Why "NO"

Firstly I must point out that I hold no truck with SF nonsense policies, nor Gangley’s  ravings, nor do I trust Shane Ross after his cheerleading pronouncements during the boom for Anglo Irish Bank. I also declare that I believe, for the most part, FG/Lab are doing a reasonably good job in government with the mess they inherited. So why am I voting no?

For me it comes back to that faithful day in 2007, when the late Brian Lenihan, under pressure from vested interests in the domestic banking sector, undertook to guarantee the deposits within the Irish banks. However, not only did he do that, but he included the debts of these institutions in his undertaking. These debts (Corporate Bonds) were now being underwritten by the Irish Government (and therefore its citizens) rather than the institutions. At the time of this action there was uproar across Europe, and especially the UK, at our action to safeguard these deposits. The eye was off the ball regarding the bonds both here and abroad. The then government (in their “cute whore” “pulling a stroke” ways) felt that they would show the world that we as a country were solid and reliable, with a banking system that was equally strong. The banks (Irish Nationwide springs to mind) were encouraging savers in the UK (who had seen a run on Northern Rock) to move their monies to them (much to the annoyance of Mr Darling). How wrong they were…

Move on to November 2010 and the Irish Government in light of their inability to grasp basic economics and their fear of vested interests called upon The IMF, The ECB and The EU to bail us out. This was, and remains, a shame upon us as a people. However, in a way, I was personally glad to see these arrive, as it meant that the parish pump fifth rate politicians were, for all intents and purposes, now merely puppets. A new government swept in in March 2011 and the electorate decided that they did not want a single party government who could stick to their manifesto, but a blending of a centre left and a centre right party. So again I don’t blame Mr Gilmore or Mr Kenny for reneging on election promises, that is what WE voted in.

So moving on to where we now stand. I believe we need austerity. I believe we need to be as balanced as we can be. So the idea of doing this appeals to me greatly. By austerity, I mean that we need to rein in spending and progressively tax income more and pay for services that provide social and economic value. I am NOT against the Household Charge nor the  imposition of water charges (with or without a meter). I don’t WANT to pay them, I can ill afford to pay them, but I think we SHOULD pay them. But I also believe that, as a soverign nation we need to be able to make decisions about our economic policy. Under the original treaty that we signed up to join the Single European Currency (the Euro) we agreed that the national budget would either be in surplus, or in deficit up to 3% of GDP. A sensible approach, which we must adhere to.

What this Fiscal Compact Treaty does is take away the prospect of soverign governments in this state (or any others) from ever again following the General Economic Theories of John Maynard Keynes.  This is not a policy that you would want to employ ALL the time, but it is a policy that you may (or indeed should) apply in times of economic bust. This is the policy that is being perused by the current US administration, the UK to an extent, India, Australia etc. So while we in the Eurozone, outside of Germany, languish in a downward spiral in order to ensure that Germany’s historical fear of inflation is appeased, these other countries are working their way out of it.

So why NO? Because I don’t want this government, or any Irish government in the future to have access to this fund. I do not believe SF when they say we can access it by voting no, I hope we can’t. The ECB and EU let us down in our time of need with the extortionist interest rates they charged us, in fact it was the IMF and our bi-lateral arrangements (notably the UK) which provided us the cheapest rates initially. I ask this question. Where do Germany go when they need funding? Well they go to the “markets”, just like we always did. The markets make a decision on how much interest we would need to pay to make them interested in buying our bonds upon a number of criteria, the most notable being do they think they’ll get it back!

We have shown for many years that we always pay our debts. We’re even paying debts that should not be  but are now ours. I don’t care if the EU or the ECB think we are the best boys in town, but I do care that investors (the markets) think we are.

If we pass this treaty then this “insurance policy” (because of a lower interest rate) will be our first and only port of call for borrowing, not the markets. If the markets are our only source (as it should be) then we will have to make a more concerted effort to show them we are trustworthy, we are growing and we are both independent and interdependent on our trading partners. No for me means stand up and be proud and stop lying in the gutter waiting for someone else to dig you out.

