Ireland has had a very different post WWII history to America. A lot of what you just said is irrelevant to us. Eg we didn't have a baby boom - you can be guaranteed this guy had a hard time in the 60s, 70s, 80s. The spoiled generation was born in the late 80s and 90s. Ireland's retirement age to my knowledge has never dropped below 65. That aside, our pensions are paid for directly through taxes anyway.

More generally, our "leftist philosophy" (and it's a big stretch to call it that) is not responsible for the crash. The banks guarantee scheme is where the vast majority of our debt is coming from. It was not debt racked up by the people or the government but by banks. The guarantee doomed the country. Fucking Anglo Irish Bank.>> ^Winstonfield_Pennypacker:

Well - as with many Sift vids this brings up a complicated issue and only chooses to tell a part of the story.
Companies, banks, insurers, financial institutions, and many businesses have indeed behaved with what can only be described as evil indifference. They have gamed systems around the world to create favorable business environments for themselves, and when the market collapsed they pushed slimy political patronage in order to get bailouts to save them from their stupidity. These businesses should have been allowed to fail and damn the consequences.
But the video ignores the other dancers on the floor - government and the citizens.
Western governments have been 'engineering' this problem for decades because of leftist poltiical philosophy being funded with crony 'capitalism'. They have been buying votes with social giveaways, and partnering with business to use skullduggery and questionable legislation (and some outright unconstitutional stuff) to engage in 'social justice', 'political fairness'. But progressive/liberal philosophies always run governments into unsustainability because the model cannot sustain itself. Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany and the rest aren't in financial trouble just because banks behaved like idiots. They are on the brink of collapse because they promised trillions in social benefits that they NEVER had the ability to supply. They knew this long ago, but made a devil's bargain with the sleazy businesses to shadow-fund the shell game. But inevitably, unsustainable models break, and now everything is crumbling around them, which forces them to make cuts (austerity measures) or face total collapse.
Which finally brings us to player #3. The people. No offense to specific individuals, but as a collective the citizens of Western civilization have behaved (with exceptions of course) like a bunch of spoiled brats. This angry Irishman is probably a spoiled brat too, since he looks to be a part of the Boomer generation which is one of the most spoiled rotton generations this world has ever seen and he's totally whining about not getting to keep his precious benefits. Despite potential financial collapse, these stupid people still till want to retire at age 50, get 1 month a year free vacation, free college, full retirement benefits, and every other unaffordable perk, benefit, freebie, and giveaway they can glom their sticky, greedy mitts on. Not to mention that they VOTED these bozos into office based on promises to get all this stuff, which is why the governments screwed up so badly to start with.
Bad banks? Sure. But government and the people get no free pass with me.

Well - as with many Sift vids this brings up a complicated issue and only chooses to tell a part of the story.

Companies, banks, insurers, financial institutions, and many businesses have indeed behaved with what can only be described as evil indifference. They have gamed systems around the world to create favorable business environments for themselves, and when the market collapsed they pushed slimy political patronage in order to get bailouts to save them from their stupidity. These businesses should have been allowed to fail and damn the consequences.

But the video ignores the other dancers on the floor - government and the citizens.

Western governments have been 'engineering' this problem for decades because of leftist poltiical philosophy being funded with crony 'capitalism'. They have been buying votes with social giveaways, and partnering with business to use skullduggery and questionable legislation (and some outright unconstitutional stuff) to engage in 'social justice', 'political fairness'. But progressive/liberal philosophies always run governments into unsustainability because the model cannot sustain itself. Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany and the rest aren't in financial trouble just because banks behaved like idiots. They are on the brink of collapse because they promised trillions in social benefits that they NEVER had the ability to supply. They knew this long ago, but made a devil's bargain with the sleazy businesses to shadow-fund the shell game. But inevitably, unsustainable models break, and now everything is crumbling around them, which forces them to make cuts (austerity measures) or face total collapse.

Which finally brings us to player #3. The people. No offense to specific individuals, but as a collective the citizens of Western civilization have behaved (with exceptions of course) like a bunch of spoiled brats. This angry Irishman is probably a spoiled brat too, since he looks to be a part of the Boomer generation which is one of the most spoiled rotton generations this world has ever seen and he's totally whining about not getting to keep his precious benefits. Despite potential financial collapse, these stupid people still till want to retire at age 50, get 1 month a year free vacation, free college, full retirement benefits, and every other unaffordable perk, benefit, freebie, and giveaway they can glom their sticky, greedy mitts on. Not to mention that they VOTED these bozos into office based on promises to get all this stuff, which is why the governments screwed up so badly to start with.

Bad banks? Sure. But government and the people get no free pass with me.

>> ^kronosposeidon:

Yes, at least in America there are. There are some people who might have one great great grandfather from County Kerry, but when asked what they are they'll say "I'm Irish!" It's just the way some Americans are. Ask a lot of 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. generation Americans what they are (not what their ethnic heritage is, but who they themselves are) and they'll say "I'm Irish/Italian/Chinese/Iranian/Polish/Bengali...." That's probably why that reporter specified "real" Irishman.
My dad's parents were right off the boat from Ireland, which makes me about as Irish as Ravi Shankar. So I'll tell you now, the colleens enjoy a wee dram before tantra. More floothered = more kundalini. I learned that from Guru McGillicuddy. >> ^dannym3141:
What on earth does he mean "a real irishman"? Are there fake ones?



Ahhh, i wondered why half the americans i'd ever met/seen on tv/anything said "oh i'm irish/italian/whatever."

I remember one guy telling me he was irish, i said you don't sound it, he said "oh i hide it - don't make me use my irish accent as proof" and then immediately jumped into a passable scottish accent without irony or sarcasm.

