Infastructural development the key to our development

[riven]

I hate the Hoover dam. But as much as I hate it I cannot but admire the engineering and opportunities such a development offered to America. Planned, built and completed around the great depression it offered an icon for America to behold.

While I would not advocate something as small as said dam for Irelands future, one certainly needs to advocate the kind of oppertunistic and positive thinking.

Consider the parallels. We are in a situation that could be compared to the great depression (except that many of us have food etc). Our economic prowess has been decimated and our ability to capatilise on foreign investment has been dimished.

So why not look to ourselves to develop our own strategies for survival and ultimately prosperity? In the coming years energy, food and water will be the key strategic resources on a world wide scale. Therefore Ireland must (as hard as it is) consider this depletion of our economic might as an oppertunity to change direction.

As a country we have vast resources in terms of renewable resources. To develop these we should sell our existing gas reserves (at a premium) and exploit our possible gas reserves.

We need to expand and exploit the renewable technologies (some of which are lead by expats) existing in other countries. Thereafter we need to assess these technologies and invent or exploit the improvements garnished from experience (and not from waffle knowledge economy).

Our agricultural position is secure. Consider that if Germany was growing at our rate their reserves of food (specifically due to water stress), it would run dry by 2025 (estimate). Yet we can afford to export approx 90% of our beef and yet still leave vast tracts of land go idle.

Finally water! Aside from its potential in producing power (tidal: expand!!!!!! forward osmosis start!!!!!) European counties are becoming extremely stressed in this regard. By harnessing our water, an economic model deployed on Earths most valuable and ignored resource could be developed. If you can pump gas from Russia, why not water from Ireland.

But underlying all of these or other such grand ideas is the need for infrastructure. We need to develop our transport systems outside of road transport. And not just human transport! How many of you have confidence in your water systems lasting for 20 years. Hell even Money point will probably run out of coal by then (electricity transport). At a time when public transport is the first to be cut, one can only shiver in despair. Quote the raven, forevermore.

Our future has to be looking to ourselves and excelling at our strengths. If we can produce 100 million Diaspora, why not a viable economy for 5 million?

[crocked]

I hate the Hoover dam. But as much as I hate it I cannot but admire the engineering and opportunities such a development offered to America. Planned, built and completed around the great depression it offered an icon for America to behold.

While I would not advocate something as small as said dam for Irelands future, one certainly needs to advocate the kind of oppertunistic and positive thinking.

Consider the parallels. We are not in a situation that could becompared to the great depression (except that many of us have food etc). Our economic prowess has been decimated and our ability to capatilise on foreign investment has been dimished.

So why not look to ourselves to develop our own strategies for survival and ultimately prosperity. In the coming years energy, food and water will be the key strategic resources on a world wide scale. Therefore Ireland must (as hard as it is) consider this depletion of our economic might as an oppertunity to change direction.

As a country we have vast resources in terms of renewable resources. To develop these we should sell our existing gas reserves (at a premium) and exploit our possible gas reserves.

We need to exploit the renewable technologies (some of which are lead by expats) existing in other countries. Thereafter we need to assess these technologies and invent or exploit the improvements garnished from experience (and not from waffle knowledge economy).

Our agricultural position is secure. Consider that if Germany was growing at our rate their reserves of food (specifically due to water stress) would run dry by 2025 (estimate). Yet we can afford to export approx 90% of our beef and yet still leave vast tracts of land go idle.

Finally water! Aside from its potential in producing power (tidal: expand!!!!!! forward osmosis start!!!!!) European counties are becoming extremely stressed in this regard. By harnessing our water, an economic model deployed on Earths most valuable and ignored resource could be developed. If you can pump gas from Russia, why not water from Ireland.

But underlying all of these or other such grand ideas is the need for infrastructure. We need to develop our transport systems outside of road transport. And not just human transport! How many of you have confidence in your water systems lasting for 20 years. Hell even Money point will probably run out of coal by then (electricity transport).

Our future has to be looking to ourselves and excelling at our strengths. If we can produce 100 million Diaspora, why not a viable economy for 5 million?

There is a simple reason we cannot do it... There is no money to do it with...

And don't even think about bringing in investors... (they have helped so much already)

[riven]

Of course we have the money. Our resources are serverly diminished in that regard but how did America or Japan get our out of their respective depressions? Investment in their own people and countries.

[Ah Well]

There is a simple reason we cannot do it... There is no money to do it with...

And don't even think about bringing in investors... (they have helped so much already)

Yes they have two options to get cash to do this which they presently do not possess;

1. Off to the EU again with the begging bowl - doubt that will work for some reason

2. Tax the lot of us even more with some sort of stealth tax ... maybe call it Tarmac Tax or something like that

[20000miles]

Of course we have the money. Our resources are serverly diminished in that regard but how did America or Japan get our out of their respective depressions? Investment in their own people and countries.

No they didnt. Japan spent 100 trillion yen on 'investment in their own people and country'. All that did was keep zombie companies, which werent in line with consumer preferences, open.

[junketman]

I have thought about this argument for spending on big infrastructure projects and like most things about this government, the more you think about it, the more you begin to doubt it.

I am not saying the government should cut back on what it is currently spending on capital projects, absolutely not, it should maintain what it plans to spend.

However it shouldn't increase spending and see increased spending on infrastructure as the solution to the country's ills. You could spend a billion on an infrastucture project and only create a 1000 jobs. Or you could use that billion to support and lend money to smes and cut corporation tax and you probably would save 50,000 jobs. Were-ever the money saves most jobs in the short term is where it should be spent and not say that building infrastucure will help us when the upturn comes. Its up to us as a country to lead the upturn by saving jobs.

Spending money on infrastructure for the upturn is a good soundbite and is in line with the other nonsense about a smart economy, all pie in the sky of course. this government is good on soundbites, but rubbish on real policies. We need today and tomorrow to support businesses in trouble and not wait until they all go out of business and we need to get consumption going again, no matter what the left wing (and FF) loonies think about the evils of consumption.

[riven]

Japna is the world leader in technology and industry developed from a situation in the 90's which was as dire if not more so than our current climate.

Further I am not just advocating infastructural projects. I am suggesting that we need to build economic abilities which will ultimately revolve around our infastructure. Without infastructural increase and development, we can expect more of the same short to medium term foreign investment. Ferenka, Krupts, Dell, Pfizer, Boston Sci, Sandos... I am sure pesimists can extend this list indefinately.

[shmuck]

Japna is the world leader in technology and industry developed from a situation in the 90's which was as dire if not more so than our current climate.

Japan is also the world leader in rates of suicide directly because it's economy has been a disaster for the past 15yrs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suicide_in_Japan

[needle_too]

Infastructural development the key to our development

Another rearview-mirror solution.

Ireland had 10-12 years of 'boom' and singularily failed to update the infrastructure.

You voted for FF again last year now live with the consequences.

No they didnt. Japan spent 100 trillion yen on 'investment in their own people and country'. All that did was keep zombie companies, which werent in line with consumer preferences, open.

Japan tried to boost their economy by dropping rates to almost 0% and flooding the markets with money. No one in Japan wanted to borrow so the money was loaned out abroad.
US and European banks borrowed Yen at very low rates and loaned it to western consumers. This was one of the main reasons for the boom of the last 10 years; this is where the cheap money came from.

[riven]

South Korea is ahead as are many ex soviet counties. However I have to agree the extent of suicide is worrying (2007 30,000+).

But exactly what has this go to do with infastructural devlopment of Ireland?

BTW rates are dropping and cultural background only serves to promote this attitude. If failure were a reason for suicide in ireland, one could argue that anarchy would roam the streets.

Stay on topic.