tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29723991930811517672024-03-05T07:39:18.788+00:00Casting a Cold Eye on IrelandDarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-86037566381530075852015-07-12T19:50:00.003+01:002015-07-12T19:55:36.111+01:00Bullshit ManI'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!<br />
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I've come out of retirement after reading numerous articles about the pension hikes due to our beloved political elite.<br />
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Our eternal gobshite of a leader says that the <a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/kenny-appeals-to-exministers-to-give-back-pension-topups-amid-fury-31366042.html" target="_blank">fat cats should voluntarily return the money</a>.<br />
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Poor little Brendan Howlin halfwittedly claims that <a href="http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/howlin-we-cannot-reduce-td-pensions-686129.html" target="_blank">legislation cannot be brought in to reduce pensions of retired politicians</a>, as they are constitutionally protected!<br />
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Even the slightly less ridiculous Government ministers are insulting our intelligence with garbage like this from Richard Bruton:<br />
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<i>"I can understand people's anger with this. But the situation is, as Mr Howlin says, you cannot pick a certain group of pensioners and decide that they are not getting an increase which is generally available" </i><br />
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I think that this situation can be accurately described with the sage words of a great philosopher......<br />
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And what Grade A bullshit it is. <br />
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Here's a little suggestion for the muppets running this country. If the Constitution of Ireland is really forcing us to pay out thousands of euro to the political classes who brought us to the brink of economic oblivion then how about we change it. <i> </i><br />
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The government has no problem committing to whatever nonsense the hippies in the <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Convention_%28Ireland%29">Constitutional <strike>Circus</strike> Convention</a> dream up. They also don't have a problem putting referendums we reject back on the table until we accept them (Nice, Lisbon treaties).<br />
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Why don't they sit down and come up with a wording that will allow us to award pension increases to the ordinary citizen without forcing us to simultaneously reward those who deserve it least. I'm sure the average Irish person would much rather implement that kind of sensible constitutional change over superfluous bolloxology like reducing the minimum age for the presidency. <br />
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Alas this won't happen. Expecting politicians voting to reduce the pensions of other politicians is like expecting turkeys to vote for Christmas. It's not in the DNA of a politician to do anything selfless (let alone courageous). They'd much rather have the comfort of sitting on their hands and pointing to the constitution as an excuse for their inaction.<br />
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This leaves them free to make heartfelt pleas for retired ministers to voluntarily pay back their ill-gotten pension rises. I'd love if my property tax or water rates were paid voluntarily. But the politicians' code doesn't apply to the ordinary man. <br />
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If only <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ab7F1FQrtA" target="_blank">Bullshit Man</a> really existed! He could be permanently stationed in Leinster House combating the never-ending attacks on our intelligence from the gombeen men we have stupidly selected to "represent" us.DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-43237517235715610392011-05-08T14:16:00.008+01:002011-05-09T02:11:05.072+01:00Wake Up Call<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">Every Irish citizen should read <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0507/1224296372123.html" target="_blank">this article</a> by Morgan Kelly. In a nutshell, it explains why:<br /><ul><li>The EU doesn't give a damn about Ireland and is using it as punchbag to strike fear into other European "partners" such as Spain.</li><li>Anyone who voted in favour of the Lisbon Treaty because it was good for Ireland was a weak minded and easily led fool.</li><li>The ECB are not our friends - when the IMF and Britain favoured burning unguaranteed bond holders the ECB and US Treasury torpedoed the plan.</li><li>Governor of the Central Bank, Saint Patrick Honohan, is actually a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Toadie" target="_blank">toadie</a> of the ECB. He does as he is told by his European overlords despite the tragic consequences his actions have for Ireland.</li></ul>I'm getting a bit sick of listening to people droning on about how the ECB and EU have been Ireland's salvation. Morgan Kelly's article expertly illustrates how monumentally wrong this assertion is. <br /><br />The ECB and the EU only care about France and Germany. These countries forged the impossible dream of European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). They repeatedly broke the terms of the European Stability and Growth Pact yet now have the cheek to lecture others for running high deficits. They are home to banks which irresponsibly lent billions to other badly run banks all over Europe (not just Ireland). They think they can bully small nations, financially crippling them and ruining the futures of many generations of their citizens. They fool their own people into believing that they are selflessly spending billions rescuing basket case economies such as Ireland's in order to mask the reality of the economic war they are waging. <br /><br />It's about bloody time the Irish government manned up. France and Germany created much of this problem. Their banks are just as badly run as ours were. Their imbecilic plan for EMU prevented countries like Ireland from controlling interest rates when their economies were overheating so that the faltering French and German economies could be kick started. Cheap money supplied by EU regulated banks drove demand for French and German exports in countries such as Ireland. Any French or German citizen who thinks that their tax is being wasted bailing out a country who created their own mess needs to examine the facts. The ECB created this mess by acting in the best interests of Europe's biggest players. Now they want to leave us solely responsible for it. They can feck right off! <br /><br />Ireland, Portugal and Greece are now paying the price for their own stupidity. However they are also paying an extra premium for the stupidity, arrogance and greed of France and Germany. It is high time we realised this and started fighting back.<br /><br />Are you listening Enda Kenny?</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-35988569601538194112011-02-24T19:58:00.003+00:002011-02-24T20:05:02.215+00:00Tired of the same old politics?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGUE89-GcanDZpr3wiU7trBDL4H6AazbjxDd7jCtOXq2vVEK6qqRR8XbbsU6j17M8Z2umMoV-BDunD-msDRZM_FchAvsJuHqRT0kTlrFX2-C9KOYMYwTX4F_AtoWa_DKlCG2ffRBeCnA/s1600/election2011ballotpaper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbGUE89-GcanDZpr3wiU7trBDL4H6AazbjxDd7jCtOXq2vVEK6qqRR8XbbsU6j17M8Z2umMoV-BDunD-msDRZM_FchAvsJuHqRT0kTlrFX2-C9KOYMYwTX4F_AtoWa_DKlCG2ffRBeCnA/s400/election2011ballotpaper.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577349137805504178" /></a>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-19098734518688213042011-02-20T18:30:00.013+00:002011-02-21T19:00:02.885+00:00Attention Fine Gael Voters<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Judging by the latest raft of opinion polls, Fine Gael is set to sweep to victory in the election on Friday. The Irish electorate have obviously fallen for the Fine Gael sound bites and empty promises. For jaysus sake people - think about who and what you are voting for!<br /><br />Fine Gael are promising to.....<br /><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="http://connect.finegael2011.com/forum/topics/politics-taking-the-lead">Make politicians lead the way in Ireland’s recovery.</a> Why then is our future Taoiseach intent on <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thejournal.ie/kenny-says-he-will-defer-e100k-pension-lump-sum-until-he-leaves-politics-2011-2/">taking a Teacher's pension</a> (including a lump-sum payment of €100,000) when he only worked as a teacher for four years? Enda Kenny has made a fortune from 36 years of Dáil salaries, pensions and expenses. He pocketed <a target="_blank" href="http://www.breakingnews.ie/election/news/kenny-refusing-to-return-1997-severance-payment-493110.html">severance payments</a> worth €40,000 when he left government in 1997. These are not the actions of a man who puts the best interests of Ireland before his own greedy motives. So much for Fine Gael politicians leading us out of our economic crisis.</li><br /><li><a target="_blank" href="http://connect.finegael2011.com/forum/topics/jobs-protecting-and-creating">"Protect and create jobs"</a>. Their decision to have their Election 2011 website developed and hosted in the USA is hardly a move that has protected or created one job in Ireland.