First, a brief aside. I expunged a comment this morning, something I rarely do. It was from William, who occasionally visits this blog-site and takes an anti-repubican position. I have put up quite a few of his comments, as I’d like to think this is a an open forum and one that encourages debate. However, I expunged William’s comment as it largely consisted of abuse. I simply amn’t going to allow low abuse to mix with sincere views, whatever those views may be or what position the writer may take. I also won’t put up material that I judge to be libellous, for obvious reasons. So if you’re thinking of indulging in either undiluted abuse or libellous claims, you are literally wasting your time.
Phew. That’s that off my chest. Now to this morning. I had a brief chat with a Cork taxi-driver and then I read an article about the US. They were, oddly, related.
My taxi-man discussion began when I asked him if there were signs of recovery from the recession in Cork. His answer surprised me: there never was a recession in Cork, he explained. There are apparently plenty of jobs advertised in the local paper but the people who could take them up don’t , because they are too lazy and would rather lie in their beds.”There’s a lot of them getting far more not working than they would working”. It seems that there are a lot of bed-lie-ers in Cork city.
After our taxi-driver had dropped us at Cork railway station, assuring us he’d got us to our destination in good time to catch the 8.20 am train, we disembarked and went in search of tickets. Alas. Our taxi driver might have decided to get out of bed but he’d equipped himself with some shaky information for visitors. The next train was not 8. 20 am but 9.20 am.
That left me lots of time to read what the incomparable Perkin Warbeck describes as The Unionist Times (TUT). My eye was drawn to an article by Nobel Prize-winning journalist and academic, Paul Krugman. It was headed ” ‘Lazy ‘ Americans will have to work even harder if Bush wins”. The figures show that Americans at present work almost 30% more hours than their German counterparts, but Republican candidate Jeb Bush has declared that Americans “need to work longer hours, and through their productivity,gain more income for their families”.
This notion Krugman says is the “nation of takers” dogma, which insists that “a large number of Americans, white as well as black, are choosing not to work, because they can live lives of leisure thanks to government programmes”. If Bush gets elected, Krugman figures, “the laziness dogma will rule public policy”.
In my experience there are two kind of people adopt the laziness dogma. The first is those who have never had to go looking for a job in their lives and enjoy a comfortable living. The second is those who have come from relatively deprived background and have now made it, and so conclude anyone can do what they did.
It’s odd how tenacious this “nation of takers” dogma is. I clearly remember it being articulated some sixty years ago and with the same energy and conviction. For such people recessions and dips in the economy are things that exist only in the minds of lazy tossers, who’d rather stay in bed and scratch their backsides, all the while ignoring the plethora of employment beyond their bedroom door.
Will I tell you something: there are some people so obtuse, it would take a surgeon’s saw for an idea to penetrate their skull.
Jeb Bush may have said that he wants his people to work longer hours to improve the lot of their families.
But knowing the Republican neocons the only reason they want their people working longer and paying more taxes is so they can continue to wage war wherever and whenever they see fit – and morality has nothing to do with it.
Saw an item on Russia Today that in Afghanistan alone it costs the American military $4mn dollars per hour for that campaign. Add to that what it costs to run all their other campaigns, overt and covert, in other countries and if you add it up you will see expenses that no mere mortal can even comprehend.
And these covert operations do not only take place in ‘unfriendly’ countries.
Some time ago, when our peace deal was still in the negotiating stages a friend brought an American visitor to join our group chatting a club.
This visitor was very friendly and personable, but curious about everybody’s opinions on all aspects of our troubles. It transpired he was CIA – so I don’t think he just came to NI for a holiday!
America’s military tentacles spread worldwide, and expense is the least of their problems.
I have to be careful now Jude!
Are there people out there who point blank refuse to work?
I think we know the answer to that.
However an interesting aside to argument is this do you think that any employers would wish to employ these people?
Once again I think we know the answer to that question.
Should you get more money on benefits than from a paying job?
The answer in my opinion is obviously not..
What we need to do is get people of benefits and into jobs which not only helps society but also families as it sets a good example to their families.
Do I think its reasonable that people should sit at home and have larger families whilst those out working can only have smaller families due to lack of money I don’t believe that is fair either.
At long last a Government is beginning to fix the welfare issue and in the long tem we should be grateful
No Neill let’s not be careful
You are pissed off because there are loads of people picking up large benefit cheques
while having lots of sex (that is where large families still come from?) in between visits to
the Pub and the Bookies’. while you work hard earing your bread, paying your taxes and
keeping the economy ticking over.. ..??