Time For Change?

There has been a lot of discussion on Twitter here in Ireland regarding the creation of a new force – or forces – in Irish Politics. The recent Irish Times/MRBI^© Opinion poll puts Sinn Fein on 21% making it the second largest party, in terms of popular support. This would have been unheard of five years ago never mind ten or twenty. The government parties (Fine Gale and Labour) still enjoy the support of the majority, all be it by the tightest of margins. As an electorate we have allowed ourselves to be lead at times by individuals who quite seriously could not run a golf club. We have allowed an oath of allegiance and a treaty boundary to dictate who we vote for. Politics does not come into it, ideology, most certainly not.  Even though most ideology moves to a more pragmatic centre ground once you have to actually govern…but even besides that…for the majority we are happy for our politicians to sit on the fence. No one wants to pay for services, yet no one wants services reduced. Even on other issues most are happy to play on both sides. A recent example is Sinn Fein’s pronouncements on the X Case legislation, we’re pro-life – and we’re pro-choice! They are not alone in this – they all do it because they have a constant eye on the next election. We badly need reform of certain public services (and certain public servants) and we badly need governmental reform in the body politic. If we agree that the whip system is the right way to continue, then don’t be surprised when your local TD votes along party lines against a burning local issue. Personally I believe that any TD elected for a party who loses the whip, should lose their seat. I have never voted for personalities, I vote for party candidates based on published manifestos. So if an individual resigns from that responsibility, they have let many of the people who voted them in down. We need solid and stable fix term government, and it is time that people woke up and started to take up the mantle and decide if what they are being offered is good enough. There are many fine people in all political parties and many more from none. Many of us seek a home politically – and simply – cannot find it within the current offering.

An Adoption Viewpoint

I was adopted at birth in 1967. I have never sought out my birth mother and many (mainly non-adopted persons) can’t seem to understand that. So here is my view on the process.

I firmly believe that my birth mother did not give me to adoption easily. It must have been a very difficult decision, even if the decision was taken out of her hands. I can’t imagine that day in 1967 being a happy one in her life. But for me it was. This great woman (as all mothers are) gave me the precious gift of life. I am simply so grateful to her for that one great act – she owes me nothing.

When she signed the papers she understood that a door was not just closed, but the doorway was blocked up in a way that nobody would even know there was a door there once before.  She did that in good faith that she could “get on” with her life. That didn’t make any easier I’m sure but it brought a deal of certainty for her. I would NEVER want to break that wall unless she was the one to remove the bricks. Should she have this power – absolutely!

Bucket List

OK so time for my new bucket list! The key to this is "be specific"! I'm putting forward five goals (that's about all I could handle in a year).
So number one is ... weight loss. I have a "considerable" amount of weight that I really have to get serious about. I'm the worst in the world when it comes to food, and it's playing havoc with my desire to live beyond fifty. Never have too much problem with the "excercise" part as I enjoy walking and our dog does too - but food - that's my downfall. So new year - let's get down to this. The resolution is simple. STOP eating chocolate bars and sweets. STOP eating take away. EAT plenty of fruit and veg. Drink two litres of water each and every day and...well that's it. I recon by committing to this I will lose my two pounds a week, and by the end of the year I'll have lost a hundred.
Number two...well number two is already in train - playing the Bull McCabe in "The Field" (best start learning my lines).
Number three...to get some qualification regarding VB programming. Something long term, not a one day course.
Number four...(didn't do this last year so...) Date Night. Once a month to have some real quality time just for us.
Number five...get gigging! Aim is to play regular gigs (weekly) and to go to singer/songwriter sessions eavery two months to try out new material.
I've said it - Now LET IT BE DONE!

2011 IN REVIEW

Wow – what a year it has been! The best thing I did was – the first thing I did – I wrote (with my family and a friend) a bucket list for the year. I am so pleased that almost every single item on that list was accomplished, sadly the one I really should have achieved, as it was the simplest did not manifest itself – but hey – there is always 2012!