</li><br /><li><a target="_blank" href="http://connect.finegael2011.com/forum/topics/fixing-the-deficit-jobs">"Take on the big vested interests"</a> that have caused our financial crisis. The Fine Gael front bench is made up of Doctors, Solicitors, Auctioneers, Landlords and at least 4 teachers. Sounds like a lot of vested interests to me. I doubt we'll be seeing any initiatives to reduce professional fees or to implement pay for performance in the teaching profession with that lot fighting the corners of their friends and colleagues. </li><br /><li><a target="_blank" href="http://connect.finegael2011.com/forum/topics/a-completely-new-health-system">Revolutionise our health system</a>. Essentially they will copy the Dutch system. Typical lazy Irish attitude to problem solving. The <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wellsphere.com/healthcare-industry-policy-article/netherlands-citizens-dodging-insurance-premiums-why-pay-when-you-get-it-for-free/843513">Dutch health system</a> has only been in place since 2006 - hardly long enough to declare it a success. What we need is for our new government to bring in immediate price controls on profiteering GPs and hospital consultants. This won't happen as the Fine Gael Minister for Health will be Dr. James Reilly. This man was president of the Irish Medical Organisation from 2004 - 2007. He campaigned for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.imo.ie/IMOPage_6_651.aspx?ID=2124&No=0">tax breaks to be given to GPs to build new surgeries</a>, he justified industrial action by doctors and, in 2001, he negotiated a massive payout for GPs in return for <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tribune.ie/article/2008/oct/19/the-opposition-has-a-job-to-do-but-the-main-opposi/">the provision of free medical cards for everyone over 70 years of age</a>. How the hell can we expect Fine Gael to improve anything with a money-grabbing GP pulling the strings?</li><br /><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.finegael2011.com/pdf/NewPolitics.pdf">Strengthen local government</a>. Strange that Fine Gael and the Labour party have controlled the majority of City, County and Urban District councils for most of the last decade. Their track record in local government is as appalling as Fianna Fáil's is in national government.</li><br /><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.finegael2011.com/pdf/NewPolitics.pdf">Implement a transparent system of political funding</a>. Obviously Leo Varadkar wasn't told about this policy when he <a target="_blank" href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0219/1224290286853.html">refused to name the attendees of his big fundraising dinner last week.</a></li></ul>In the final analysis, the only difference between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is that they fought on different sides during the Civil War of 1922/1923. They are both staffed and financed by "vested interests". They have extracted maximum financial gain from their "service" in Dáil Éireann. They have both lied to the people of Ireland for the best part of a century. They both claim to honour the memory of Irish patriots like Michael Collins and Wolfe Tone. True patriots don't look for severance payments or €100,000 lump-sum pensions when their country is facing a financial meltdown. Tone and Collins must be spinning in their patriot graves! </div><br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt">ENHANCE YOUR BALLOT PAPER - VOTE <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above" target="_blank">"NONE OF THE ABOVE"</a> IN ELECTION 2011.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s1600/noneoftheabovelogo.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s320/noneoftheabovelogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568119969311934226" /></a>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-71528985786638243342011-02-13T13:22:00.010+00:002011-02-13T22:33:31.743+00:00Question Time Part II<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size: 10pt">I'm getting a bit sick of the gobshites who live in the Dublin South constituency droning on about how great Shane Ross is and what a fantastic TD he will make. I am quite sure that they haven't bothered their arses conducting any research into whether Ross is worthy of their vote. Instead they rely on the propaganda of Ross's mates in the media to inform their decision. So here are my questions for this squeaky clean paragon of virtue:<br /><br /><ul><li>You have been sitting on your arse in Seanad Eireann since 1981. During this time you have continued to pursue your career in journalism and, no doubt, have reaped significant financial rewards from this double-jobbing. Why has it taken 30 years for you to decide that our political system needs reforming? Are you a bit slow or do you simply see a bandwagon to jump on to gain easy access to the riches of the Dáil?</li><br /><li>You claim that you have spent your career challenging big bankers (amongst others). If you were always such a critic of bankers why did you want Sean Fitzpatrick appointed as Governor of Bank Of Ireland? You claimed that one of Ireland's greatest economic criminals was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/ahoy-a-toff-at-helm-of-boi-487360.html">"too dynamic"</a> for the jealous top brass in Bank Of Ireland to appoint. Too corrupt more like. Please explain your apparent amnesia in this regard.</li><br /><li>In your day you were a fanboy of Michael Fingleton, another banker who wrecked this country. You haven't exactly been critical of Fingleton. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/fingletons-little-people-savage-rebels-490545.html">You once wrote</a>: <div style="font-family:Courier;font-size:10pt"><br />"Sure, he earns an awful lot of money (€835,000). <br />Sure he has been less than transparent.<br />But Fingleton, for all his faults, has delivered <br />the only thing that matters in business: profit."<br /><br /></div>He also delivered a steaming pile of trouble to this economy. How can you explain your lack of criticism of Fingleton? Is it because you were one of his bitches, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tribune.ie/article/2010/apr/25/sticky-fingers/">the journalists that he went out of his way to do favours for in return for favourable coverage</a>?</li><br /><li>Your election literature urges voters to "Elect me and like-minded independents to the Dáil...". You then promise to fight cronyism and lead the fight for Dáil reform. If you were serious about having any real impact - surely you and your "like-minded independents" could have formed a proper party with real policies to fight the election. Your failure to do this shows that you intend to sit in the Dáil and engage in the soundbite politics that have marked your 30 years of ineffective Seanad service. Discuss.</li><br /><li>The voters of Dublin South are known for their appetite for one hit wonders like Roger Garland and George Lee. Your candidature is very similar to that of Lee. You are both journalists who have profited from "exposing" things like cronyism. You claim that you do this in the national interest but at the end of the day your investigations are motivated by greed - selling more newspapers and gaining air time. You are both publicity hounds. Will your career as a TD also end as Lee's did? Will you also end up skulking back to your job as a journo hack having failed the voters of Dublin South and the people of Ireland?</li></ul></div><br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt">ENHANCE YOUR BALLOT PAPER - VOTE <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above" target="_blank">"NONE OF THE ABOVE"</a> IN ELECTION 2011.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s1600/noneoftheabovelogo.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s320/noneoftheabovelogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568119969311934226" /></a>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-81801330186643318142011-02-07T21:22:00.005+00:002011-02-07T22:52:08.274+00:00Question Time Part I<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size: 10pt">Over the next few days I will outline some questions I have designed for any scumbag millionaire (or wannabe) who is unfortunate enough to knock on my door.<br /><br />I will start with the questions I have for Sinn Féin candidates. <br /><br />I won't even bother raising moral elephants in the room like the <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Bank_robbery">Northern Bank robbery</a> or the party's role in preventing the murderers of <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Robert_McCartney">Robert McCartney</a> being brought to justice. There are some more fundamental questions that need answering:<br /><br /><ul><li>Sinn Féin claims that their public representatives only earn the average industrial wage (the rest being donated to the party). If this is true, why do the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sipo.gov.ie/en/Reports/AnnualDisclosures/DisclosurebyPoliticalParties/180510-DonationStatementsfurnishedbyPoliticalPartiesfor2009/Name,12127,en.htm">Standards in Public Office</a> (SIPO) records only show contributions of €6,000 per TD. Where is the rest of their massive salary/expenses package going?</li><br /><li>Gerry Adams owns three houses. How can he afford these on the "average industrial wage"?</li><br /><li>The Sinn Fein website is disgracefully light on detail. There is nothing which explains how you plan to pay for your €5 billion plans to build schools, health centres and creches. All the while, reversing social welfare cuts and reductions in public spending. You will use the National Pension Reserve Fund to bankroll your spending plans without a second thought for the future pensioners whose incomes you are flushing down the toilet. Please tell me why I'm wrong? Some supporting facts and figures will be required to support your answer.