Jude
“It’s odd how tenacious this “nation of takers” dogma is. I clearly remember it being articulated some sixty years ago and with the same energy and conviction.”
You were obviously a very alert and socially aware Five Year Old.
But seriously Jude, it was a common response, and probable belief of Unionists, “Catholics don’t want to work, they would rather laze about and live on the dole” when questioned about poor/nonexistent job provision in mainly Catholic areas. Also Catholics don’t want new houses they prefer to live in a hovel with no toilet or running water.
The advances of the Catholic in education and prosperity in recent years have a lot of them troubled and confused, but Can’t be down to dedication and hard work, much safer and reassuring to believe in the old reliable Sellout/Papish Plot.
`I’ve come across the mindset of the Cork taxi-driver on many occasions….This plethora of jobs alluded tot always ,if found, offer minimum wage ( in reality it’s always the MAXIMUM money you’re ever going to get ) and usually working anti-social hours on a zero hour contract that no sane person would touch. My socialist leanings make me believe that if Cameron thinks he’s worth £2000 per week then the man keeping the sewers working is entitled to the same after all they’re both working with the same material.
The Confederation of British Industry is already pouring cold water over George Osborne’s legislative proposals to introduce a national living wage in 2016. According to the CBI, legislation does not reflect businesses’ ability to pay the proposed increase. The Office for Budget Responsibility has warned that up to 60,000 people could lose jobs if employers have to bear the cost of the living wage. The Prophets of Doom concerned about their profits tend not to be concerned about paying millions of pounds to speculators, moneylenders or to ‘influencers’ and ‘fixers’ in this part of the world.
“Should you get more money on benefits than from a paying job?
The answer in my opinion is obviously not.”
Neill, here’s a better question;
should employers be allowed to underpay their work force less than what is needed to sustain normal living standards?
Intriguing to find, Esteemed Blogmeister,that you opted for Cork as your kill-joy destination of choice south of the Border to avoid the jocular jamboree of Orange Day..
And that you did not give de People’s Republic a wide berth on your birthday.
‘Dowtcha, boy !. as the guzz-eyed langers on Pana of Leeside are given to greeting..The ones, dat is, dat don’t give you a dawk for looking crooked,like.
A number of words and names from the blog pulled a few triggers – William, recession Jeb Bush and taximan, amongst other.
It was another Omagh man, Jimmy Kennedy, who once propelled Perkie’s inner shaughraun to head south of a different border down Mexico City way. A city which has been, curiously enough, in the news of late.With the escape (the latest) of El Chapo Guzman from a (gasp) maximum security penitentiary.
A fringe rival of Jeb Bush’s for the Republican nomination, Donald Trump has been having a go at the Wet Backs of late as well, promising to build a wall from the Pacific to the Caribbean and to send the bill to Mexico along with all the other Guillermos.
Could be that El Chapo might well prove to be Donald’s trump card. Coincidence?
El Chapo, is not the first high profile senor to go on the lam from Mexico City. There was the case, for example, of William Burroughs, the writer who put the beat into the Beat Generation when he beat it north of the Mex-Tex border. This occurred in 1950 after he had had a Swiss type confrontation with the unfortunate Mrs. Burroughs when they were both living high on both drugs and also on the hog in El M Grande.
This occurred in the Bounty Bar when during an inebriated session a guzz-eyed Guillermo/ William took out his handgun and barked at this wife: ‘It’s time for our William Tell act’. Senora B. dutifully obliged and placed a high ball glass on her head. Like an Armagh forward, the husband considered his options, took aim and fired.
What followed, resurfaced years later, suitably disguised, in a verse of Ry Cooder’s romantic song: ‘That’s the way the Girls are from Texas’:
‘You shudda told me you was married, baby
She pulled out a 45 and shot me
Straight between the eyes
She was guilty, I was dead’.
On reaching the safety (comparative) of the Land of Uncle Sam the on the lam William took to the pen and wrote such modern classics as ‘The Naked Lunch’, the novel whose subtitle is ‘No salad dressings’. Which it not to say he totally decommissioned his old Smith and Wesson. (see below).
Taximan.
