The F in future now stands for fear
OR me the ‘f’ in future now stands for fear. Fear that has conquered the Irish people. Is it right for people to live in fear of the future? I, for one, feel it’s totally unacceptable.
When we think of the word future we want to believe in hope for a better tomorrow and that we are able to do things that have no limits, but, that is something the Irish will have to keep on dreaming about.
I feel that every day we’re told times are beyond hard, and in the recent news of the IMF taking things into their own hands, things can only get worse and much harder in our near future.
I hear talks every day of how we are going to fight this recession and dig Ireland out of this monumental pit of debt, but in my opinion we should have planned intelligently to combat this as quickly as possible.
We’ve officially been in recession since October 2008, with elephant in the room signs before that. And now, it’s nearly 2011. Why has it taken the Government so long to make the four year plan?
Is it the fear of the IMF or fear of losing a bit of salary like the rest of the country?
I could sit here all day and tell you how much of a mess were in, or of how many jobs were lost, or of how the Government are sitting idly by just sucking billions out of ordinary people, but really it’s not worth it.
I know it will be a tough road and that the Government have a price to pay for their thoughtless actions, maybe by cutting out their fancy business cars, but that price seems too high to them.!
However, we now have to suffer in order for it to get better. Personally the best aspect of my future was education, but now that the student fees are up for discussion, it upsets me to think that there may not even be a chance of going to college. It enrages me of how the Government can just simply deny a person their education because of their mistakes. It is not fair — education in Ireland is our future.
This is obviously not true to the Government. The young people of Ireland are the future, fact. Is it not reasonable to make life easy for us so we in turn can make a difference in the next generation and have someone intelligent and well-educated run our country?
I know there are many college students out there just completely lost. At a time in life where there are supposed to be open doors, they’re all shut.
Many students now have their dreams on hold, dreams that could help change their lives. All I’m asking for is for the Government to take into consider the younger population and not to forget about us. Our voice is what matters. Listen and it might make a change.
— Dorina Birsanu, Longford, 16
AS A CHILD, one cannot help but ascertain a stereotypical image of politicians. Overweight, carrying a briefcase bursting at its seams, packed with money, and wearing a mischievous grin. And one cannot help but begin to see politicians as a devious breed.
However, as you begin to grow, mature and actually read the newspapers instead of just looking at the caricatures, one begins to understand that politicians are in fact, honest caring individuals that assume their responsibilities in the hope and desire of making a positive difference in people’s lives.
However, it is as the events of the recent past have unfolded that I find myself returning to my original impression of politicians.
I do not blame the Irish government for all of the world’s problems. I do, however, hold Brian Cowen and his band of bumbling misfits personally responsible for the crisis we now face here at home in Ireland.
The stupidity and greed of Irish politicians has led this country into an economic hole, and a pretty big one at that. !
Although it is their response to this crisis that worries me the most. Specifically, the introduction of third level fees.
In the words of Brian Cowen, “Hope for the future”. As in, I hope this all blows over soon? Or, hope for a future abroad? When challenged with our country’s future both financially and in general the main response has been that it is up to us, the youth. That our imaginations, diligence, innovation and creativity are what will rebuild this country long after Cowen and company has gone. However, how are we supposed to achieve this astronomical task without a higher education? There was uproar when the reintroduction of fees was speculated about. Now, not even a year later, registration fees are being increased. Surely investing in education is investing in the future of the country.
In the hard times our government has taken from children, old age pensioners, education, the health system and the poor. This is a disgrace. The country is moving backwards, and fast.
— Padraig Duffy, Dundalk, 17
WHEN I WAS younger I was told that my future would be bright and, for years, there was never a doubt in my mind that it would be. Until now.
It is such a bizarre feeling to know that you don’t really control how your life will pan out. The decision of whether I go to college is no longer determined by how many points I get in my Leaving Certificate, but by how much of the steep registration fee I can pay. Whether I move out of my parents’ house after school is now determined by the lottery that job searching has become. So many things that I took for granted in previous years now seem like a far-off dream.
I am confident that with the right leadership this country will rise from its current situation. Unfortunately, I don’t think that our current government are the leaders we are looking for. What this country needs is someone who is willing to make cuts across the board and who is not afraid to take from those who are wealthy and powerful. However, at the moment we’re not seeing that.
In the years to come, I hope that we see the power shift into more capable hands. Our bailout from the IMF is an opportunity to put this country back on track, and while the path to recovery will be long and arduous, we have the tools necessary to achieve stability. We have a population who are well educated, hardworking and willing for change. All of these are fundamental to our nation’s revival.
As a young person, I would like to live in a country where we can still believe that our future will be bright. I believe that one day young people will not have to worry about their freedom and opportunities and that our country will be restored to a state of equilibrium to achieve this.
— Niamh Duggan, Cork, 15
THE FUTURE OF our country, or should I say ‘this’ country, as it would appear that the deeds to Ireland will be in the hands of Europe, is in actual fact not altogether hopeless.
It is my belief that we are very capable of coming through these challenging times. However, that’s not to say we will. Ireland lacks good leadership.
It is time for our Taoiseach and many of his accomplices to realise that we the people do not believe the Government is capable of leading us through this economic emergency while they are at the helm.
They should bow out now as gracefully as possible before things deplete any further.
The Government has failed to prepare for this crisis and therefore has prepared to fail.
The Government’s solution to our current predicament appears to be to borrow as much money as possible.
This is nonsense. Sure, it will keep us afloat for the next four years by which time it won’t matter to them as they will undoubtedly no longer be in office, and whose problem will it be?
Who will be left to pay back all these outstanding loans with considerable interest?
That would be my generation’s cue to step in. I can guarantee that I and many of my peers will not stand for such injustice. I don’t see any of our generation with top banking jobs or ministerial positions, yet we’re expected to pay for the mistakes of our predecessors for the best part of our lives. Not a hope.
It’s high time the banks and Government stopped looking to others to bail them out. Let them tighten their belts and make do with whatever resources they have at their disposal, such as all the young graduates from all over Ireland who are being given no alternative but to emigrate as they are being ignored and insufficiently utilised.
Undoubtedly people will argue that the banking system and the Government will likely collapse. Well so be it. We, the youth of today have the gifts of knowledge and determination on our side — we will rebuild both. It would be by no means a simple task to undertake, but after spending a few years rebuilding the Government and banking system from scratch we would be free to wipe the slate clean and start afresh, as opposed to struggling along for decades to come with mounting debts hanging over our heads.
— Leo Cauneen, Roscommon, 18
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