</li><br /><li>The only document listed on the Sinn Féin website which contains anything resembling a policy document is the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sinnfein.ie/sinn-fein-10-point-jobs-plan">10 point jobs plan</a>. If you care so much about creating jobs why is your website hosted in the USA?</li><br /><li>Sinn Féin believes in high taxation and high spending on social welfare and the public service. Your party will tax ordinary workers into oblivion in order to avoid essential reforms to our wasteful and fraudulent social welfare system. Your party has no fully costed budget and tries to disguise its Marxist ideology with waffle. My final question is... would you like to leave my door before I forcibly remove you from my property?</li></ul></div><br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt">ENHANCE YOUR BALLOT PAPER - VOTE <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above" target="_blank">"NONE OF THE ABOVE"</a> IN ELECTION 2011.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s1600/noneoftheabovelogo.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s320/noneoftheabovelogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568119969311934226" /></a>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-30580680209784618292011-02-04T17:40:00.005+00:002011-02-04T18:02:09.664+00:00Our Future Leader<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">Going on this performance I'd be surprised if Enda knew what day it was, let alone the status of his website. The man is a simpleton, plain and simple! Even Cowen wasn't this pathetic. We're going from bad to worse, frying pan to fire, dumb to dumber..... </div><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Hlte5tq0Nhw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt">ENHANCE YOUR BALLOT PAPER - VOTE <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above" target="_blank">"NONE OF THE ABOVE"</a> IN ELECTION 2011.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s1600/noneoftheabovelogo.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s320/noneoftheabovelogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568119969311934226" /></a>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-44242393125129975412011-01-30T19:49:00.010+00:002011-01-30T23:09:39.275+00:00Voting None Of The Above<div style="font-size:10pt; font-family:Arial">Until very recently I found it unthinkable to "spoil my vote". However, faced with a political menu full of candidates and ideologies which are well past their sell by date, I feel I have no choice. Rather than simply not turning up at the polling station, I will turn up and cast my vote and it will be counted. My hope is that the total valid poll will be significantly lower than the total poll. This will show that a lot of people chose to turn out and register their disaffection with the state of our political system by enhancing their ballot papers with their vote going to <a target="_blank" href="http://aceproject.org/electoral-advice/archive/questions/replies/705390375">"None Of The Above"</a>.<br /><br />In many democracies "None Of The Above" is a valid option on ballot papers. The rationale behind this is that voters should have the option to register their disapproval of all the candidates or parties being put before them. If the recent troubles we have endured have taught us anything it is that our political system is in need of serious reform. We have so many overpaid public "representatives" that it is possible to make a lifelong career from politics without ever working a proper job (take a bow Eamon Gilmore). Our politicians are not in touch with the people. They live in a world of vast salaries, state cars and expense accounts while we deal with redundancy, pay cuts and poverty. We need a political system that allows us to reject all the dross put in front of us in an election - None Of The Above would be one such mechanism.<br /><br />Why should we be forced to vote for some Fine Gael, Labour or Sinn Féin muppet just because we are outraged with the mess Fianna Fáil made of the country. The truth is that the opposition would have made just as bad a job of things as Fianna Fáil. The politicians of this country are cut from the same cloth - selfish, arrogant and greedy. I refuse to endorse any of them. If enough Irish voters have the courage to enhance their ballot papers on election day we will see a massive proportion of "spoilt votes". This will send out a message to the rotten apple cart of Irish politicians. While they might have a technical electoral mandate - they will have no moral authority to govern us. They do not represent us, they do not know what is best for us and, if they are not careful, a mass of spoilt votes will be the least of their worries.<br /><br />So if you find yourself torn between voting for Fine Gael and its simpleton leader, the communist manifesto of the Labour Party, the fantasy island politics of Sinn Féin or if you are planning on voting for Fianna Fáil because that is what you always do. STOP. You have another option - ballot paper enhancement - vote None Of The Above.</div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s1600/noneoftheabovelogo.gif"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIpEqdThG5JSrRTYwJN9zUsl7AALI_xLu2GCgJ_8uylHv5u6HaBUynsHq4AxYf11qOujcjHy0sVOpN4MWO9-R5D09rBU8pYOaDQSi9K8HL8CyF7lwy9UA1tnaH5lHnqdJcdbqL8Zz6QA/s320/noneoftheabovelogo.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568119969311934226" /></a>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-52702856320740411562011-01-08T14:28:00.007+00:002011-01-08T15:04:53.925+00:00Lunar Eclipse<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">You would imagine that something the size of the moon would be hard to hide. However that is exactly what has happened this week as our Minister for Health and Cream Cakes has disappeared. With the country's hospitals at breaking point due to severe lack of funds and the wasteful dinosaurs in the VHI deciding to rape their customers with massive premium increases you would imagine that Fat Mary Harney would be here showing a bit of leadership. Instead she has chosen to follow the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dempsey-told-to-come-out-of-hiding-as-chaos-reigns-2002745.html">Noel Dempsey approach to crisis management</a> - go to ground and don't emerge until the problem has sorted itself out. Bad enough that Harney's failed right wing <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reaganomics">reaganomic</a> principles have destroyed not only the health service but the wider economy. But now she's off sunning herself while the people <br />of this country die on trolleys in hospitals that are more akin to concentration camps than centres of healthcare excellence.<br /><br />It is quite evident that the government of this country is a dead man walking but you would think that the likes of Fat Mary would at least have the good grace to pretend to care. Given her complete failure to lead or even feign empathy with people during this crisis it would appear that she won't stand for election in March. Just like Fianna Fool rats such as Mary Wallace, Noel Dumpsey and Betray Ahern, Fat Mary acts like she too will jump from the ship that she has helped to sink. Just as well she has stored up 30 years' worth of cash by "representing" the people of Ireland in the Kildare Street Country Club - that should keep her in cream cakes for a while.<br /><br />Unfortunately it doesn't look like things will change much after Funny Gael come to power. They've been hiding their clown prince of a leader for the last few months for fear that he will speak in public and us poor pixie Irish will realise that the opposition are every bit as inept as the government.</div> <br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:8pt">ENHANCE YOUR BALLOT PAPER - VOTE <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above" target="_blank">"NONE OF THE ABOVE"</a> IN ELECTION 2011.</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-32678078126956594492010-12-23T22:33:00.009+00:002010-12-24T21:19:18.536+00:00Season's Greetings<div align="center"><object width="400" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5OjByxD-AfY?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5OjByxD-AfY?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:12pt"><br />Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year to all our readers and followers.</span></div><br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">ENHANCE YOUR BALLOT PAPER - VOTE "NONE OF THE ABOVE" IN ELECTION 2011.</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-82186889198601863172010-12-07T21:18:00.006+00:002010-12-08T01:56:37.498+00:00In The National Interest<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt"><br />So Budget 2011 has been passed. No surprise there. The 166 members of the Kildare Street Country Club put on their annual pantomime but there was no way this budget was ever in danger of rejection. <br /><br />Another predictable result was how our political overlords saw fit to share out the financial pain we poor pixie Irish must endure. As usual, ordinary hard-working men and women will suffer most for the spectacular incompetence of the people at the top of our society. You would think it illogical to penalise people who didn't cause our problems. To cut the incomes of working people. To condemn our schools to rack and ruin. And all so we can keep bankers and TDs living the life of Reilly! Well Irish politicians don't do logic. They do, however, excel when it comes to hypocrisy, insincerity and immorality.