Well I think that is probably better than most of their history where the poor people of Europe were simply conquered by whichever Tyrant or King had the biggest army.
^ Just about right.
When Portugal & Spain joined the EU in 1986 to make 12, Greece & Ireland were still the poorest countries in the EU. Thereafter, Ireland & Spain quickly took advantage of the financial aid given to the poorer nations within the EU and their economies grew briskly with Ireland becoming highly successful.
Portugal & Greece, er, not so much. Ok, embarrassingly badly.
Now Ireland languishes, Spain struggles while Portugal & Greece, ah well, no change there then. :-|
I think the lesson is, hmmm, don’t make the effort, enjoy wine, EU handouts and song because everything tends to be equal in the long run…?
One minister from the Irish government said something to the effect that their problems were about as similar to Iceland’s as the similarity between the two countries names.
All tied up with the Lisbon treaty & participation in EU & on & on & on - didn’t help matters that misinformation, lies and propaganda have savagely clouded the overall issue ala US health care reforms [per the same minister]
@WW: well, they had clouded the debate during the first vote as well… In the meantime Ireland got some exceptions made for it, and had its economy tank. These tend to make one more amenable to cooperation.
I don’t think anybody is blaming Obama for this, crunk. Not that I can see from the posters. There was a lot of press on how bad Iceland’s economy was, but I don’t know of any press concerning Ireland except that for awhile they were flourishing due to low taxes on industry.
Of all the 27 member states in the European Union, only one, Ireland, held a referendum prior to ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon. This, not because the Irish government wished to hold a referendum - like every other member state, it feared that the people, «ignorant» as they are (see Paul Lee’s comment above) might not vote precisely as the political establishment wished them to do - but because the Irish Constitution required one. Indeed, the Irish did vote no - and since they voted in the wrong way and Ireland being a little country (if France or Germany had allowed their citizens to vote and they had voted against the treaty, the draughters would have had to go back to the drawing board), they were told to vote again. This procedure is what is meant by the term «democracy» in polite society….
deadheadzan over 14 years ago
What’s going on with Ireland? Are they in a big recession, too? Looks like their boat sunk and they need a hand.
landshark67 over 14 years ago
Well I think that is probably better than most of their history where the poor people of Europe were simply conquered by whichever Tyrant or King had the biggest army.
OmqR-IV.0 over 14 years ago
^ Just about right. When Portugal & Spain joined the EU in 1986 to make 12, Greece & Ireland were still the poorest countries in the EU. Thereafter, Ireland & Spain quickly took advantage of the financial aid given to the poorer nations within the EU and their economies grew briskly with Ireland becoming highly successful. Portugal & Greece, er, not so much. Ok, embarrassingly badly. Now Ireland languishes, Spain struggles while Portugal & Greece, ah well, no change there then. :-| I think the lesson is, hmmm, don’t make the effort, enjoy wine, EU handouts and song because everything tends to be equal in the long run…?
OmqR-IV.0 over 14 years ago
^ Indeed.
kreole over 14 years ago
Ireland problems? Gotta get back to the news! Missed it……
siddartha999 over 14 years ago
One minister from the Irish government said something to the effect that their problems were about as similar to Iceland’s as the similarity between the two countries names.
All tied up with the Lisbon treaty & participation in EU & on & on & on - didn’t help matters that misinformation, lies and propaganda have savagely clouded the overall issue ala US health care reforms [per the same minister]
4uk4ata over 14 years ago
@WW: well, they had clouded the debate during the first vote as well… In the meantime Ireland got some exceptions made for it, and had its economy tank. These tend to make one more amenable to cooperation.
deadheadzan over 14 years ago
I don’t think anybody is blaming Obama for this, crunk. Not that I can see from the posters. There was a lot of press on how bad Iceland’s economy was, but I don’t know of any press concerning Ireland except that for awhile they were flourishing due to low taxes on industry.
mhenriday over 14 years ago
Of all the 27 member states in the European Union, only one, Ireland, held a referendum prior to ratifying the Treaty of Lisbon. This, not because the Irish government wished to hold a referendum - like every other member state, it feared that the people, «ignorant» as they are (see Paul Lee’s comment above) might not vote precisely as the political establishment wished them to do - but because the Irish Constitution required one. Indeed, the Irish did vote no - and since they voted in the wrong way and Ireland being a little country (if France or Germany had allowed their citizens to vote and they had voted against the treaty, the draughters would have had to go back to the drawing board), they were told to vote again. This procedure is what is meant by the term «democracy» in polite society….
Henri