Archive for the ‘Ernest Mandel’ Category
Enda Kenny Grins For The Gintry – But Can He Stop A Referendum on the new EU Fiscal Treaty?
Enda Kenny was one of the courtly mummers in the presence of her britannic majesty in 2011 – good practice for 2012!
See Also :
Old Kenny Apologises For Ireland to the Gintry
http://www.irishleftreview.org/2012/01/27/kenny-apologises-ireland-gintry/
UPDATE :
Enda told Nicolas he would stop an Irish Referendum on the new European Union fiscal treaty – has the Taoiseach broken another promise?
The ruling class discreetly applauds the Fine Gael leader’s broken promises to the little people – such as when he went back on a pre-election pledge to stop the closure of Roscommon Hospital.
http://www.endakenny.com/?p=213
But Enda won’t get any ear-grabs for letting down the big people – a much more serious mistake!
Article 27 and the Independent TDs
A group of Independent TDs who want Europe’s new fiscal treaty put to a referendum will seek to use a little known constitutional provision to petition the President to do so, it has emerged.
Under Article 27 of the Constitution, a Bill can be referred to a referendum if requested by at least one third of the Dáil, and a majority of the Seanad.
Donegal South West TD Thomas Pringle said he was “hopeful of achieving that requirement.”
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2012/02/01/article-27-and-the-independent-tds/
ULA to Force Dáil Vote on Burning Anglo Bondholders
Joan Collins TD - Dáil Should Burn Bondholders
From the Journal.ie :
http://www.thejournal.ie/ula-to-force-dail-vote-on-burning-anglo-bondholders-335933-Jan2012/
THE UNITED LEFT ALLIANCE is to force a Dáil vote tomorrow evening on whether the State should repay the unsecured bondholders of Anglo Irish Bank.
A motion has been tabled by the five-member group, backed by the other 11 members of the independent technical group, which would force the government not to repay obligations worth up to €50 billion.
The motion includes an instruction not to repay the €1.25 billion unsecured bond issued by Anglo which matures tomorrow, or any further payments to bondholders in Anglo, now the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation. Read the rest of this entry »
Anglo Bond Carnival: Dublin Council of Trade Unions urges unions and union members to support
The Dublin Council of Trade Unions has circulated the following letter to its delegates and affiliated trade unions:
19th January, 2012.
To each DCTU delegate, General Secretary or Senior Official
Dear Colleague,
A portion of the unsecured debt amounting to €1.25 billion will be handed over to ANGLO IRISH/IBRC bank on Wednesday 25th January 2012. How much budget pain could this sum solve?
This event should not pass withuout a protest.
A group called Occupy Anglo/IBRC, a loose offshoot of Occupy Dame Street are organising such a protest.
IT WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY 23rd JANUARY FROM 7 am to 5pm AT ANGLO IRISH BANK, ST. STEPHEN’S GREEN AND WILL CONTINUE ON 24th AND 25th JANUARY.
This will be a peaceful protest outside the bank and will include talks, teach-ins and music.
We urge all members to participate at some point during these three days.
Yours sincerely,
Sam Nolan
Correspondence Secretary
Letter ends
[Facebook page of Carnival organiser: http://www.facebook.com/events/280892235299369/]
Vincent Browne Vs the Troika: Transcript and Broadcast; Street Protest at Department of Education
Two Worlds Collide
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2012/01/19/vincent-browne-vs-troika-the-transcript/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px43eINU2OM&feature=youtu.be&t=5m3s
It’s a knockout!
The body language is eloquent.
On Vincent’s TV3 late night news show (Thursday January 19) the policy of paying billions to unsecured bondholders is linked to the the DEIS mass demonstration outside the Department of Education earlier in the day.
Two Worlds Collide, Cosy EU Commission Office, Angry Marlborough Street Protest, Same Day
The Red-Green Alliance in Denmark [from the Europe Solidaire Sans Frontières (ESSF) Site]
http://www.europe-solidaire.org
/spip.php?article23199
Possible Lessons Here for the United Left Alliance in Ireland
United Left Alliance Budget Statement
United Left Alliance
Budget Statement December 2011
PDF edition here: http://www.peoplebeforeprofit.ie/files/ULA%20Budget%20Statement%20December%202011.pdf
Austerity Is Not Working: Tax The Rich, Invest In Jobs
Next weeks budget will see further drastic cuts in the living standards of workers, the unemployed and the poor. Since the onset of the crisis in 2008 government policy has focused on bailing out banks and speculators and making the working class pick up the bill. Hardly a cent has been taken from those who have the real wealth in society. The effect of this policy has been lengthening dole queues and impoverishment with rising inequality in a society that was already deeply unequal. The wealth of the super-rich has increased throughout the crises. Read the rest of this entry »
Greek Auditing Commission of the Public Debt – No to the 50% haircut, no to the new Occupation. Cessation of payments and debt audit!
Greek Auditing Commission of the Public Debt
No to the 50% haircut, no to the new Occupation. Cessation of payments and debt audi
Éric Toussaint has circulated this useful summary of the crisis in Greece and the Eurozone.
In the early hours of the 27th October, the Eurozone leaders reached a decision marking the tightening of the public debt¢s grip over the Greek people. The proposed haircut of the public debt held by the private sector will not resolve Greece¢s debt problem, whilst instead it brings new burdens. The reasons are plenty: Read the rest of this entry »
The Billion Dollar Anglo Irish Bond – Cedar Lounge Revolution – and the Greece Referendum
http://cedarlounge.wordpress.com/2011/11/02/the-billion-dollar-anglo-bond/
and a cartoon which says it all :
More, from the NAMA Winelake :
Dave Allen has the last word :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5y_gE1Rb1Y
Left blocked: An interview with Portugese Left Bloc activist Ricardo Sá Ferreira
From Red Pepper magazine, August-September 2011;
http://www.redpepper.org.uk/ Available from Book Upstairs, College Green, Dublin.
What will the ‘bailout’ mean for ordinary people in Portugal?
The ‘bailout’ is not financial help, it is extortion – it is going to give them a €520 million profit after they intervene in the Portuguese economy. The Portuguese people know this, but the hegemonic discourse dictates that it is ‘inevitable’ and without this package, the economy will go under. However, people know that the ‘bailout’ also means more austerity, compression of the workers’ wages, less public services, more VAT and the progressive destruction of the welfare state.
How has the Left Bloc responded to the financial crisis, and to the austerity that has already been imposed?
We have responded through social mobilisation and by presenting concrete legislative proposals that would be able to cut superfluous spending, while at the same time raise enough revenue for the state to pay off the deficit, without sacrificing the economy and the workers. This could be done by taxing fortunes and financial transactions to off-shore banks, the implementation of a new tax bracket where the rich are taxed more, and renegotiating the public debt in order for the economy to breathe. However, the real response must come from the streets. Read the rest of this entry »
Tomás Ó Flatharta 