Madam, – We have long known that the current Government has been morally bankrupt. We have recently discovered that the State is in danger of becoming financially bankrupt. Yet what is more dispiriting in these times of crisis is the total bankruptcy of ideas evident across the whole political elite in this land of secular superstition.
While the US and Britain – the erstwhile cheerleaders for the oxymoronic mantra of “free markets” – conspicuously recant the dogmas of Thatcher and Reagan, the Irish political elite and commentariat stay stuck in the same old rut. We must “balance the books” (now that we can no longer cook them). We must raise taxes and cut spending, now that we can no longer raise profits and cut deals with corporations and construction magnates. This is the banal wisdom of accountants, now that the opportunity for their famed creativity has gone.
Is there nobody around to tell the Government that a fiscal crisis is not an economic crisis? And that their “solution” to the former is to fan the flames of the latter? Perhaps while the carcase of the Celtic Tiger is being quietly buried, someone, somewhere might have the audacity to suggest disinterring the remains of John Maynard Keynes? It won’t produce any miracles of course – to the chagrin of those who believe in economic magic. But it may just be enough to blunt the shovel of the grave-diggers and buy some time for fresh ideas to emerge and gain an audience.
Somebody, somewhere, after all has to tell Cowen, Linehan and Co the first rule of what to do when in a hole – stop digging! If they don’t - as is most likely – there will at least be the consolation of knowing the side walls will collapse upon them, burying them and their ilk along with the fortuitous accident that was the Celtic Tiger.– Is mise,
SEÁN L’ESTRANGE,
School of Sociology,
University College Dublin,
Belfield, Dublin 4.
Madam, – As the Government prepares to inject €7 billion into the two biggest banks, Allied Irish and Bank of Ireland, under the recapitalisation scheme, the question I want to ask is: are the banks themselves prepared to see how they can streamline and rationalise their structures at the top level in these recessionary times?
I am thinking in particular of the practice of awarding political pensioners directorships of banks and other companies.
We have former taoisigh, former tánistí, former ministers — all on good Government pensions — now receiving these extra rewards. Why? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – On first thinking of this letter last week I intended suggesting a process that might give the Government enough credibility to govern in these difficult times. It would have been based on an old-fashioned and currently undervalued religious rite.
The first step would be a detailed confession of sins and offences of both commission and omission over the past 12 years. The second would entail some act of contrition stemming from an attitude of genuine sorrow for the Government’s part in the country’s present difficulties.
The third step would require evidence of a purpose of amendment, which might best be signalled by restoring the Freedom of Information Act to its former glory, or instituting transparent processes for appointments to State boards. The fourth would include some acts of public penance such as salary cuts of at least 40 per cent for politicians, a cap on politicians’ expenses, and the reduction of ministers of State to half their present number.
Sadly, I think it may now be too late for all this to be effective. Continuing the same religious analogy, it may now be time to prepare the funeral service for this beleaguered Government. The remaining question is: who will perform the last rites? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – We are where we are, so we all need to take it on the chin, step up to the plate and put our shoulders to the wheel going forward. – Yours, etc,