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| Europe |
| Tens of Thousands Protest Irish Economic Measures |
| 2009-02-23 |
| About 100,000 people filled the streets of the Irish capital Saturday to protest the government's handling of the country's economic crisis, police said. The march through the heart of Dublin, organized by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, was in response to a government plan to cut public sector pay at a time when it is pumping billions of dollars into Ireland's troubled banks. The government has argued that wage reductions are needed to keep Ireland's ballooning deficits under control and reassure international markets that the country is not spiraling toward a default. But the plan, which effectively docks 7 percent from the paychecks of 350,000 Irish workers, comes amid revelations of shady dealings and irresponsible lending at the banks now getting taxpayers' help. Ireland once had one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe, but boom turned to bust last year as shock waves from the subprime lending crisis in the United States spread across the globe. Organizers originally planned the demonstration as a protest over the wage cutbacks, but later called on all Irish workers to turn out in a show of strength. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 Yes, the Irish have recent experience BUT the only surviving IRA bands are all Fabian Socialist or hardcore Marxists. Those types would never peep about this sort of income redistribution. |
| Posted by: Shieldwolf 2009-02-23 21:40 |
| #7 Magic Eight Ball sez I see an influx of illegal bartenders and housepainters in the Boston area. Just like the 90's... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2009-02-23 18:48 |
| #6 The Irish gummint better be careful - they've got a large number of citizens who have recent experience at violent revolution.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2009-02-23 18:15 |
| #5 But the plan, which effectively docks 7 percent from the paychecks of 350,000 Irish workers, comes amid revelations of shady dealings and irresponsible lending at the banks now getting taxpayers' help. It's time for a Whiskey Rebellion on both sides of the pond. |
| Posted by: JohnQC 2009-02-23 15:53 |
| #4 Tsk, tsk, nomo. Logic & reason have no place in our new socialist utopia! Now be quiet and eat your gruel. |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2009-02-23 09:33 |
| #3 So, let me get this straight. Public sector employees' pay gets cost of living increases during boom times, when tax revenues are increasing. Fair enough. The private sector, who pays the taxes required to fund these public sector workers, is making less money, and tax revenues are decreasing. Why should these public sector workers continue to make the same, or even get increases? Logically, should they not get a pay cut? How can it be fair for them to demand that no matter what the economic situtation, their income stream security can never be impacted? The underlying message of this protest is that if you work for the public sector, you have benefits but never risk, regardless of the financial situation of the taxpayer Apart from the bad attitude and laziness that pursuit of perfect income stream security nearly always creates in people, it's fiscally irresponsible and unsustainable. |
| Posted by: no mo uro 2009-02-23 07:15 |
| #2 About 100,000 little people filled the streets of the Irish capital Saturday There, fully repaired. No champagne and caviar for them. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-02-23 06:41 |
| #1 Workers getting their pay docked while the champagne-and-caviar crowd keep spending? Pretty typical. |
| Posted by: gromky 2009-02-23 02:47 |