economic program with the Irish authorities, the European Commission, and the European Central Bank"
I think there is a clause for re-negotiation post election???
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