<br /><br />So let's look at this budget which is condemning us to years of economic hardship "In The National Interest":<br /><br /><ul><li>No cuts to TD's salaries. Sounds fair - it can't be easy living on a minimum of €92,672 per year.</li><li>The Taoiseach is really taking one for the team though - a cut of €14,000 to bring his salary down to a paltry €214,466. Wow that's a massive 6% pay cut. That fat clown has overseen the destruction of this country and that's all he gets by way of punishment. He should be serving 20 years hard labour for the damage he has done.</li><li>And what punishment will Brian Clown's cabinet of imbeciles suffer? Well they are taking a €10,000 pay cut. Ouch - that 5% cut will bring the minimum ministerial salary down to around €181,000 a year. God love them!</li><li> And spare a thought for the dinosaurs that make up our judiciary. Judges and other overpaid public servants will have their salaries capped at €250,000 - my heart bleeds for them. They will just have to screw even more out of us via their unbelievably <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thejournal.ie/judges-can-claim-e2000-for-their-work-wigs-2010-11/">extravagant annual expenses</a>.<li>Meanwhile, away from the ivory towers of Kildare Street, the minimum wage gets cut from €8.65 to €7.65 per hour. That is 11.5%. So TDs get no cut. The Taoiseach and his court jesters take 6% and 5% cuts respectively yet the poor slob who eeks out a living on the minimum wage is destroyed with an 11.5% cut. SICKENING!</li><li>To add insult to injury - the dole only gets cut by 4%. Compare that with the 11.5% minimum wage cut - a real incentive to get up off your hole and get a job!</li><li>Day to day funding for schools, colleges and other educational providers will be cut by 5% so that we can still pay child benefit to the multi-millionaires who got the country into this mess.</li><li>"Artists" can still earn €40,000 (reduced from €250,000) a year tax-free for wearing their underpants on their head and churning out the odd sculpture. Why should they receive any preferential treatment whatsoever?</li><li>The air travel tax is reduced by 70% (from €10 to €3) but shock horror - <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ryanair.com/en/news/ryanair-condemns-tourist-tax-half-measure">Ryanair still aren't happy</a>! You could let Michael "Publicity Hound" O'Leary land planes for free on O'Connell Street and he'd still be whining about something.</li><li>Michael <a target="_blank" href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/malevolence">Malevolence</a> Noonan <a target="_blank" href="http://m.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/1207/breaking44.htm?via=latest">laments the fact that we are lead by "...a puppet government.."</a> which is under the strict control of the IMF and the ECB. Malevolence Noonan also has the audacity to claim that this budget was "soft on the rich and hard on the poor". Another example of the sickening hypocrisy of our wealthy opposition representatives. Has Malevolence forgotten how he and his fellow blueshirted fascists campaigned vigorously in favour of the Lisbon Treaty? Has he forgotten how he served in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rte.ie/laweb/ll/ll_t10d.html">Funny Gael/Liebore coalition government which tried to introduce VAT on children's shoes in 1982</a>? Maybe the cold weather has frozen his baldy head to such an extent that he has purged all recollection of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thepost.ie/archives/2009/0913/nama-plan-has-echoes-of-1985-44268.html">Funny Gael/Liebore's bailout of AIB/ICI in 1985</a>.</li></ul><br />What Budget 2011 demonstrates is how out of touch our politicians are with the ordinary Irish citizen. The are still vastly overpaid. They still enjoy lavish expenses. They are so concerned with kissing babies, scratching backs and licking arses in the hope of re-election that they neglect their duty to this country. How are we ever going to see a fair budget when the people responsible for most of our problems are the ones in control? Whether they be Fianna Fool, Funny Gael, Liebore or Sinn Pain they are all the same. They are motivated by power and money. Like Malevolence Noonan, they expect us to forget their past actions as they trot out lie after patronising lie. They all claim to have our best interests at heart. They claim to know better than us. They falsely profess patriotism and a will to serve Ireland and its people. These scumbag politicians and their parties seek our votes "In the National Interest"..... we know damn well that their only real motivation is self interest.<br /><br />ENHANCE YOUR BALLOT PAPER - VOTE "NONE OF THE ABOVE" IN ELECTION 2011.<br /></div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-58649253942809731622010-11-30T20:47:00.008+00:002010-11-30T21:30:14.482+00:00Separated At Birth?<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt"><br />What's the difference between these two clowns?<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXG4jGRI-ImzCNTH6FE15kmXPCIp4rQmilH979jQk93pBsD_jBof2nb5wVWxeVO2ifaYZfs_RHPInqbalCb6oyOTT_30YSYPtnFHojOofnJV_lbCo2oG-ba6UtW0XEqVDa5YEuusvwKU/s1600/domnleo1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 278px; height: 146px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDXG4jGRI-ImzCNTH6FE15kmXPCIp4rQmilH979jQk93pBsD_jBof2nb5wVWxeVO2ifaYZfs_RHPInqbalCb6oyOTT_30YSYPtnFHojOofnJV_lbCo2oG-ba6UtW0XEqVDa5YEuusvwKU/s400/domnleo1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545451603006353954" /></a><br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt"><br />One is <a href="http://www.mamanpoulet.com/leo-varadkars-fitness/" target="_blank">a fat comedian</a>, the other one is <a target="_blank" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dom_Joly">Dom Joly</a>!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-25307977317140360592010-11-22T16:32:00.007+00:002010-11-22T19:41:50.666+00:00None of the above<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">It has been a long time since I last updated this blog. As things went from bad to worse for this country I just couldn't see the point in stating the obvious about our country's corrupt political overlords.<br /><br />Last night, after watching days of <a target="_blank" href="http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Sky-News-Archive/Article/20080641086736">Comical Ali</a> style denials, Brian Clown finally admitted that the IMF and the EU are the new sheriffs in town. <br /><br />As I sat watching my telly, the screen filled by Michael "Malevolence" Noonan's fat head as he smugly celebrated the arrival of the IMF, my anger levels once again hit blog force 10. <br /><br />This political parasite was taking delight from the predicament that this country finds itself in. He knows that this crisis is his ticket back to a ministry, a hefty pay hike and a big expense account. Malevolence Noonan symbolises all that is wrong with the political system in this country. This is the man who bullied a dying woman, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Its+hard+not+to+weep+at+this+appalling+injustice.-a0190476278">Brigid McCole</a>, as she fought for compensation from the state for its role in infecting her and many others with Hepatitis C.<br /><br />Noonan's disgraceful behaviour during this episode demonstrates that he is every bit the scumbag politician that Brian Clown, Stupid Mary Coughlan and Betray Ahern are.<br /><br />The political system in this country is rotten to the core. Scoundrels like Malevolence Noonan can bully a dying woman in the state's name and then return to the political front line thirteen years later as if nothing had happened. Most of the scumbag millionaires in Kildare Street have similar skeletons in their cupboards. A majority of the Liebore party front bench is drawn from the former Irish Workers Party - a communist party which idolised tyrants like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin" target="_blank">Joseph Stalin</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Honecker" target="_blank">Erich Honecker</a>. And it would be stating the obvious to even bother outlining the dodgy past of most of the Sinn Féin party leadership.<br /><br />For too many years the political classes have treated the Irish people like fools. When a new government is formed after the inevitable election in January, Michael Malevolence Noonan will certainly be in the new cabinet. However, if the people of Ireland play their cards right he will represent a government with no moral authority. It is my hope that an overwhelming majority of the Irish electorate go to the polls. But I don't want them to vote for our poisonous political establishment. If a massive majority of people choose to "spoil" their votes we will show the scumbag millionaires that we have had enough of their sleeveen politics.<br /><br />What is the alternative to Brian Clown and his fellow Fianna Fool imbeciles? Is it Malevolence Noonan and the country and western politics of Enda de road Kenny? Is it the communists and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/irish-minister-set-to-survive-scandal-1427878.html">kerb crawlers</a> in the Liebore Party? Is it the fantasy island politics of Sinn Féin?<br /><br />The answer, my poor Pixie Irish, is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above" target="_blank">NONE OF THE ABOVE</a>!