IMF Report on Ireland

[sarahj]

What is a smoked salmon socilist?

A middle class socialist. He thinks it's funny and thinks somehow that my views are determined by my high position in life (not that I have one or anything!)

Surely the fact that I don't live in poverty and support socialism for philosophical and practical reasons makes my position stronger rather than weaker though.

[theoutsider]

That is some very selective reading of the report. As reports of this kind go it is about as critical of the government as possible.
While they may agree with the government on the broad outline of NAMA they completely disagree on the details particularly the pricing of the loans, how they are paid for and nationalisation pre NAMA. And most importantly they the cost will be €35BILLION! The goverment doesn't even have an estimate!

Well there have always been selective reading of reports ... remember Albert Reynolds being vindicated in the Beef Tribunal?

Back on topic, the IMF is heavily critical of FF lead governements for the last few years aand more so when you consider the report is couched in diplomatic language.

NAMA could well be the vehicle that brings the IMF in here so I'm guessing their critism is a shot across the bows of Ireland inc.

[Cato]

sarahj ZANU-FF hack

spin your lies eleswhere sarah

how's the traffic on Mount Street?

Good sir, I think that you may not have read many of Sarahj's posts....

She's defiantly not FF.

[atlantic]

A Utopian Socialist?

Good sir, I think that you may not have read many of Sarahj's posts....

She's defiantly not FF.

[sarahj]

Back on topic, the IMF is heavily critical of FF lead governements for the last few years aand more so when you consider the report is couched in diplomatic language.

NAMA could well be the vehicle that brings the IMF in here so I'm guessing their critism is a shot across the bows of Ireland inc.

And then the IMF can pull their old shennanigans of getting rid of our public services which will increase GDP through allowing private companies to profit off them (but reduce quality and access). They'll try to get us to bring in further tax cuts for corporations (if its even possible) to boost competitiveness. They'll impose budget restrictions which will inhibit us from paying for public services which may end in a public health crisis like the one in Eastern Europe with TB.

And the funny thing about it all is that the IMF will draw attention to the property bubble etc, but not to the other more neoliberal policies like privatisation and low tax rates which the Irish Govt themselves imposed, as the ultimate cause of our downfall.

Of COURSE our economy was bound to get worse when we were relying on low CT and wages for our economic growth by attracting FDI with them, but the result of the FDI was to increase wages. Of COURSE the companies were eventually going to leave when GDP growth caused wage growth. And of COURSE there would be nothing we could do as our CT is already at rock bottom.

[Clanrickard]

Neo-liberalism's central values are free markets and free trade - both of which are pushed by the IMF and who's influence has incrased in Ireland over the past years. The privatisation of our resources and our public services is the best example of neoliberalism that there is.

Free trade is a prerequisite of any civilised country. To deny it is to deny freedom. From whom I buy and what I buy is my decision. Countries that chosen to deny this have failed. eg Soviet Union

Benchmarking HAD to be introduced to keep the public servants on side. Unions and their work have little to do with the type of economic system we have and are a natural occurence in any society. Solidarity between workers happens naturally.

They were well paid as it was. They are paid higher than other countries in the EU.

Exactly...they insist that poor, indebted countries with poor, indebted citizens cut their services and wages to allow free trade for the rich.

You borrow money from someone they are entitled to demand conditions. If these conditions are unacceptable don't borrow. Well run countries don't need to borrow.

No we don't. There are many other solutions which include different tax systems and renationalising our resources - both of which exist in a free trade friendly format at the moment. .

Most people are over taxed as it is. Once you pass a tipping point they won't pay more because they won't be able to do so.

[121.5]

And then the IMF can pull their old shennanigans of getting rid of our public services which will increase GDP through allowing private companies to profit off them (but reduce quality and access). They'll try to get us to bring in further tax cuts for corporations (if its even possible) to boost competitiveness. They'll impose budget restrictions which will inhibit us from paying for public services which may end in a public health crisis like the one in Eastern Europe with TB.

And the funny thing about it all is that the IMF will draw attention to the property bubble etc, but not to the other more neoliberal policies like privatisation and low tax rates which the Irish Govt themselves imposed, as the ultimate cause of our downfall.

Of COURSE our economy was bound to get worse when we were relying on low CT and wages for our economic growth by attracting FDI with them, but the result of the FDI was to increase wages. Of COURSE the companies were eventually going to leave when GDP growth caused wage growth. And of COURSE there would be nothing we could do as our CT is already at rock bottom.

And then the IMF can pull their old shennanigans of getting rid of our public services which will increase GDP through allowing private companies to profit off them

???

And what have FF been doing with the Health Service? Havent you heard of 'co-location' ?

The things you fear and complain of have been happening for the last 10 years before your eyes.

The IMF is not the enemy of the Irish Public, ZANU-FF are.

[sarahj]

???

And what have FF been doing with the Health Service? Havent you heard of 'co-location' ?

The things you fear and complain of have been happening for the last 10 years before your eyes.

The IMF is not the enemy of the Irish Public, ZANU-FF are.

Have you read my second post above? I agree with you.

See from "and the funny thing is that..."

[sarahj]

Free trade is a prerequisite of any civilised country. To deny it is to deny freedom. From whom I buy and what I buy is my decision. Countries that chosen to deny this have failed. eg Soviet Union

That’s an ideological assumption, not a proven fact.

Countries like Argentina that have imposed neoliberal policies have failed. The IMF admitted this themselves.

They were well paid as it was. They are paid higher than other countries in the EU.

That may be the case, but I very much doubt that nurses in Ireland have higher purchasing power than all other EU countries. On top of that, you’re making an assumption that the other countries have wage levels right. They may not.

You borrow money from someone they are entitled to demand conditions. If these conditions are unacceptable don't borrow. Well run countries don't need to borrow.

That’s another ideological assumption.

And it is not the citizens that borrow the money, it is the leader. So why should those on social welfare and in lower paid PS jobs suffer, as well as all of our public services

Most people are over taxed as it is. Once you pass a tipping point they won't pay more because they won't be able to do so.

[/QUOTE]

I’m not talking about income tax as you well know.

[sarahj]

A Utopian Socialist?

Perhaps.

If so, you're a utopian capitalist.