The biggest selling tabloid in Mexico City is ‘El Grafico’, the red-top which is not so much read as ogled over. (Sound man, Brendan, but not you this time). Its front page never varies: one half of which (la izquierda) is devoted to the photo of a dead man, newly slain; while the other half (la derecha) is colonised by the snap of a young lady, alive, nubile and naked, the latter half being aimed at the lunch-box end of the market.
This policy NEVER varies.
When the spokesman for the biggest taxi union in Mexico City spoke out against the attempts of a drug cartel to take over the taxi business he disappeared soon after while in the course of driving his taxed vehicle. A short time later, the taxi was found abandoned in front of the union headquarters.
Headquarters is right: the severed head of the ill-omened spokesman was thoughtfully perched on the bonnet.We know this because the photo appeared on the front page of ‘El Grafico’. And some folk complain of the crime rate in Cork City.
When Bono, the Ambassador of Planet Uranus, paid a state visit to Mexico City (no, no place is safe) the photo taken of Him and El Presidente graced the front page of every one of the city’s 28 daily papers,bar one. That would be El Grafico.
This was serious Editorial Integrity indeed and the reason why Perkie’s impressed inner peruser remained a steadfast and loyal reader/ ogler.
Recession.
Warbeck Minor, of course, only knows of this R-word from what he reads in his dictionary, having been raised in the sundowner ambiance of Old Money. With monotonous regularity Warbeck Major featured prominently in the annual Forbes Rich list.
That this would be the Newtownforbes Rich List is a quibble which economic pedants like to get off on. That would be Newtownforbes, County Longford.
Whatever about recessions of the economic variety one kind which Hiberno-England aka The Free Southern Stateen will never succumb to is the literary recession. One has but to quote the D-word to realise the eternal verity of that assertion: DruidShakespere.
The Swan of Avon? A mere ugly duckling till DruidShakespeare took him under its wing.
Which brings one, by a circuitous enough route back to another William, the Burroughs one and his enduring fascination for his trusty old Smith and Wesson.
For those who like to toon in to the freaky-deaky videos on Youtbube, check out the one, entiled ‘William Burroughs shooting William Shakespere’. This features WB celebrating his eightieth birthday by having his seconds set up an archery target with a poster of WS as the target.
Togged out in his hunting attire, complete with Elmer Fudd hunting cap with the de rigeur earflaps, WB with rickety hands loads his handgun with six bullets. Walks to the target, examines the poster of his uppity namesake, takes eight steps backwards and empties the barrel, never once missing the bull’s eye.
A hit, a palpable hit. Not unlike DruidShakesepeare,indeed.
To conclude with El Chapo and Cork: now that the Prigerati have managed to ban the Confederate Flag from the terraces of the Cork supporters, both bogball and stickfighting, the onus is on the supporters of de Blood and Bandage to come up with something new.
A doddle, boy, a mere doddle.
There is a rather rotund supporter of long standing who is immediately recognisable by his XXL sombrero in the red and white of Cork. ‘Sthickin’ out a mile from Blarney’ as Joe Mack used to sing.
Take a look in the coming weeks at this senor.
In fact, take a good, hard and long look at this sombrero wearer.
And do a double take while you are at it.
As always, brilliant and informative, Perkie. Although I confess I’m lost with the last six lines or so. Is there a Perkie class for slow learners??
GRMA, a Mhaistir Ionuin Blog.
Bron orm faoin se line deireanach / Apologies for the last six lines.
The clue lies in the El Chapo and Cork reference.
In a word, the M-word. M for Mexit.
The word is derived from Meximum Security Penitentiary which is not at all to be confused with Maximum S.P , the slammers north of El Rio Grande in the land of Uncle Sam. . Except, of course, in the recent case of SaM, Sweat and Matt (RIP).
The looming presence of El Chapo in his red and white XXL sombrero on the terraces of Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney this Saturday could just about swing the replay in favour of the low-achieving chariots of Cork, like.
The same Sam-residing stadium, incidentally, was constructed by the inmates of the next-door Asylum back in the 1930s at the instigation of its director, Dr. Eamonn O’Sullivan. The good psychiatrist who authored a pioneering text book on occupational therapy and also, the totally unrelated (alleged). ‘The Art and Science of Gaelic Football’.And managed the Kingdom in their shock win over the invincible Metropolitans in the 1955 final.