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-46829036515858434232010-06-27T12:38:00.011+01:002010-11-30T21:13:14.013+00:00The Living Dead - A Funny Gael Production<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">In the aftermath of Enda De Road Kenny's "victory" in the farcical Funny Gael leadership battle the typical Funny Gael supporter came out to voice their support for their halfwit leader.<br /><br />Jaysus help us if this moron is going to be the next Taoiseach. Brian Clown is a muck savaging, hang sambo eating, ploughing championship attending gombeen man but it seems that Kenny will elevate us from the frying pan to the fire of brainless parochial leadership!<br /><br />Any ounce of political credibility Funny Gael had has now been obliterated in favour of Craggy Island politics. Now observe as Enda's legions of loyal coffin dodgers give their sophisticated political analyses of the events surrounding his victory. Watch out for a masterclass in inspirational and refined philosophy from John Cribbin, he will surely be made a poster boy for the "new" Funny Gael:<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/x5gcx5OUack&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/x5gcx5OUack&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />So this is what Funny Gael stands for! I'm no fan of horror show politicians like Count Leo von Varadkar or Brian Hangman Hayes, but at least you can understand them. At least they are capable of stringing a sentence together without making reference to saving hay or winning the fucking Sam Maguire. Alas, Funny Gael has firmly stated its position as Ireland's ultimate country and western party. Gobshites like Phil NoPayCut Hogan and Michael PainInDe Ring will ensure that all roads will lead to Mayo if they win the next election.<br /><br />And on that depressing note I will leave you with this masterpiece from the Après Match lads. If only the real Enda DeRoad Kenny could be this funny......<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/k03XT-GVMLI&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/k03XT-GVMLI&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-82865113611744954872010-06-16T22:22:00.005+01:002010-11-30T21:14:06.675+00:00Failing Politics 101<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">So here we are - the week when an <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0611/1224272271393.html?via=rel" target="_blank">opinion poll</a> (albeit a dodgily "adjusted" one) revealed support for Fianna Fool at an all time low. The government are on the ropes and the opposition, led by Enda de road Kenny, aim a knockout blow in the form of a vote of no confidence in Brian Clown and his corrupt cabinet. Times like these are what an opposition leader dreams of. Even if a no confidence motion fails, he will score as many political points as possible as the government suffers the humiliation of another appalling opinion poll.<br /><br />So what do Funny Gael do when faced with this gilt-edged opportunity to gain the upper hand on their foes on the government benches? Ah yes - they decide to fuck it all up and move against their half-wit of a leader! There is no denying that Enda de road Kenny is a simpleton. He looks and acts like a clown. He has consistently failed to connect with the electorate and is a sincerity no fly zone. But why on earth have imbeciles like Richard Bruuutal, Count Leo von Varadkar and Brian hangman Hayes decided to move against their leader now? These arseholes are trying to portray themselves as the cabinet in waiting yet they cannot organise something as basic as a palace coup. Seriously - that's Politics 101. If they can't get this right how the hell will they manage to lead the country out of the trouble it's in? <br /><br />Funny Gael constantly point sanctimonious fingers at Fianna Fool for mistakes they have made in the past. However they, like all politicians, are arch-hypocrites. Enda de road Kenny should have been chopped after he lost the last election. The electorate rejected his brand of GAA club politics and Funny Gael should have realised that his bogman country and western credentials would never wash with us poor pixie Irish. But instead of cleaning house and installing Richard Bruuutal as leader they chose to keep faith in a failure. No matter what happens in Thursdays Funny Gael vote on Kenny's future, there will be no winners. The likes of Olivia the hag Mitchell will be targeting party colleagues like Alan Shitter instead of their enemies in Fianna Fool. Funny Gael will be a divided party. With only a couple of years until we face another election Funny Gael look like they are set to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory yet again!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-61062265822010228132010-05-29T20:45:00.006+01:002010-05-30T22:12:48.320+01:00A Surgical Shambles<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">I was absolutely disgusted when I read <a target="_blank" href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2010/0528/1224271300512.html">this article</a> outlining the circumstances under which a young child had the wrong kidney removed by a team of imbeciles in Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin. The fact that the child's parents repeatedly sought assurances that the correct procedure would be carried out makes this case all the more disturbing. <br /><br />The two clowns primarily responsible for this surgical fiasco are the subject of a medical council investigation. Undoubtedly this will result in some form of a rap on the knuckles for these morons before they are released to butcher their next victim in Our Lady's or some other hospital.<br /><br />This type of thing happens way too often in this country. The medical profession (especially consultants) have something of a god complex. They resent the little people questioning their divine wisdom. God forbid that we should want to be sure that they get it right, it's only our lives that are at stake. For too long we pixie Irish have buttoned our lips for fear of upsetting some overpaid surgical wanker. For too long we haven't questioned a diagnosis. For too long we have taken the word of a doctor to be gospel. Well no more. I would urge anyone with any degree of doubt about a medical issue to seek reassurance from their doctor. If you are not happy - ask again. If they don't like it - tough shit. If they are about to jeopardise your life or the life of your child you have a right to be somewhat wary.<br /><br />As long as we are relying on poxy medical council investigations or the awarding of a few quid in compensatory damages by an unjust court system we will never see any real improvement in the behaviour of the upper echelons of the medical profession. And we can't rely on the likes of the Minister for Health and Cream Cakes, Fat Mary Harney, or her fellow aristocrats in the Dáil to give a damn about justice or the rights of the ordinary citizen. Maybe we should be playing <a target="_blank" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Punchy%20Facey&defid=4999282">punchy facey</a> with those careless consultant bastards if they commit such gross acts of carelessness against their patients. Under the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Punchy%20Facey&defid=4999282">punchy facey</a> system of medical justice we'll take the first, second and third turns - we'll let the consultants overcharge each other to get their faces fixed up when we've finished the "game".</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-70438059632313156152010-05-10T17:30:00.006+01:002010-05-10T22:07:24.424+01:00It's all a load of greek!<div style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt">There can be little argument that Greece is the economic basket case of Europe. Years of creative accounting, corruption and waste have seen to that. But we poor <a href="http://thepixieirish.blogspot.com" target="_blank">pixie Irish</a> seem to think that we have been spared the consequences of the full Greek tragedy after our recent economic misadventures. Every time I turn on the radio there seems to be some gobshite of an economic analyst saying "well at least we're not like Greece" or "we took action early so we won't end up like the Greeks" - UTTER CRAP.<br /><br />Have no doubt, this country is still in the shitter! Our <a target="_blank" href="http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/cache/ITY_PUBLIC/2-22042010-BP/EN/2-22042010-BP-EN.PDF">deficit for 2009</a> was a staggering 14.3%. This figure is the highest in Europe and illustrates the trouble we are in. Granted, some of this is to do with the fact that the eurocrats have changed their minds and reclassified €4 billion worth of Anglo Irish bailout money as part of the deficit. We passed the Lisbon Treaty so they no longer need to keep us sweet by turning blind eyes to our €4 billion economic funderland. <br /><br />Most of us seem content in our naive belief that last year's budget saw the worst of the financial cutbacks. However, given the state of the public finances we are surely in for even more hardship. Especially since the government seems likely to bend over and take yet another rogering from the unions by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/eyojgbqlkfsn/">delaying the implementation</a> of some of the reforms to our ridiculous public service pension system. <br /><br />The recent announcement of a <a target="_blank" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8671632.stm">European support fund</a> to prevent a repeat of the Greek crisis will only bring the onset of badly needed economic reforms a step closer for poor fools like us pixie Irish. The likes of Germany and France will (justifiably) want to make sure that their fellow Europeans get their economic houses in order in return for stumping up much of this €750 billion pot of gold. Countries like Ireland will, therefore, need to engage in a series of more violent belt-tightening exercises in the near future.