Is there a better forum where the crisis is being written about?

My latest contribution…

"Tim [someone who knows what’s going on from the inside] in particular, all in general - thank you very much for continuing my education.

I am utterly astonished that no one has suggested a single significant national politician who’s been a decent role model in the period 1975 - now. The implications, in terms of the two generations of voters and aspiring politicians, are clear to me. None of Fianna Fail, none of Fine Gael, and none of Labour has the wherewithall to fall back on. No reliable examples means no reliable fund of values and inspiration with which to lead the body politic into these unchartered waters.

Perhaps there is someone who has realised the error of their ways,and made a fundamental shift? (Wasn’t Gareth Fitzgerald associated with the Miltown Institute, an ethical think tank, way back? Surely he had a come-to-Jesus experience after he was weak enough to permit AIB to write off that mortgage?)

Perhaps there is a politician who’s lived out of Ireland, and experienced a culture within which there was a healthy diversity of political, ethical and spiritual clash?

Otherwise, I suggest we examine the track record of the fourth estate: the media, the think tanks, the universities… A few names have been suggested so far. I’ll bring those forward and display a list soon. [Ah, I’ve just remembered Jim Kemmy. I nominate him.] Without such names I have no where to place my confidence, and it hangs here by a thread.

A true story:

I employ a cleaner. Her husband has been made redundant. Two or three children at school. Rather than do the cleaning myself, I go reading & writing on David McWilliams. I don’t save myself money. I take the hit. I look for work I could outsource to the husband, window cleaning and gardening. Another hit. Why? Not only because I have sympathy for the dispossessed. I don’t want to lose a cleaner, don’t want her to re-migrate. She’s good. He’s unknown. And more, I want the money to circulate in the economy. I don’t want my local shop to become unviable for obvious reasons. Sure, some of what I pay that family go on emigrants’ remittances, but, in this case I suspect and hope they have reduced their remittances. I have a selfish altruistic will to do my bit for the national economy. I bet some of you are doing the same in your microcosm of the national economy in a global world.

Tim, another thanks. The Yeats is wonderful. You have enriched my perspective by introducing me to a poem I did not know. Little did you know that I’m primarily a working poet masquerading as a commentator on the ways of the modern Irish, a deep sleeper for the revolution
- who wishes he invented the phrase “Attempt at a Reevaluation of All Values”.

David McWilliams, I am so looking forward to your next piece. You facilitate thought in my world. For me, it’s less vital that you’re right than you’re opening up channels and giving insiders within the system an opportunity and a place to tell their story, so that those of us outside can feel on a little more solid ground. Heartfelt thanks.

 

PS:  Here’s a link to a wonderful piece on who predicted the global crisis…