Unfinished estates - It’s time we had a new New Deal

LAST week’s announcements on the scale of the difficulties faced by our banks, especially that privateers’ plaything Anglo Irish Bank, were staggering and depressing.

The seemingly unavoidable liabilities may well undo hard-won social, educational, infrastructural progress. The banks’ debts will put much of what is regarded as everyday in a functioning European society beyond our reach, maybe for decades.

As we have argued before every citizen is entitled to be very angry with those who led us to this sorry point. Sadly, that anger will stand for little more than beer froth unless it is harnessed to bring about real and deep change. Anger without involvement is just more self-destructive and delusional hot air.