<br /><br />Maybe an intervention from our European overlords is just what we need. It's not like our current government are capable of providing us with brave leadership. They continue to bow to the unions and they refuse to make meaningful reforms to our wasteful and parochial system of government. And it's not like their opposition in the Dáil will do much better. On Today FM's <a target="_blank"href="http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Matt-Cooper/Overview.aspx">Last Word</a> programme the Funny Gael spokesperson for Rural Affairs and Muck Savagery, Michael 'PainInThe' Ring, outlined Enda de road Kenny's immediate priority once he assumes power. So would it be the winding up of Anglo Irish Bank, tackling the wasteful public service or maybe the seizure of Michael Fingleton's millions? Ah no - Enda de road's number one priority would be to allocate millions of euro to be spent upgrading the N5 national road so that he could travel back home to the bog in comfort. Nice one Enda - a shining example of your complete incapacity to lead this country.<br /><br />So this lunchtime as you head into Starbucks and order your venti caramel macchiato because you think that things are on the up and, after all, you're worth it - remember this: There is an economic canon being built in Europe and whether your name is Stelios or Séamus it will soon be aimed at you!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-2671093702987234962010-04-23T21:41:00.006+01:002010-04-23T22:23:27.654+01:00Scan this!<div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial">I was standing in a long queue at the self-scan checkouts in <a href="http://www.superquinn.ie" target="_blank">Superquinn</a> today when my rage levels finally kicked back to blog force 10. <br /><br />For those unfamiliar with the self-scan checkout system - a brief introduction to the theory:<ul><li>A bank (4-6) of automated checkouts allow shoppers with a <b>small</b> amount of items to scan and pay for goods, thereby freeing up larger checkouts and their operators to process customers with larger quantities of shopping.</li><br /><li>One shop assistant is assigned to supervise the self-scan area, dispensing plastic bags and assisting the technologically challenged muppets who continually fail to understand the simple self-scan concept.</li><br /><li>There will always be the odd hiccup with the technology but if used correctly the self-scan should result in a speedier shopping experience for all shoppers.</li><br /></ul>So that's the theory - now for the reality:<ul><li>One in every five shoppers who turn up to the self-scan queue have trolleys full of shopping. These knobends then proceed to slowly scan, or even better let their snot nosed kids scan, their weekly shopping. Their epic scanfest is punctuated with visits to the self-scan supervisor to demand assistance because they've left their handbag, car keys or aforementioned snot nosed kid in the "bagging area".</li><br /><li>The self-scan supervisor ignores the repeated abuses of the system, repeatedly allowing the assclowns to scan their omnibuses full of shopping even though it makes a mockery of the whole self-scan ideology. At the end of the day they get paid anyway so why should they care.</li><br /><li>The poor hapless fools in the queue wait to pay for their chicken wrap and coke in a frustrated silence as their lunch hour disappears in a mist of bar codes and lasers. Everyone knows that the self-scan rules are being broken but nobody will object for fear that they'll be seen as fussy troublemakers.</li><br /></ul>In recent weeks I've been infected by the national apathy epidemic that makes us poor pixie Irish shrug our shoulders in resignation as bankers, politicians, clergy and various other "pillars" of society ride us raw. So today as I stood in a self-scan queue for nearly twenty minutes (all I wanted to buy was a yogurt and a packet of green Extra!) it suddenly dawned on me. Ireland is one big self-scan checkout! <br /><br />The arseholes with the million dollar shopping trolleys are the bankers, the property developers, the clergy and the unions. They continually flout the rules and get away with it. The self-scan supervisors are the politicians - turning a blind eye to repeated abuses of the system and even aiding the deviants (but they supply bank bail outs, redress boards and NAMA instead of plastic bags and car park validation). And guess who the silent majority in the self-scan queue are? Of course, it's us, the poor <a href="http://thepixieirish.blogspot.com" target="_blank">pixie Irish</a>. Day in and day out we stand by as criminals like <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/ontherecord/2010/04/20/the-man-with-the-e27-million-pension/" target="_blank">Michael Fingleton</a> and his ilk get away with bankrupting the country. We rely on the politicians to protect our interests but they claim they are powerless to do anything to exact punishment as it would be illegal! ILLEGAL - are they taking the piss! They have no problem putting dodgy Eurotrash referendums before us until we pass them. Why don't we amend the constitution to allow certain named bankers, developers, politicians and child abusing clergymen to be hung from the lamp posts of Kildare Street. There's a referendum you'd have no problem passing!<br /><br />I've had enough of the pantomime surrounding the self-scan checkouts! Next time I'm in Superquinn I'm going to the manager to bring this farce to his attention. If that doesn't fix things I'll be kicking in a campaign of death stares and insults for any gobshite trying to scan a wagon load of groceries. Alas, we may need to adopt a stronger mode of opposition to the corrupt bankers and their accomplices in the Dáil.<br /><br />Anger is a gift my friends, it's time we started using it!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-8829378838935419792010-02-16T18:06:00.003+00:002010-02-16T18:17:25.031+00:00The Ballad of George and Deirdre<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt"><br />Like rats from a sinking<br />Ship they did jump<br />George Lee and de Burca<br />They both got the hump<br /><br />George was elected <br />With much blueshirt ado<br />While for treehugger Deirdre <br />Votes were too few<br /><br />But one thing this pair <br />Of halfwits did share<br />Was to decide a political<br />Future wasn't there<br /><br />So both of these clowns<br />From their parties resigned<br />Their careers in ruin<br />Their characters maligned<br /><br />Yet rest assured Ireland<br />They will be replaced<br />By more corrupt scumbags<br />Who will lie, cheat and waste<br /><br />But it still made me happy<br />It filled me with glee<br />That the country was rid of<br />de Burca and Lee <br /></div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-36063610635100995552010-01-30T19:00:00.010+00:002010-01-31T12:41:05.798+00:00Foul Play, Wide Angle<div style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt">I've just been reading a <a href="http://www.bai.ie/compliance%20decisions/20100119_compcomm_summarydecisionsjanmeeting_aob.pdf" target="_blank">document</a> by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) which found that broadcaster Newstalk was guilty of biased coverage of the Lisbon treaty debate.<br /><br />Three complaints were upheld against Newstalk's "Wide Angle" program. Anyone who regularly listens to this political panel show will already know that its pugnacious presenter, Karen "Karnage" Coleman, is utterly incapable of facilitating a fair and balanced debate. In common with other Newstalk presenters such as Gargoyle Hook, Ivan The Terrible Yates and Claire Third Degree Byrne, Karnage Coleman generally insures that Newstalk continues to act as the social and political megaphone of its owner - Darth Denis O'Brien. <br /><br />Whenever a big topic has to be debated on the Wide Angle the panel is loaded with toadies, hacks and spin doctors who all agree with the views of Newstalk's Dark Overlord. A token simpleton may be included to supply an opposing view - but Karnage will ensure that they are given little time to pose their side of the story. After Karnage ballyrags them with a volley of neoliberal blueshirt abuse the hapless victim won't have the time or energy to try to defend the onslaught of a panel loaded with opponents.<br /><br />The BAI decisions against Newstalk are pretty damning for a show that claims to provide <a href="http://www.newstalk.ie/programmes/all/the-wide-angle/" target="_blank">"...an entertaining cocktail of intelligent talk shaken up with first-class analysis..."</a><br /><br />A summary of the BAI findings:</div><div style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:10pt;"><ul><li>"It was evident on hearing the broadcast that all the contributors in this discussion bar one were pro-Lisbon."</li><li>"The Yes side was given prominence. The broadcast treatment of the Treaty in this broadcast was one-sided and not fair to all interests concerned"</li><li>"The Committee was of the view that the content of the discussion amounted to a one-sided viewpoint on the Lisbon Treaty Referendum. The Yes side was given prominence."</li><li>"The Committee was of the view the programme-makers and the presenter did not take sufficient action to mitigate the views and opinions expressed by the panel, which was overwhelmingly for a Yes vote."</li><li>The report also highlights Karnage's failure to provide any sufficient challenge to pro-Treaty contributors.