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Monday, July 27, 2009
THE newspapers of July 15 presented two examples of our rejection of substance and acceptance of shadow.
The recent European elections took place on a reallocation of seats which was part of the Lisbon Treaty. Lisbon has not yet been enacted. What happened that day in the European Parliament (election of president and all the pomp that went with it) was a shadow theatre – or is Ireland’s Yes vote a foregone conclusion?
The prescient John Hurley (retiring governor of the Central Bank) painted a very gloomy picture of our future. Did anyone notice his crystal-gazing produce a warning of the recent collapse?
Let’s face the facts:
1. Europe is a law unto itself. As for trusting its assurances, remember Maastricht. We were going to get €800m ecus (European Currency Unit) to vote Yes but, when the dust settled, it was only 600m ecus
2. Economists cannot foresee the future. They can only give a guess and that is what has landed us in the present mess.
Cal Hyland
Closheen Lane
Rosscarbery
Co Cork
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