Lenihan to tour Europe:"amazing that no riots here":will it restore our reputation ?

[Cael]

I think the middle class are unconsciously counting on the young people emigrating, as they always did in the past, so they have no real sense of what they acually face - given that there is no-where for the yong people to emigrate too. Ireland hasnt faced the reality of a huge unemployed urban youth before - and its a youth that has been brought up to believe that their whole self worth depends on the amount of money they have. Thats also something that never existed in Ireland before.

[Digout]

I think the middle class are unconsciously counting on the young people emigrating, as they always did in the past, so they have no real sense of what they acually face - given that there is no-where for the yong people to emigrate too. Ireland hasnt faced the reality of a huge unemployed urban youth before - and its a youth that has been brought up to believe that their whole self worth depends on the amount of money they have. Thats also something that never existed in Ireland before.

This is very true, its the young middle class that will kick the rage off.

[Cael]

Well, it looks like the riots have started.

[myksav]

Well, it looks like the riots have started.

Oh? Where? Link would be nice.

Unless you're just blowing.

[Utopian Hermit Monk]

"What? No riots? You have disgraced yourselves again..."


.

[Cael]

Oh? Where? Link would be nice.

Unless you're just blowing.

It seems tonight in Dublin inner city we have had a group of free trading capitalists attacking an oppressed working class community. Imagine that happening in Ireland?

[toxic avenger]

I think the middle class are unconsciously counting on the young people emigrating, as they always did in the past, so they have no real sense of what they acually face - given that there is no-where for the yong people to emigrate too. Ireland hasnt faced the reality of a huge unemployed urban youth before - and its a youth that has been brought up to believe that their whole self worth depends on the amount of money they have. Thats also something that never existed in Ireland before.

People will still leave and take their chances elsewhere, just as they did in my parents' time, even with a downturn everywhere else. For one, it isn't as bad in most places as it is here, much of continental Europe didn't descend into an orgy of spivvery like we did and are now much better able to emerge from this in quicker order (we're in the abyss, and yet I still hear f*cking dipsh1t pinstripe morons who worshipped with the right-wing property, asset-stripping, and deregulation cult, saying 'the Celtic Tiger will come roaring back' - honestly heard that today). I also know many people who have emigrated to Australia already, they don't care whether it's just as bad, it's sunnier, more open, and they'll take their chances. So the reckless ponces who gambled us into this hole can sleep easy (not that most of them weren't anyway, they made enough money from asset-stripping hedge funds and gambling others' money on property to see them safely through), the safety valve is still in place...

[clonycavanman]

Most other countries are not in a similar boat, we are in a perilously bad situation precisely because we almost uniquely put so much of our economy in the hands of property speculation..

That is the point. The Government were on the bridge of the ship of state [when it hit the debt iceberg with massive loss of savings and inadequate investment in lifeboats]. There is no-one else to blame. It won't do to blame 'world economic conditions'. Minister Lenihan is boasting to other countries of his population's tolerance of failure.

The Government should have known to diversify our economy during the boom years. How many exportable, patentable, possesed-of-intellectual-property-rights, developments/industries were developed in the agricultural sector in last 20 years? Shouldn't that have been a concern to a responsible government, making an enormous investment in agriculture over many years?

[An Gilladaker]

their will be no riots the european rapid action force are on standby all rioters will be rendered to a secret polish prison

[slx]

Well, I think the main reason there have been no riots is that the Government hasn't actually implemented very many harsh cuts so far. They're waiting until after the local and european elections.

The UK Government's even worse, and is waiting for the impending General Election in 2010 while maxing out the national credit card to unprecedented levels.

I would actually be more worried about the UK ending up as an IMF case than Ireland at this stage. Brown's clueless and locked into believing his own spin and trying to buy an election through massive borrowing. He's making our wonderful Tainiste sound like an economic genius!

Also, Ireland does actually have the advantage of a more democratic outlet than quite a lot of other countries. We can usually give them a kick in the ballot box. Or, go down and shout at a TD.

France, home of the street riot, for example, comes from a history of having a quasi-presidential system in which, until quite recently, there was a 7 year term for an executive president. It's no wonder they had to resort to street protests, there was no way of booting these guys out of office.

Historically, Ireland's had an ability to boot a Government out of office if things get really bad, without having to resort to street riots.

So, fingers crossed, when things do get bad, Lenihan, Biffo and the lads will know when to to call it a day. Otherwise, there will be riots!