</li></ul></div><div style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt"><br />You would think that such findings against a national news broadcaster would have been widely reported by our esteemed press corps. But oh no.... the hacks and toadies in the Irish journo fraternity don't have the balls or the integrity to criticise one of their own. They'd much rather go after the easy target and <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2010/0126/breaking54.htm" target="_blank">emphasise</a> the sharp practices of a late night quiz program which appears to have cheated a hoard of imbeciles out of some money. <br /><br />Surely the Irish Times, the self styled "Paper of Record", would be outraged that the key journalistic pillar of impartiality was being demolished by Newstalk. The Times devoted <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cowen+painting+rte+apology+site%3Airishtimes.com&aq=f&aqi=&oq=" target="_blank">considerable coverage</a> to RTE's humiliating apology to Brian Clown after they ran a story about nude portraits of him. You would expect Newstalk's disgracefully one sided Lisbon coverage to be met with equal levels of outrage by Ireland's finest correspondents. WRONG. That horror show Madam Editor of the Irish Times is of the same fascist ilk as Newstalk's Dark Overlord. She couldn't allow any criticism of Karnage or her Nazi panel show. <br /><br />Irish journalism is clearly in a jocker. Irish journalists present a facade of intelligence and morality. They claim to be doing their best to report impartial news to the <a href="http://thepixieirish.blogspot.com" target="_blank">poor pixie Irish.</a> However, Irish news reporting is increasingly influenced by politicians and big business. RTE is a politician fearing disgrace and the likes of Newstalk have all the journalistic credibility of FOX News. The proliferation of shows like The Wide Angle and presenters like Karnage Coleman signal the death knell of impartial and trustworthy journalism in this country.<br /><br />P.S. I've just had a look at Karnage's website. There is a section on it where <a href="http://www.karencoleman.com/chair.asp" target="_blank">she whores herself out</a>, "chairing" events and seminars. Some of the testimonials on it are truly gag inducing (yet somewhat entertaining in the light of her recently highlighted shortcomings as a journalist and presenter):</div><div style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:10pt;"><ul><li>"She has a talent for getting to the heart of the matter, asking the right questions, getting the most out of her panel..."</li><li>"She has a rare ability to bring out many sides of a debate, while cutting directly to the underlying issues..."</li><li>"Karen was committed to her participation of the event from the outside... to ensure a well balanced discussion was delivered on the day."</li></ul></div><div style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt"><br />Ha ha ha ha ha ha - I wonder if she will be adding the findings of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to her testimonials. Unlikely, as anyone who employs her obviously has no time for fairness, respect or impartiality.</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-40303799467086761312010-01-13T18:09:00.009+00:002010-01-14T14:46:11.224+00:00Maximum Authority, Minimum Responsibility<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">So it's not just the economy that's in the shitter now! After a few weeks of bad weather we seem to have experienced a total breakdown in basic public services. Our whole infrastructure seems to have been exposed for the third world shambles it is. Years of bad planning have resulted in thousands of houses being built on flood plains. Our sea and river defences are a disgrace and now we can't endure a few weeks of cold weather without running out of salt to treat the roads or having our water supplies cut.<br /><br />You would have thought that our politicians would have used these unfortunate circumstances to show a bit of leadership. To take some decisions, allocate some resources and get the show back on the road. Hahahahahaha..... not a snowball's chance in hell! By the time the scumbag millionaires in Kildare Street got their arses into gear it was too late. <br /><br />The likes of Johan von Gormless proved yet again that they are complete wastes of space. Check out Gormless's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0107/primetime.html">interview on RTE</a> - a case study in evasiveness and incompetence. The best bit of the interview was when Miriam O'Callaghan referred to him as "The Minister for Snow" - a remark which went down like a bucket of hot sick with the king of the tree huggers! Gormless is a classic case of a dead man walking. He has proved that his sanctimonious sermonising while in opposition was just rhetoric. He has wasted his chance to provide any real leadership. Rather than sorting out our problems he favours introducing carbon taxes and spouting crap about "climate change". Would it be too much to ask for him to step back into the real world and sort out the mess this country is in before tackling such expensive myths? I wonder what he'll do after he loses his seat in the next election - I'm sure his mates will sort him out with a seat in the Seanad.<br /><br />So Johan von Gormless couldn't or wouldn't sort out the problems caused by the "Big Freeze". Surely one of his experienced counterparts in Fianna Fool was ready to step up and lead us out of the yellow snow! With the country's transport network <a target="_blank" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=in%20a%20jocker">in a jocker</a> maybe it was time for Noel "Toilet Roll" Dempsey to justify his massive salary. Alas, Toilet Roll was on holidays in Malta and <a href="http://www.independent.ie/national-news/defiant-dempsey-says-he-is-entitled-to-holiday-2008170.html" target="_blank">couldn't have been arsed</a> coming back to try and lead the poor <a href="http://thepixieirish.blogspot.com" target="_blank">Pixie Irish</a> out of our arctic nightmare. Toilet Roll Dempsey arrogantly proclaimed <span style="font-style:italic">"...I think I'm entitled -- I think people are entitled to a holiday."</span> Eh no Toilet Roll, you are not entitled to work on your tan while your country freezes over. You are paid a massive salary with extravagant expenses and benefits so when something goes wrong WE OWN YOU. That's the way it works at senior levels of successful companies and that's the way it should work here. But Toilet Roll Dempsey felt that his presence wasn't required: <span style="font-style:italic">"I can't think of one other item that could have been done if I was in the country which hasn't been done over the last four or five days."</span> So what the hell have we been paying him for? The muppet probably only flew back here to submit his latest batch of dodgy expense claims. Well we can't expect him to pay for his own holiday!<br /><br />Toilet Roll Dempsey and Johan von Gormless are the new poster boys of what politicians in this country actually represent. They take the nice important title, the huge salary, the government limousine and the unvouched expenses. However, when it comes to providing any leadership or making some brave decisions they shift the burden of competence onto some poor civil servant. At the end of the day politicians pretend to represent us. They pretend to govern us. They pretend to care about us. What they actually do is concentrate on emphasising their own importance and screwing as much money out of us as possible in return for their ineffectual "leadership". They do nothing yet control everything....maximum authority with minimum responsibility!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-73291968152286282992009-12-24T00:54:00.009+00:002009-12-24T23:56:32.846+00:00A Christmas Bonus<div align="center"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/n2J2vKUEsas&hl=en_GB&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/n2J2vKUEsas&hl=en_GB&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-size:12pt"><br />Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous new year to all our readers and followers.</span></div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-39635413659011183882009-12-15T21:08:00.002+00:002009-12-15T21:17:07.450+00:00I'm a civil servant....get me out of here!!! - Part 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCjzru-1ClEQTDxZWb5oDgkROqsq3vBBEyBkg747n1ARZzVXYV6Q7aYqJXVRhnYnZg1LBcZNxIhdj-zcjigNE9j7cUo2vH216OBdkxNBCRAzGtKY12i4ZZFMDL3qGwf12oexCWS1djKg/s320/web.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCjzru-1ClEQTDxZWb5oDgkROqsq3vBBEyBkg747n1ARZzVXYV6Q7aYqJXVRhnYnZg1LBcZNxIhdj-zcjigNE9j7cUo2vH216OBdkxNBCRAzGtKY12i4ZZFMDL3qGwf12oexCWS1djKg/s320/web.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt">So tonight it is hospital porter Anto's turn to face the private sector jungle in a savage trial where the following will be involved:<br /><ul><li>Turning up on time.</li><li>Working a full 8 hour day with the possiblilty of extra (unpaid) hours.</li><li>Not disappearing for a smoke break every 20 minutes.</li><li>Not being able to skive off and drive his rented taxi during working hours while his equally bone idle colleagues cover for him.</li></ul>Anto has been a SIPTU shop steward for the past 20 years. During this time he has grown used to finding ways of doing feck all and getting rewarded for it. Anto pretty much symbolises Ireland's failed experiment with social partnership. He doesn't really want to work, does his best to avoid work, when he has to work he does it badly, yet he has reaped pay rise after pay rise thanks to his comrades in the unions. And god help any poor manager who tries to get some work out of him. Anto would have no hesitation in commanding his fellow Bolsheviks to down tools in retaliation for such a reasonable request.