The sublimely located stadium is named after/ for local footballing hero, the tragic Dick Fitzgerald. Apart from winning a dufflebag of All Ireland medals as a player DF went on to successfully manage the Kerry team’s transition from a 17 a side to a 15 a side.
And if that wasn’t enough (the e-word is not part of the Yerra vocabulary) was also an author of the first coaching manual for the game in 1914: ‘How to play Gaelic Football’. (Which was a sort of precursor or rejected first draft of the latter manual).
(One suspects this matchless and forward-looking tome has been out of print in an ultra-defensive Ulster 9 of in recent years. Although, from what one hears from one’s local sources on Harper Lee-side one J. Brolly may well be considering a reprint. Under the subtitle of ‘The Parasol versus the Blanket’ rather than the rejected ‘McGuinness is not necessarily Good for your Game’ this reprint will be designed to kill off the mockery of Gaelic Football which the blanket-minded birds has been tweeting. Gregory Peck, incidentally, had Kerry roots. Fact.).
Although the hill-top Asylum is now long closed, this ginormous grey-stoned building whose architecture is bleakly attractive in a voluptuous Victorian / drab Dickenisian kinda way, there is a rumour currently rife in Yerra-land that its reopening is imminent.
As a destination for those fugitive Wet Backs in search of Political Asylum. The spectacular views, according to the glossy brochure, of the mighty-out McGillicuddy Reeks are particularly reminiscent of the resplendent Sierra Madre of El Chapo’s native Mexico.
(Though manual labour would not be on the curriculum of the Political Asylum as El Chapo’s first name is Joaquin).
Focal scoir / Final word: For failing to pay attention (and also for falling into the bad habit of perusing The Unionist Times) write out the five letter M-word, five hundred times,maestro..
Mexit.
Poor William. I have plenty of relatives who worked with Unionist/Loyalist minded people all year round and most of the time they are decent people but the same thing happens every year coming up to the 12th, they, according to my relatives, suddenly “change”. My relatives, like many others, say this is when Unionisms/Loyalisms “blood boils”. They suddenly act “Super Prods” as the term goes within Loyalism. I guess this is what has happened to poor William on this blog and to a lesser extent Neill. They just cant hold back those feelings inspired by “Orangefest” or what is most commonly known as “Bigotfest” to the rest of us. Oh Well. Who I actually feel sorry for the most out of all this is the normal, decent Protestants who couldn’t give a stuff about the 12th and wants to live in peace with their Catholic neighbours without sectarian bonfires and parades.
But anyway, lets get back to the main topic of this blog:
Is there people in our society that are lazy and don’t want to work? Of course, there always has been. Are they the cause of financial crisis and economic collapse? Not a chance. First of all, these lazy people are a tiny, tiny number. Yes they should be made to work but to brand everyone else who is unemployed as Lazy is ridiculous.
I was unemployed 2 years ago, I was made redundant when the business I worked for went bust. I obviously immediately went to the Job Centre to sign on to Job Seekers Allowance and to look for a new suitable job. JSA pays roughly £95 a fortnight, yes a FORTNIGHT. Its not £950 a fortnight. Trust me, theres nothing more miserable than being on benefits, its not a cosy cushion some like to make it out to be, far from it. Thankfully I quickly got a new job thanks to my qualifications and experience but even I noticed while job searching that there may be jobs advertised but the vast majority in job centres wouldn’t stand a chance of getting them due to lack of qualifications, experience or they are just not suitable. Yes, people like Neill may be able to pick out 1 or 2 jobs most people could do but in general I understand when people say “There are no jobs out there”, what they are really saying is the jobs advertised are not suitable to most people. Its important also to bear in mind I live in Belfast where there will always be some kind of jobs advertised, its a big City after all but I have friends who live in Derry and the situation there is very different where there is literally just a few suitable jobs going.
When it comes to the recession and financial crisis, it wasn’t people on £95 a fortnight that caused it, it was people who were on £95 per hour that caused it, who still sit in major banks getting million pound bonuses. That’s where the blame lies, not the unemployed, not even on those people who are genuinely lazy and don’t want to work. Put the blame where it belongs.
The media play a major part in all this too. The Cork taxi driver, like so many others, are fooled by the media into thinking that all the unemployed are lazy buggers who just want to lay in their beds all day. If the Cork taxi driver knew the true facts, he’d see how out of touch his views are with reality instead of what the media has lead him to believe.
