Will we mend our ways or give in once more to the destructive power of greed?

SO we owe €50bn and we all now cry victim.

The problem is not enough people did so when the snake oil-sellers were enchanting us. And have we learned anything?

In the good times, did we question the inequality that was developing? Did we see anything wrong with some having the wealth to get anything they wished while others barely got by? From the most basic example of the privatisation of refuse services, which sees pensioners and those on welfare paying up to €10 to have a bin lifted, while a millionaire can claim back tax on his charge – a situation where the needy subsidise the wealthy.

When Susie Long died because she was forced to wait for a crucial test while others less ill were getting access to such things within hours, did we question the nature of the vulgar two-tier health system that placed many in such a precarious position? When was the last time someone questioned the policy of taxpayers’ money being shovelled to private operators to build hospitals and clinics which those who cannot afford health insurance have no right to access, despite their taxes having contributed to the construction of these facilities?

A GP cannot refer a public patient to a private hospital. There are many examples of the gross inequity of these government policies which bear a collective name – “the low tax economy”.

Did we question with sufficient rigour how basic services that provide a safety net and work to reduce inequity can be provided under such a model? Now that the EU has told us the low tax model must end, Brian Lenihan responded by saying corporation tax would not be increased. Will we protest loudly, pointing out that we are all in this together and the best way out is to share what we have and ask those who can afford it to pay the most to get things sorted?

Do we really understand the destructive power of greed? The answer would appear to be no.

Not enough people are crying out now as the same Government attempts to fix the problem by fine-tuning inequity and injustice. The “greed is good ideology” has been sown deep and we had all better start praying it is not so deep that we cannot exorcise it. Our salvation depends on the realisation that we are a community in this together, all equal and at least entitled to equality of opportunity and a fair share. The real nightmare now is we may very well end up with a society that is more divided, more broken... a society where the gates on the gated estates will become more than just ornaments

We are crying out for leadership that has only the interests of the common good, that demands all do to the best of their ability whatever they can and shares the results of our collective endeavours fairly and justly. We can ask for no more but must demand no less.

Jim O’Sullivan

Rathedmond

Sligo