<br /><br />In fact, Anto is only in the jungle as a result of threatening to mount flying pickets on the production company's premises. You see the competition was actually only meant to be for civil servants (hence the title - I'm A Civil Servant.... Get Me Out Of Here). However, Anto thought it sounded like an easy ride so used his union connections to ensure that all public servants were eligible for the competition. Little did he know what lay ahead of him.<br /><br />Life in the private sector jungle has been tough on poor Anto. He is constantly irritable because he is not allowed to take his usual 20+ cigarette breaks. The lack of paid overtime means that he can't afford cigarettes anyway. The fact that his new boss supervises him closely also means that his taxi-driving nixer is no longer viable.<br /><br />During his brief stay in the jungle Anto has been a trouble maker - refusing to allow the latrines be emptied because that is the job of a grade 3 shit shoveller and there is only a grade 2 on site. And we're just getting news that in the last hour Anto called an all out strike due to a clear "demarkaaaaaaaaation" issue. His plan for a show of strength has backfired spectacularly though. The producers of this show refuse to be held to ransom by Anto and his ridiculous union antics. Therefore, they have swiftly shut down production and moved the show to Thailand where contestants will do as they are told for a lot less cash. So Anto and his "comrades" are now stranded in the private sector jungle forever. So that's it for this series of I'm A Civil Servant Get Me Out Of Here. There have been no winners of this series - only losers. Anto and his fellow wasters have paid the price for a working life spent in the fantasy island of the public sector - they are now stuck up unemployment creek without a paddle. Look out Anto.....there's a waterfall ahead!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-47172146601647968372009-12-09T19:10:00.005+00:002009-12-09T21:04:26.432+00:00Change to scheduled programming!<div style="font-family:Arial; font-size:10pt;">We regret to inform you that tonight's scheduled episode of "I'm A Civil Servant Get Me Out Of Here" has been postponed so we can bring you a bit of a post-budget rant.<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://www.budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2010/Summary.aspx#IncomeTax">Budget 2010</a> was a predictable mixture of the good, the bad and the bullshit.<br /><br />The Good:<br /><ul><li>The public service has finally been taken in hand! At long last the decades of undeserved pay rises have come to an end. Not only have the public service had their pay cut but their top class pensions also look like they will be reviewed. Welcome to the real world public service - you now know what it's like for the rest of us poor fools who have been living with pay cuts, deteriorating conditions and general misery for the last few years.</li><br /><li>Brian Latchico Lenihan has reversed his ridiculous decision of last year and returned the standard rate of VAT to 21%. That, coupled with Britain's impending VAT increase, should make shopping up North a less attractive prospect. The decision to reduce the price of a pint by 12 cent will also help in this regard.</li><br /><li>A prescription charge of 50 cent per item has been introduced for medical card holders. Hopefully this may lead to medical card holders and their doctors thinking twice before allowing pharmacists to overcharge the state for trolley loads of overpriced and sometimes unneeded drugs.</li><br /><li>Hospital consultants will have their pay cut by 20%. We'll see how a nice financial smackdown affects their god complexes and general lack of respect for patients.</li></ul><br /><br />The Bad:<br /><ul><li>Children's allowance cut by €16 a month. My main problem with this is that it will affect people who are already struggling with the high overheads associated with bringing up a family. The government were too spineless to take on the pensioners again and they certainly didn't want to piss off their mates in the horse racing or greyhound industry. So they decided to butcher the finances of the young families of Ireland instead of sharing the burden amongst all sectors of society. But the publicans of Ireland can rest easy tonight as the child benefit cuts don't apply to their reliable dole dependant customers.</li><br /><li>Entitlements under the Treatment Benefit Scheme have been reduced to "examination only". Essentially this means that the hard working tax payers of Ireland are no longer entitled to subsidised dental or optical treatment. No more free cleaning, subsidised fillings or eye glasses. What a great reward for paying your taxes then - another kick in the hole delivered by the Latchico.</li><br /><li>No increase in income tax. Despite my complete lack of sympathy for the public service there is something inherently unfair about cutting the pay of someone earning €30,000 a year by 5% and not increasing tax on an overpaid fossil like George "The Gargoyle" Hook. Surely the necessary bitter pill of a pay cut would have been easier for public servants to swallow if the whole country had to face some sort of a token tax increase.</li></ul><br /><br />The Bullshit:<br/><br />My biggest beef with this budget is the measure introduced as a kind of political <a target="_blank" href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=reacharound">reacharound </a>to the bunch of imbeciles that are the Green Party. These tofu eating, city dwelling, tree hugging ass clowns have participated in a financial and moral holocaust for the past couple of years in return for the introduction of this unjust tax. They have ensured that a generation of people who have been forced to live in badly built and poorly located shit holes will have to pay a substantial penalty because they don't have the luxury of the 46a and the DART on their doorsteps. Try telling the poor bastard who is forced to commute from Mullingar to Tallaght because he couldn't afford a house anywhere else that a 5 cent per litre "carbon tax" is good for the planet. Try telling him to use a non-existent public transport system to cut his carbon emissions. Not that the green sleeveens care about the average slob. They serve a class of self styled dogooder who drinks fair trade coffee, lives in a mortgage free gaff in a leafy suburb and worships Duncan Stewart as a god. May they taste our collective lightning when the next election comes around!</div>DarkPassengerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16148142455430367570noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2972399193081151767.post-57508669422113361522009-11-28T11:30:00.009+00:002009-12-05T14:25:08.740+00:00I'm a civil servant....get me out of here!!!- Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCjzru-1ClEQTDxZWb5oDgkROqsq3vBBEyBkg747n1ARZzVXYV6Q7aYqJXVRhnYnZg1LBcZNxIhdj-zcjigNE9j7cUo2vH216OBdkxNBCRAzGtKY12i4ZZFMDL3qGwf12oexCWS1djKg/s320/web.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCjzru-1ClEQTDxZWb5oDgkROqsq3vBBEyBkg747n1ARZzVXYV6Q7aYqJXVRhnYnZg1LBcZNxIhdj-zcjigNE9j7cUo2vH216OBdkxNBCRAzGtKY12i4ZZFMDL3qGwf12oexCWS1djKg/s320/web.png" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><div style="font-size:10pt; font-family: Arial">Welcome back. Susan, our FAS executive, is preparing for what can only be described as a difficult task. Never in the history of FAS has an executive had to undergo such private sector traumas as:<br /><br />(1) Travelling economy class on official business (without being allowed to bring any family members along for the ride).<br />(2) Linking of salary to performance.<br />(3) Training people with skills that are NEEDED in the workplace!<br />(4) No spending of tax payers money on lobsters, limousines and flashy hotels.<br />(5) Being accountable for the work they fail to do and being subject to dismissal without a friendly bag of cash from your pals in the Government.<br /><br />Susan, already distraught at the thought that she can no longer swipe the company credit card on family dinners in posh restaurants, is now regretting her decision to go into the private sector jungle. She misses her daily lunch trip to Roly's Bistro and is struggling to survive on the toasted specials which are the norm here in the jungle. There will be no pay rises in the jungle this year either so Susan must sit down and write her performance review in the hope that she won't be let go and have to sign on the dole. But Susan isn't used to having to actually do anything to justify her salary. She normally just pitches up whenever suits her, goes to irrelevant and expensive conferences and takes bribes from training companies to supply overpriced and poorly designed courses to the poor unemployed <a target="_blank" href="http://thepixieirish.blogspot.com">pixie Irish</a>. Susan has had enough of the private sector jungle. "I'M A CIVIL SERVANT, GET ME OUT OF HERE" screams Susan before her boss has a chance to tell her she's fired for gross incompetence and complete uselessness. <br /><br />So Susan leaves the jungle and will return to her job in an economic twilight zone where value for money, customer service and integrity don't exist. Where the fat cats get fatter and the faked expenses keep getting paid. <br /><br />Tune in to our next episode where Anto, a hospital porter and SIPTU shop steward, will face the horror of having to pull his finger out of his ass for the first time in twenty years and do an honest days work.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0