Comments on The Pensive Quill: Waste Disposal

2010-12-27T14:55:12.535Z

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Mise Eire, Given the political history of Provisi...

2010-12-27T12:40:40.111Z

Mise Eire,

Given the political history of Provisionalism, a wider conservative culture, the containment of the project to the prison, it would have failed without the additional factor of looking to the USSR.

mise eire, Representative democracy=failure. P...

2010-12-20T22:55:36.539Z
mise eire,

Representative democracy=failure.
Particapatory Democracy the only way forward?

I agree 100%

Rory

2010-12-20T20:45:18.215Z
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mise eire, My apologies, I never heard of the Lea...

2010-12-20T18:53:25.081Z
mise eire,

My apologies, I never heard of the League of communist republicns, I though you were referrring to the stickys.

Rory

2010-12-20T15:27:33.253Z
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mise eire My understanding is that the communist ...

2010-12-20T10:46:53.802Z
mise eire

My understanding is that the communist republicans failed simply becuase most of their leading figures were careerists looking after number one.

When they were on the cusp of real power they abandoned the party to form a more elitist, less left wing party.

Maybe they did this bacause of the fall of the Stalinist system in Eastern Europe, I don't know.

Rory

2010-12-18T15:21:45.812Z
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Frank An air of realism injected into matters. ‘...

2010-12-18T13:37:10.485Z
Frank

An air of realism injected into matters.

‘Sinn Fein are clowns – all they did was build a mandate on victim mentality in
the north – they haven’t a clue about real world economics … Fianna Fail fucked up the economy but at least they don’t have to look up ‘economy’ in the dictionary.

Hard to disagree with that. It helps explain why achievements here will be limited.

‘But we’re too far in to go back and voting nationalist - while it may
repair the dented Irish psyche and pride - it won’t solve any economic
problems it will simply entrench them.’

A lot of sense in few words but I think you are maybe too harsh on the whole society. Some were clearly more guilty than others and the idea that all should pay because of the way the economy was managed begs serious ethical questions.
‘And paying what you owe is hardly treason.’
Many got nothing and owe nothing.
I think there is no chance of default happening. The situation you outline is the major constraint. It would only work, and not be ethically wrong, if there was a widespread international revolt by countries crippled by debt. A bit like the old argument against socialism in one country. Outside of that we will be paying the IMF and whoever after that for the rest of my lifetime.

Or when Paddy was done for interfering with a goat...

2010-12-06T16:17:54.358Z
Or when Paddy was done for interfering with a goat he got six months and a futher six for acting the goat!

Or as the late Glasgow wit, Matt McGinn put it: A ...

2010-12-06T15:46:26.116Z
Or as the late Glasgow wit, Matt McGinn put it:
A dog from the port was taken up to court
and accused of molesting his father
said the Judge to the pet, 'How low can you get'
said the pet to the Judge, 'a Chihuahua'

Nuala, ‘You are even coming out with crap statem...

2010-12-06T15:00:21.788Z
Nuala,

‘You are even coming out with crap statements about beggars, how low can you go? I would say very.’

This reminds me of the joke where a guy is up in court for having sex with an Alsatian. The judge looks down his nose at him and asks ‘how low can you go?’ And the accused replies ‘as low as a Jack Russell your honour.’

Iknow how they feel Nuala,them auld homes are easi...

2010-12-03T13:56:19.293Z
Iknow how they feel Nuala,them auld homes are easily lost! I can never find mine on a Supday night!

Larry, if I genuinely believed you were being face...

2010-12-03T09:37:03.067Z
Larry, if I genuinely believed you were being facetious about people who did not deserve it, if I was wrong then I am sorry.
I have friends who lost their home last year and trust me it is something that I would never wish on anyway.

Fionnuala, it now appears obvious to me that cynic...

2010-12-03T00:03:24.536Z
Fionnuala, it now appears obvious to me that cynicism and irony are wasted on you. I shall bear that in mind henceforth.

How could anyone seriously have a political debate...

2010-12-02T22:51:50.384Z
How could anyone seriously have a political debate with you?
You are totally dogmatic and completely insensitive to anyone elses plight.
You are even coming out with crap statements about beggars, how low can you go? I would say very.

well maybe you can take the girl outa the ghetto b...

2010-12-02T20:54:09.980Z
well maybe you can take the girl outa the ghetto but not the ghetto outa the girl
so it woul appear.
political content is good tho.

Frankly, Larry I don't give a damn!

2010-12-02T20:42:07.544Z
Frankly, Larry I don't give a damn!

Fionnuala, you are devoid of argument political or...

2010-12-02T19:58:10.776Z
Fionnuala,
you are devoid of argument political or historical point and frankly quite rude dear.

i wouldnt have the thick skin for it, nor would i ...

2010-12-02T19:50:05.611Z
i wouldnt have the thick skin for it, nor would i know what to do with all that pay+xpenses. Not interested in a big house.

Larry, they should run you as a candidate, well yo...

2010-12-02T19:28:10.740Z
Larry, they should run you as a candidate, well you or David Cameron, same shite different day!

It's an oportunity now for the first time to t...

2010-12-02T18:24:47.841Z
It's an oportunity now for the first time to totally overhaul the entire political system. Get rid of FF FG Labour antics and pantamime crap. Does anyone believe any party in the Dail were innocent in this? They are all complicit by their blind eyes and incompetence. The Dail is a private club with jobs for life.
If SF want to take the 'gun out of Irish politics' then stay away, keep the provo blackmail strategy out of the south. There's a chance for some proper politics to emmerge here.

Frank cant argue with that.

2010-12-02T17:49:09.472Z
Frank cant argue with that.

Michaelhenry You’re right about Fianna Fail – you ...

2010-12-02T16:41:59.375Z
Michaelhenry
You’re right about Fianna Fail – you could call them Fianna Failed.
But giving Sinn Fein a go is hardly likely to be the answer.
Fianna Fail fucked up the economy but at least they don’t have to look up ‘economy’ in the dictionary.
And paying what you owe is hardly treason. What’s the alternative? Do you say it was ALL the fat cats fault – those damm fat cats – they’re practically super villains and scapegoats all rolled into one. That’s convenient…
The Irish people – the good Irish people – are of course above reproach. Never greedy or profligate the Irish people shouldn’t pay a cent.
The truth is - there is no way to write the debt off – there is no internal settlement on this. Whatever the Irish Government decides it needs to be ‘squared’ with the international political and economic powers that be. To fail to satisfy these is to put Ireland outside of these systems. This outcome - I would argue – would have worse and longer lasting effects on the economy and society of Ireland than the current deal.
So while playing the nationalist card will hit all the right emotional buttons it won’t help practically. Playing the socialist card won’t help. There are no utopian solutions. Any solution – however difficult dirty and expensive – won’t change our essentially outward looking and consumerist society.
The best the left can hope for is to enter a reasonably stable coalition - pay the IMF et al - and try to stop the inevitable pain of the years to come creating a society with yawning gaps in equality. Yes the fat cats need to be pursued but the cold hand of the taxman will hurt them more than hot heads shouting in the streets.

frank-? You say that SINN FEIN have not got a clu...

2010-12-02T14:20:47.860Z
frank-?

You say that SINN FEIN have not got a clue about world economics,

but after the last few weeks do you
think that fianna fail as a clue
[ maybe they do- so the banks paid
their dues ]

you argue that the people must pay back this treason imf loan and its
interest because its the peoples fault-

the people whos minimal wage was cut were blamless for fianna fails
economy disaster yet these people
will have to pay whilst your fat cats get of.