Globalisation closed the iconic Clerys store

With reference to the Clerys closure, my advice to employees and to owners of small- and medium-sized businesses is — get used to it!

This sort of legal, but immoral operation, is happening all across the USA today — to small businesses, to investors, and to pensioners.

Allow me to quote The Making Of Global Capitalism, by Leo Panitch and Sam Gindin: “Global capitalism was(/is) made.....through the penetration of distinctly American institutions and practices into the social, political and economic fabric of other nations”.

But it isn’t just Americans who benefit: who are the local legal, accounting and real estate advisors who integrate these practices into Irish business and law? Who structured the Clerys deal and knew what would happen? As a distant observer with no legal or financial qualifications, I could see this was the probable denouement for Clerys.

The Government is anxious that we sign up to the next major initiative that will push us in this direction: the Trans-Atlantic Trade & Investment Partnership (TTIP). They are busily negotiating behind closed doors.

Please, for your children’s sake, inform yourself , especially in the run-up to the next election.

John O’Flynn

260 Sutton Park

Dublin 13