I’m intrigued, Jude…it’s that bit about William.What has the lad been getting up to now?He’ll have to realise that abuse has to be treated as an art form, honed to a sleek sheen, otherwise the abuser appears an unimaginative idiot….never a good look . The abuse has to be constructive in some way and well-thought out , surely. It has to have some basis in reality too. I take it he failed the satire test , them?
I’m not sure I agree on this one, PK. Abuse, however elegant, is unacceptable, except it’s presented as a judgement based on an argument and/or evidence, and even then I don’t see that abuse is needed. Mockery of something with which one disagrees, satire of a situation: I’ve no problem with. But abuse for abuse’s sake, particular directed at an individual, is not going to appear on this blogsite, from William or anyone else. I relish lively, strong, sharp-edged debate. I detest abuse.
He must have really crossed a line then…I’m still intrigued.I meant abuse as in a critique…not as a noxious unfounded slander….again , I ‘be no idea who he referred to…
Well,PK, maybe my response to him today will clarify it to some degree. I’m actually a fairly cheerful-natured individual, but there are some things that I find hard to accept: see above.
Oh …I get it now…absolutely. For one thing, this is no place to be referred to as “Collins”… That’s something reserved for either the teacher in the classroom when you were a wee boy….or for very close friends who have earned the right over many years..It depends on the context. As you point out there is some very woolly thinking and explaining going on .
William never explains himself in detail… satisfactorily…ever….Neill has most definitely improved in that respect .It’s hard to take anyone seriously who replies with a one -liner every time a complicated point is made,. It gives the impression that either the readers are mind -readers and the one -line artist is a supreme comedian. Usually neither is the case. This is a forum for points of view, of course, but there has to be a bit of wit and decorum too.Is a little elegance of expression too much to ask? As for having political viewpoints.We can all think whatever we like and criticise any political party we want to. None of us have to vote for the same party and support it forever. Republicanism is as valid an aspiration as any .What happens in Norneverland is that there is British Nationalism vying with Irish Nationalism which is a different thing entirely. it might be that many on the British Nationalist side might aspire to a republican ideal but are simply not allowed or encouraged by the divisions and constraints of this very conservative society….possibly the most conservative in the whole of Europe.
I can tell you one thing Mr. Collins, that your Blog and utterances on Radio Ulster in relation to you continual slandering and libelling of the Orange Order is being monitored and we will take legal action against you. We will also take action by reporting you and others for hate crime. This is not a threat, it’s a promise.
See you in court, William. Maybe then you’ll summon the courage to reveal your real name.
You don’t like been challenged for what you are Colllins…you can slander and libel thousands of Orangmen/women, but when I tell you what you are and it’s well known in social media that your are a pro-Republican/Sinn Fein/IRA apologist and that’s not abuse, it’s fact.
Well, William, with an effort I’ll not consider this an abusive post – others might disagree. I think the word ‘challenge’ is a loaded term here: as if there was something I should be ashamed of. (By the way, William, since I have only your first name – convenient for you – I’d appreciate if you didn’t address me solely by my surname.) I have not slandered and libelled thousands of Orangemen (I didn’t know there was such a thing as an Orange woman- are they now allowed to become honorary members?) – I have pointed out some uncomfortable truths. The most obvious is that every year, the Order somehow manages to stir up hatred and divsion. I call that a poor contribution to a society such as ours. ‘Its well known in social media’ – do you mean that there are people in social media who address me abusively? That’s true. ‘Pro-republican’? Do you know what a republic is, William? When you do, then maybe you’ll explain why you see that as something shameful. As to Sinn Féin – I am not now nor have I ever been a member of Sinn Féin, Senator McCarthy …sorry, William I mean. ‘IRA apologist’: do you know the meaning of the word ‘apologist’? I suspect not. I have been critical of some IRA actions and uncritical of others. I don’t remember ever lauding the IRA – have you got a reference for that? I’ll tell you something now, William, and I suggest you listen carefully. I’m getting tired of trying to understand where you’re coming from. If you want to contribute to this blogsite, fine. I welcome people representing a wide range of views. As I said a day or so ago, I do not like and will not put up statements which are libellous and/or abusive. So make up your mind. I’ve stretched myself on this one but I promise you, I’m tired stretching.
Some points to ponder from your reply to William Jude
The most obvious is that every year, the Order somehow manages to stir up hatred and division
That hate and division exists 365 in Northern Ireland nothing has really changed over the last 20 years since the GFA has been signed.
