Breaches of trust killing social contract

Whither the social contract between citizens and their governors? asks Michael Clifford

THE pensions row at INM (Independent News and Media) is a reminder of how brittle is the social contract. The contract between citizens and those who govern on our behalf has come under pressure in recent years. The trust required to allow politicians govern in our best interests has been fraying since the economic collapse of 2008.

Bad decisions were made, the knee was bent to institutions such as the European Central Bank, and, crucially, certain sectors at the top of society were largely insulated from real financial pain. All of this has chipped away at the trust we invest in government to act in the interests of society as a whole.