Since you're a Haligonian perhaps you can tell me what is that honkin big white tower on Citadel Hill. As soon as I started watching this vid I recognized the street and the background view but I couldn't place that tower and it isn't even on street view. I also couldn't find any pics on google with it in them.

In reply to this comment by notarobot:
More on Portugal and Spain in this vid, also filmed in Halifax: http://videosift.com/video/22-Minutes-EU-Bailout-of-Ireland
>> ^EMPIRE:

Can Portugal and Spain's situation really be compared to Ireland and Greece's? I mean, yes we are also in a bit of trouble, but I truly believe the whole situation has been amplified by fucking speculators, messing with our credit ratings.

I'm not a nationalist at all, and I'm ever more inclined to consider patriotism and nationalism a damn mental disorder than anything else. Feeling all proud and somehow better than others because you fell out of your mother's vagina in a particular geographic location is completely stupid.

I'm all for unification of mankind, not the other way around. Unfortunately, very few people seem to think like that. Hell, I wouldn't mind if Spain and Portugal united as one country called Iberia. We have europe's oldest borders. That says a lot about your relationship with the neighbours.



>> ^radx:

>> ^EMPIRE:
Can Portugal and Spain's situation really be compared to Ireland and Greece's? I mean, yes we are also in a bit of trouble, but I truly believe the whole situation has been amplified by fucking speculators, messing with our credit ratings.

It certainly is amplified by speculations, for which the blame primarily rests with Merkel, if you ask me.
At current interest and growth rates, Portugal's national debt is noticably less threatening than Ireland's, but considering the agenda of cuts and savings, growth will remain abysmal or even turn negative, as is the case of Greece. Add the account deficit of 11.6% of GDP in the first half of 2010 and I'd say Portugal is quietly insolvent.
Spain on the other hand with its national debt of mere ~57% of GDP looks somewhat more stable, but look at the foreign exposure of the private sector. That's up to a cool €700B once the lid is taken off. And that would stretch the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) budget to the limit, a budget of only €750B. Which is why some argued that it should have been closer to €2T from the start.
And that's when a haircut is inevitable. Folks around Europe won't just accept massive cutbacks, causing massive unemployment and the following nightmares, just so investors can cash in on their situation. There's going to be some serious debt restructuring, including haircuts.
The real shit would begin if Italy, due to national debt and political instability, got sucked down as well. That'd be fun, yap.
So I'd say let's take Jean-Claude Juncker's advice and finally make it a proper union, not just a shared currency with opposing interests. Unfortunatly, my own bloody government won't play along with that.

>> ^EMPIRE:

Can Portugal and Spain's situation really be compared to Ireland and Greece's? I mean, yes we are also in a bit of trouble, but I truly believe the whole situation has been amplified by fucking speculators, messing with our credit ratings.

It certainly is amplified by speculations, for which the blame primarily rests with Merkel, if you ask me.

At current interest and growth rates, Portugal's national debt is noticably less threatening than Ireland's, but considering the agenda of cuts and savings, growth will remain abysmal or even turn negative, as is the case of Greece. Add the account deficit of 11.6% of GDP in the first half of 2010 and I'd say Portugal is quietly insolvent.

Spain on the other hand with its national debt of mere ~57% of GDP looks somewhat more stable, but look at the foreign exposure of the private sector. That's up to a cool €700B once the lid is taken off. And that would stretch the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) budget to the limit, a budget of only €750B. Which is why some argued that it should have been closer to €2T from the start.

And that's when a haircut is inevitable. Folks around Europe won't just accept massive cutbacks, causing massive unemployment and the following nightmares, just so investors can cash in on their situation. There's going to be some serious debt restructuring, including haircuts.

The real shit would begin if Italy, due to national debt and political instability, got sucked down as well. That'd be fun, yap.

So I'd say let's take Jean-Claude Juncker's advice and finally make it a proper union, not just a shared currency with opposing interests. Unfortunatly, my own bloody government won't play along with that.

More on Portugal and Spain in this vid, also filmed in Halifax: http://videosift.com/video/22-Minutes-EU-Bailout-of-Ireland
>> ^EMPIRE:

Can Portugal and Spain's situation really be compared to Ireland and Greece's? I mean, yes we are also in a bit of trouble, but I truly believe the whole situation has been amplified by fucking speculators, messing with our credit ratings.

Anyone you know?

Yes, at least in America there are. There are some people who might have one great great grandfather from County Kerry, but when asked what they are they'll say "I'm Irish!" It's just the way some Americans are. Ask a lot of 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. generation Americans what they are (not what their ethnic heritage is, but who they themselves are) and they'll say "I'm Irish/Italian/Chinese/Iranian/Polish/Bengali...." That's probably why that reporter specified "real" Irishman.

My dad's parents were right off the boat from Ireland, which makes me about as Irish as Ravi Shankar. So I'll tell you now, the colleens enjoy a wee dram before tantra. More floothered = more kundalini. I learned that from Guru McGillicuddy. >> ^dannym3141:

What on earth does he mean "a real irishman"? Are there fake ones?

>> ^dannym3141:

What on earth does he mean "a real irishman"? Are there fake ones?


Kind of.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_Paddy

What on earth does he mean "a real irishman"? Are there fake ones?

My pleasure! There was no way I couldn't promote that. He's my new hero!

In reply to this comment by geo321:
Thanks for the promote!

In reply to this comment by Duckman33:
*promote the awesomeness!!

Thanks for the promote!

In reply to this comment by Duckman33:
*promote the awesomeness!!

Amen, Pat! This Irishman is in 100% agreement. Those were some funny jokes, too.

The guy from Community is completely miscast in the place of the funny Irishman. Replace funny looking, nerdy Irishman with 6 foot 4 handsome and muscular American in role of IT nerd - what a stupid idea.