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Yes: We're Going To Do What They Told Us

category national | eu | opinion/analysis author Friday June 01, 2012 20:00author by D Martyn Report this post to the editors

Fiscal Treaty passed with 60% majority

Like lambs to the slaughter the Irish people ratified the Fiscal Stability treaty by a yes vote of 60.3%. Even members of the parties advocating the yes vote admitted fear and confusion were among the reasons why Irish people gave into the demands of the government. As they threw around buzz words such as stability, growth, investment and threatened a harsher budget if the treaty wasn’t ratified, it’s no surprise their school yard bully tactics won out.

There’s only so much sympathy you can have for a nation who keep asking for punishment and allow the government and bankers to dictate to them. It’s one thing not taking to the streets to protest but when given a chance to change the course of a lifetime doomed to austerity and still not taking it, you have to think we only have ourselves to blame. With only half the nation bothering to vote the other 50 per cent have given up their right to complain.
There was little worry in Germany during the week as they correctly assumed we would do as we’re told. It is hard to shake the meek schoolchild inside that’s been conditioned to say yes to authority, yes teacher, yes Fr.,yes Taoiseach, yes , yes,yes!!! Just like the meek schoolchild the government had the people in the perfect weakened position to exert control over them.
They preyed on the fear and vulnerability of people already suffering severely from the governments’ previous actions. The government’s main argument being the treaty will provide stability and access to the ESM if we need it. What they didn’t focus on were the details surrounding this.
We have to contribute €11 billion to this in various forms of capital. In addition monies can be requested at any time and must be delivered within 7 days.
Conditions of the treaty mean the maximum structural deficit we could have is 0.5% of GDP. The Department of Finance estimates that in 2015, Ireland will have a structural deficit of 3.7%. In order to get that down to the required 0.5% they would have to cut spending by €5.7 billion.
The rules on structural deficits will be written into national law and will provide a proposed “correction mechanism” if they are not being fulfilled. If this is not done the issue will be referred to the Court of Justice and fines of up to 0.1% of our GDP can be imposed.
So how are we going to manage to stick to this agreement when we are already repaying interest on the first bailout and suffering cuts and increased taxes?
By suffering more cuts and increased taxes.Despite what the government seem to believe austerity and growth are in direct conflict with each other. To put it in simple terms for Mr. Kenny if you have a rope and you keep cutting it very soon there won’t be enough left to tie a noose. By writing austerity into law we are dictating economic policy for governments’ to come, who forever will be at the mercy of Europe.
So as the Taoiseach patronisingly thanks the people of Ireland for voting yes, commending the “understanding and pragmatism of the Irish people”,he can lighten the load he’s been carrying around and pass responsiblity on to Europe. Ensuring the nation they will follow Europe’s good houskeeping rules to ensure stability and growth, Kenny is in the position he likes best, a puppet on Europe’s string. He doesn’t have to stand up and take responsibility. He can play the meek schoolchild role as Europe tell him how to budget and all he has to do is say yes sir how much?

 #   Title   Author   Date 
   Irish people bend over once again for their lords and masters....     lefty    Sat Jun 02, 2012 00:54 
   some localised left influence     old dog on the road    Sat Jun 02, 2012 01:12 
   '..large abstention..'     opus diablos    Sat Jun 02, 2012 10:37 
   "Common Dreams"     W. Finnerty    Sat Jun 02, 2012 11:58 
   indeed , indeed ,indeed     The puppeteer    Sat Jun 02, 2012 15:12 
   more lies more spin..     anotherlamb    Sat Jun 02, 2012 15:38 
   the easily led and fooled sheeple need more pain and punishment     baa baaa    Sat Jun 02, 2012 16:25 
   Good point     The puppeteer    Sat Jun 02, 2012 16:39 
   those who have it good are not min wagers or sw welfare ..     anotherlamb    Sat Jun 02, 2012 17:11 
 10   and more alcohol     anotherlamb    Sat Jun 02, 2012 17:16 
 11   responses     The puppeteer    Sat Jun 02, 2012 19:10 
 12   sick of fatcats ripping us off. lets have some austerity there now     Poor person    Sun Jun 03, 2012 07:56 
 13   Cost of petrol     Contrarian    Sun Jun 03, 2012 17:49 
 14   BIG question..     opus diablos    Sun Jun 03, 2012 18:53 
 15   No need to ramble off the point     Contrarian    Sun Jun 03, 2012 19:32 
 16   "... until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."     W. Finnerty    Sun Jun 03, 2012 19:33 
 17   '..ramble off the point...'??Contra..     opus diablos    Mon Jun 04, 2012 08:54 
 18   Never doubt, and never give up ...     W. Finnerty    Mon Jun 04, 2012 10:39 
 19   @ opus     Contrarian    Mon Jun 04, 2012 15:54 
 20   sorry mr rarian...     opus diablos    Mon Jun 04, 2012 20:41 
 21   high fuel tax is anti jobs. And It just goes to banksters and FG/labour inflated wages     poor person    Tue Jun 05, 2012 10:52 
 22   @poorperson     anotherlamb    Tue Jun 05, 2012 16:19 
 23   no need for politicians. they are now superfluous overpaid window dressing     poor person    Tue Jun 05, 2012 19:49 
 24   The "Money Power" needs to be replaced by "People Power" ...     W. Finnerty    Wed Jun 06, 2012 09:08 
 25   Learning to become aware of the dangers of the "Iago"s of this world ...     W. Finnerty    Sun Jun 17, 2012 10:24 
 26   I think...     opus diablos    Sun Jun 17, 2012 14:20 
 27   There is far too much political power in the hands of psychopaths at the present time ...     W. Finnerty    Mon Jun 18, 2012 09:37 
 28   "Money Power Psychopaths and C-PTSD injuries caused by government crime ..."     W. Finnerty    Wed Jun 20, 2012 13:35 
 29   Support for "Glass–Steagall" type solution appears to be growing ...     W. Finnerty    Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:13 
 30   The problem is that Corporation have more rights than real people     ACP    Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:57 
 31   corporations need to be declawed urgently...     ecocide    Fri Jul 06, 2012 13:19 
 32   The US Federal Reserve Act of 1913     W. Finnerty    Fri Jul 06, 2012 14:18 
 33   "Libor (London Inter Bank Offered Rate) Scandal Reflects a Cesspool of Financial Fraud"     W. Finnerty    Mon Jul 09, 2012 08:36 
 34   'The business model..     opus diablos    Mon Jul 09, 2012 14:19 
 35   "The Fed and Treasury Want US Taken Over by the British! Traitors!"     W. Finnerty    Fri Aug 10, 2012 08:59 


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