Do you know what a republic is, William? When you do, then maybe you’ll explain why you see that as something shameful
Nothing wrong in being a republican many people believe that SF have besmirched and stained the republican ideal over many years by their actions.
I have been critical of some IRA actions and uncritical of others. I don’t remember ever lauding the IRA
This is my opinion and my opinion only you have come very close on occasions ie your Shankill bomb blog however largely I don’t feel you supported the IRA. you certainly support SF and once again in fairness nothing wrong with that.
The question is Jude if a non aligned Republican party that didn’t have SF`s` obvious baggage would you support it and leave SF behind?
First, Neill, congratulations on a post that addresses specific issues in a civilized way. I don’t agree with much of it but I think it’s a fair model for others commenting.
Right. Re the OO stirring up hatred and division: you’re right the hatred and division are there – if they weren’t they couldn’t be stirred up. That’s to say, intensified, heightened, goading in nature.
Re republicanism : I’m glad you see ‘nothing wrong’ with it. I’d still like a definition of it. As to Sinn Féin having ‘besmirched’ republicanism: I’d reject that fairly totally. Sinn Féin is a legitimate and energetic political party that has made massive strides in garnering public support. That seems the opposite of ‘besmirching’ (what an old-fashioned term) to me. It’s like saying SF have ‘besmirched’ the Irish language -that somehow they’re defiled and mustn’t be allowed near good things.
Re the Shankill bomb: I’m weary explaining that blog and, all things considered, I wish I hadn’t written it. Not because of its content but because of the kinds of response it has elicited. It appears to be a trigger phrase, where all wit goes out the window once it’s mentioned. To recap: I said I believe the word ‘murder’ means the intentional taking of innocent life. In any account I have read, it’s generally accepted that the two IRA bombers were intent on killing members of the UDA who they believed were meeting in a room above the fish-shop. So you could say – although in that case all political violence would have to be labelled murder – that they intended to murder the UDA men. Since the bomb went off and killed one of the bombers and nearly killed the second, it’s a reasonable conclusion that they didn’t intend to kill the innocent people in the shop. One point that I’ve been pulled up on, and I’d accept it as valid criticism, is that it’s likely that, had the bomb gone off as planned, innocent people would have died. At no time did I ever say it was a good idea for the IRA to bomb the UDA meeting, the people in the fish shop, or anywhere else. My simple point had to do with the meaning of words. Murder means INTENTIONAL killing of innocent people (which would, incidentally, put a large question mark over Britain – and Germany -‘s bombing of German/British cites in WW2, and of course US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki): I’ve still to be convinced that the IRA bombers intended to kill the people in the fish shop. Finally, and slowly. That. In. No. Way. Takes.From.The. Terrible. Pain. And Suffering. Which. Those. Poor. People. Endured. Sin é – enough already.
Oops – nearly forgot your last question , about supporting a hypothetical republican party that didn’t have SF’s ‘baggage’: well a) no such party exists, except you want to count eirigi, and b) the answer is no, I wouldn’t support them, because they’d probably be in opposition to the Shinners who, as many people appear not to have noticed, have maintained an unfaltering route of reconciliation since 1998 at least.
Robots and automation are increasing productivity and this by definition mean less human work hours are required. It’s only going to accelerate over the next few decades. There is no fix except perhaps to share the productivity with the masses and that’s not going to happen in the US or here.
Hi Jude,
From the late 90s until 2008 unemployment in Ireland hovered around the 4% mark
In 2008 it jumped to around 12%. Did 8% of the working population suddenly get lazy?
Jim
In hard times everyone looks for someone to blame. Governments want people to blame the unemployed ‘benefit scroungers’ to avoid the obvious elephant in the room; People with lots of money are getting richer while the number of people in poverty grows. There have never been enough jobs in Ireland (just look at the history of migration in Ireland). A sad choice for anyone is to stay in their homeland and be close to their loved ones but unemployed OR go oversees so they can make enough money to have a comfortable life. Life on the Dole is not easy. If someone is caught as a benefit cheat the press have a field day. When multinationals quietly take there profits and discreetly register their earnings in a tax haven it’s just business. MPS only stopped (or got better at covering up) their expenses -which we paid for- when the press decided they would get a few extra readers by printing the stories.
