We prefer shadow to substance

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?