The Government, in signing the Fiscal Treaty, has effectively committed itself to introducing up to €6 billion more in tax increases and spending cuts in the medium-term, over and above what it has already planned. …
Monthly Archives For January 2012
Occupying NAMA buildings isn’t just a gesture – it’s essential research
This article was originally published in the journal.ie last night. How many speculators does it take to change a light bulb? The answer is none. They still think the broken one works. The business model of…
Answering the Sceptics
On Saturday, the Irish Times devoted a full page to the question of whether austerity is working, on foot of the letter by 60 prominent public figures. International commentators such as Joseph Stiglitz and Nouriel Roubini…
Conflict of interest is so deeply embedded in Ireland, no one seems to notice
Conflict of interest is so deeply embedded in Ireland, no one seems to notice The cops were very swift to close down the demonstration in the NAMA building that Unlock NAMA occupied on Saturday the…
Can We Still Write Big Question Sorts of Books? | David Graeber
Can We Still Write Big Question Sorts of Books? | David Graeber David Graeber and the model of his ‘popular’ yet scholarly book Debt: The First 5000 Years So: what was to be the model…
Old Kenny Apologises For Ireland to the Gintry
In the presence of the gentry, Old Kenny the peasant, doffed his cap, crooked his knee, arranged his face in an expression of obsequious servility and said: ‘Savin’ yer presence, yer honours, but sure ’tis…
Where are the ‘indignados’ going?
Translation of an article by Manuel Castells, originally published in La Vanguardia, 21st January 2012. The indignados movement that burst forth in 2011 in Spain, Europe and the United States is a breath of fresh air in…
Take Europe Back!
There was no need for Mario Draghi’s words to understand that the crisis has already reached an irreversible threshold in Europe. A crisis of “systemic dimensions” was what Jean-Claude Trichet said a couple of months…
Irish ‘SOPA law’ another under the radar attack on digital rights by a craven government pandering far too easily to corporate interests
Irish ‘SOPA law’ another under the radar attack on digital rights by a craven government pandering far too easily to corporate interests Very strong and accurate piece from Karlin Lillington in the Irish Times today, making…
Davos dilemma | Michael Roberts
Davos dilemma | Michael Roberts The majority of those at Davos think that Capitalism isn’t working, but don’t feel there is a need to change anything because its working rather well for them. It’s up…
26 into 1 Won’t Go
Media outlets are reporting a new crackdown on the unemployed. Apparently, the Department of Social Protection intends to introduce new regulations whereby ‘target-dates’ for exiting the Live Register will be set for different categories of unemployed. …
The Euro Should Never Have Been Created in the First Place
There is much to dislike in the former IMF chief economists Peter Boone and Simon Johnson’s prognosis The European Crisis Deepens about the prospects for the Eurozone, particularly one of the three parts of their…
The Promissory Notes | Tom McDonnell
The Promissory Notes | Tom McDonnell Economist Tom McDonnell of TASC provides a brief primer on IBRC promissory notes, which is available on Slideshare. Click here to view it in it’s own web page. Tom…
The governments strategy of no bondholder left behind is killing our people
Statement from Repudiate the Debt Campaign Once again the Government is handing over public money, this time €1.25 billion, to pay off the bond-holders of Anglo-Irish Bank. This callous, odious and unjust debt is taking…