Re republicanism : I’m glad you see ‘nothing wrong’ with it. I’d still like a definition of it. As to Sinn Féin having ‘besmirched’ republicanism: I’d reject that fairly totally. Sinn Féin is a legitimate and energetic political party that has made massive strides in garnering public support. That seems the opposite of ‘besmirching’ (what an old-fashioned term) to me. It’s like saying SF have ‘besmirched’ the Irish language -that somehow they’re defiled and mustn’t be allowed near good things.
To me the core concepts of Republicanism are Equality fraternity and Liberty sadly SF and the IRA have fallen very short of those qualities over the years ironically enough the ones they most need to convince are the very ones they have hurt the most.
Do you really think SF havnt had a large role in causing divisions.?
I still have to be convinced that SF are really republicans I suspect they are old fashioned nationalists who use the term Republicanism to cover up there more unpleasant beliefs.
Neill – we can’t keep posting like this…You’re right about republicanism and egalité etc – and I guess if you’re engaged in armed conflict with some people you’re not showing a lot of fraternalism. But you know, neill, the IRA – unlike the UDA, UVF etc – no longer exists. Stopped doing violence and existing some 20 years ago. I agree republicans need to convince those who were hurt most by violent republicanism (and btw, equating SF with the IRA is just a bit crazy at this point – an awful lot of Sinn Féin politicians, not to mention voters, were at best in their nappies during the period of violence). I think they have done their best in that respect – yes, occasional lapse, calling them bastards, but hey, John Major called some in his own Conservative cabinet bastards) – but by and large they’ve been for dealing with their political opponents in a respectful and friendly way. Has there been similar moves by unionist politicians? Very very few, from what I hear. Yes, SF had a large role in causing divisions, if you equate SF and the IRA – but see above on that. And don’t forget – a habit among unionist politicians and commentators – that the IRA didn’t come out of nowhere, and during the conflict the UDA, UVF, UDR, RUC etc did a fair bit of division-causing too. I think it’s very important to see that – the ‘It was the IRA dun it’ narrative is patently absurd as it ignores the context in which they emerged. Re SF being ‘old-fashioned nationalists’ – if they were, I’d see that as a perfectly legitimate position too; but actually you’ll find their critics within republicanism accuse them of the opposite – that they stress egalité and haven’t pushed hard enough politically for liberté…Anyway, my compliments again, Neill. I disagree with you but I have no problem and in fact am very pleased that we have voices like yours on this site…Oh Gawd – have I spoken too soon? I can see the edge of a gio posting…I may have to eat my words..
But you know, neill, the IRA – unlike the UDA, UVF etc – no longer exists. Stopped doing violence and existing some 20 years ago.
The greatest trick that the devil ever pulled off was to convince people he didn’t exist.
SF may have tried to convince some people that they have changed most people in the Unionist community will wait a little longer before they believe SF`s words for every Martin Miller(sorry I cant spell his name in Irish)you have a Barry McElduff is Sf split about the way ahead?
Neill – that is really very poor. The IRA decommissioned. Before witnesses. You don’t have it issuing statements or painting murals or any of the things that loyalist paramilitaries do. And it would have taken you roughly five seconds on google to get Mairtin O Muilleoir’s name right. I do hope you’re not a coca cola man…Are you suggesting that there is an IRA and Barry McElduff is in it? I do hope not. I really really do.
Now hang on Neill ..for one thing the devil has never …ever existed …don’t tell the kids, but neither does the Tooth Fairy or Santa Claus, so never mind this guff about his trickery. As for the IRA , they are most assuredly gone .They are one dead parrot, having outlived themselves and become pointless in a very , very different world of consensus politics. You really should know that they ceased to exist a very long time ago and as Jude has pointed out, Sinn Fein has grown from young people who were not even born during the time of the IRA and Britain’s conflict. Most of them would not have known anything about the bloody awful conflict at all. They sorted that one out some twenty years ago.
Jude you really have a wanton desire to misinterpret what I wrote!
Did I suggest that Barry was in the IRA and Martin wasn’t? The point I was making was that Martin was an urbane man who wants to move on while Barry is more old school SF a Gregory Campbell to a Simon Hamilton if you compare it to the Dup.
Guess what Jude Loyalists decommissioned before witnesses and guess what they still kept on killing people and didn’t disappear go figure….
Your probably right I could have googled it but I felt a bit lazy and didn’t shall I do a hundred lines for you now?
No, but it’s respectful to address people by their name. Assuming they give their name, of course.