So personally I got to play the role of my life in March with the fantastic Ranting Rebels Theatre Group here in Waterford – the blind and alcoholic Richard Harkins in Conor McPherson’s superb play – “The Seafarer” – The first thing on my bucket list ticked! Just prior to this I had the privilege to take part in the premier of Paul Barry’s first play based in the iconic Waterford Crystal factory – “The Glass”, sell-out crowds and critical acclaim on both of these – happy days!

In April and May I got to the second item on the list – record and release and album. “What Quay are We In?” by Compass Point was the culmination of eighteen months of hard work. Although things didn’t work out for us together, the experience of the group, the gigs and the recording will endure. I am particularly proud that two of my own songs made the cut, “A New Found Land” and “Tall Ships Came Sailing”. We got to play many places from the Langesund International Sea Shanty Festival in Norway to the Tall Ships Festival in Waterford, via Rosses Point in Sligo! Even got to sail on a Schooner in Norway for a day.

Job done – number three – take part in Oxfam’s Trailtrekker  Event in September! Well I did it – but had to change to the 50k from the 100k – as I did not wish to die just then! Great team and wonderful support crew got me through it. Two more plays rounded off the year – a new piece of short writing from Fergus Cooper (premier) called "The Wicket Gate" and a re-run of “The Glass”. 

Other than that I fell in love with Twitter (@thisisgerry) and now have only a passing acquaintance with my old pal Facebook!

A huge thank you to everyone who made this year a success for me!

WOULD YOU BELIEVE...

Over the past two weekend, RTE, the Irish state broadcaster, ran a piece on their “Would you Believe” program on the decline of Catholic practice here in Ireland. Very well put together with some very good differing contributions. What struck me though, quite strongly, was a question posed to a young couple about to present their child for christening. It was a simple question but one they both found very difficult to answer…”as a Catholic – what do you believe?” – the answer – “God?... I don’t know” and then “to believe in God, and to worship him – in your own way”. Not judging them – but even on a very basic level – why would you indoctrinate a baby into ANY faith, if your understand of it was this? There are things that I disagree with in the Roman Catholic tradition (I’ve been called an a-la-carte Catholic before!) but I believe that change can be made, from within, without throwing out the baby with the font water as it were. We can be very immature about our faith and our spiritual life. I admire those who have a strong sense of belief, and those who have none, such as Richard Dawkins. We are required to think. Having a faith trust upon you from childhood does not mean you never have to think about it again. Far from it – it is (dare I say) unholy to do so.

IGNORANCE AND WANT

When I was 10 years old I played the part of Scrooge in a school production. Although it was not my first time on stage, it was my first “staring role” and I’d have wait nearly thirty five years to have another one of those – but that’s for another day. One of the major benefits for me playing this part was the love it gave me for this story, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. To me it is an almost perfect piece of writing, and it is a book that I have read each year for the past five years or so.

What struck me most when I re-read it as an adult was a paragraph that I would have ignored as a child, but now is the pivotal moment in the story. Here it is:

Stave 3: The Second of the Three Spirits

…From the foldings of its robe, it brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at its feet, and clung upon the outside of its garment. "Oh, Man, look here! Look, look, down here!" exclaimed the Ghost. They were a boy and a girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread. Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude. "Spirit, are they yours?" Scrooge could say no more. "They are Man's," said the Spirit, looking down upon them. "And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased. Deny it!" cried the Spirit, stretching out its hand towards the city. "Slander those who tell it ye. Admit it for your factious purposes, and make it worse. And abide the end." "Have they no refuge or resource?" cried Scrooge. "Are there no prisons?" said the Spirit, turning on him for the last time with his own words. "Are there no workhouses?"

I couldn’t believe how shocking this was to me as an adult revisiting this story. I remember being in tears reading this. It’s very powerful and sadly prophetic to us over 150 years after it was written. Ignorance and want are still as alive and well as they were then.