Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Ireland. A certain poetic nostalgia for lost glories; a fixed set of ancient, simmering resentments; a humorous but embarrassed sense of powerlessness and self-pity. For decade after decade, that seemed the Irish way. Then, perhaps 15 years ago, Ireland quite suddenly decided to embrace economic growth. The Irish cut tax rates; successive governments competed to enact pro-growth, pro-business measures of every kind. Ireland took off, growing faster than the rest of Europe while reversing, for the first time in centuries, the diaspora--for awhile you could hardly start a conversation with a bartender in Boston or New York who wasn't about to go home to Limerick or Dublin or Shannon.
Then the financial crisis struck, and Ireland has been staggering ever since. But note--note!--the difference between Ireland and, let us say, Greece. The Irish government has already instituted budget cuts and appears determined to enact still more. And instead of begging the European Union for a bailout, the Irish are refusing to accept one. From today's Wall Street Journal:
Europe's debt crisis entered a critical new phase as Ireland resisted pressure from the European Central Bank and national governments to seek a bailout amid growing concern that the currency bloc could unravel....
European officials were privately prodding Dublin to put aside national pride and act quickly on a bailout....
Ireland is resisting pressure to ask for aid....
I doubt the Irish would look fondly on Mrs. Thatcher--they still spare no love for the English--but she would surely look fondly on them. After 15 years of experience with free markets, the Irish have learned just the lesson that Mrs. Thatcher always told us that free markets teach:
How to stand on your own two feet.
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Oct '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
I would think the Europeans, particularly the Germans, would not want to hear about countries asking for bailouts, especially after the episode with Greece. My understanding was that the Germans and other more stable countries had enough of subsidizing the members who seem to have no incentive for fiscal health. I hope California can develop that sense of shame that will prevent it from asking for a bailout.
Oct '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
"Ireland is resisting pressure to ask for aid because the move could hurt its standing with international investors, embarrass the government at home, and open the way to external meddling in the country's financial affairs, observers say."
You mean there's an EU country that hasn't sipped from the EU Kool-Aid trough? That's good to know.
May '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
There has been an unsubstantiated rumor on the internet that Germany has started to print Deutschmarks again. It has been denied and denied again but it is persistent. A German withdraw from the Euro would be create all sorts of financial havoc.
What can not be denied, however, is the desire of many ordinary Germans to return to the Mark. While Bloomberg.com runs headlines that read, "Germans Show No Inclination to Give Up on Euro, Spurring Boom" (July 14), a month later the same organization leads with "French, Germans See Euro as 'Bad Thing" Among Crisis, Poll Shows"
See, the elites know better. German tea, anyone?
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Exactly. It's amazingly good news, don't you think?
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Hm. A present-day Deutschmark. Care to show us what it would look like if designed by EJ Hill?
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Data point from today's panel, Peter: when Cal Thomas wrapped up his brief remarks -- following esteemed panelists Rich Lowry, Pat Toomey, Ralph Reed, among others -- he said, roughly, how much he admired Germany's Angela Merkel for her sound money policy and general austerity.
A huge ovation, from the NR crowd, for Angela Merkel. The German leader! That's how far we've sunk in this country. We're getting useful lessons on the free market from the leader of a quasi-socialist country.
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Enough with the intellectual stuff, Rob. How's the food?
Aug '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Peter,That is the most (only?) positive spin I have seen or heard about our economic plight here in Ireland- a refreshing departure from endless doom, gloom and recrimination. What I think is becoming clearer by the day is that the EU is reverting to it's original concept, the European Economic Union, with decisions being made for us by people with whom we have no real common language, culture or even history. All very disconcerting. There is an ongoing albeit low-key debate about whether in the event of a loss of what sovereignty we have left we would be better off as the 51st State? Would you want us?
May '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
"European officials were privately urging Dublin to put aside national pride..."
Re-assertion of national pride is the most encouraging aspect of the various European countries' reactions to the financial crisis. Strangely, the various resentments among EU states and the accompanying defense-of-self might be just the trick to shock them out of their suicidal ennui.
A little chauvinism is a sign of good health. Or of recovering health at any rate.
Sep '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
I had heard of Ireland's economic reform, then of her financial demise. Being part Irish, I am proud to say that, once again, Ireland's capital is always Dublin.
Stole it from Stephen Moore. So sue me.
Oct '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Charles Mark,
Would I be correct in thinking that Ireland was heavily subsidized by the EU back in the early days, to bring her (?) up to EU standards? I have a fleeting recollection of infrastructure overhauls and a certain resentment on the continent about the Irish taking EU $$ and then lowering taxes to attract international investment, but I could be wildly off base on both counts.
May '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Herr Robinson, ist hier das Geld, das Sie um baten
May '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Scott Reusser: "European officials were privately urging Dublin to put aside national pride..."
Re-assertion of national pride is the most encouraging aspect of the various European countries' reactions to the financial crisis. Strangely, the various resentments among EU states and the accompanying defense-of-self might be just the trick to shock them out of their suicidal ennui.
Agreed. The European nations with the most national pride will prove the strongest against economic and cultural threats of the coming decades.
Speaking of which, how's Poland doing these days? That's the other nation in which the Church (and, with it, conservatism) has yet to wither, right?
The fight in the Scandinavian nations to preserve their cultures also gives me hope for Europe.
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Charles, you're anticipating a post I intended to write tomorrow: drop the EU, drop the UN--and embrace the Anglosphere. The US, Eire, the UK, Australia, India. Put that group together and what would you have? Democracy, the rule of law, and free markets, that's what.
Jul '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Peter Robinson
Charles, you're anticipating a post I intended to write tomorrow: drop the EU, drop the UN--and embrace the Anglosphere. The US, Eire, the UK, Australia, India. Put that group together and what would you have? Democracy, the rule of law, and free markets, that's what. · Nov 15 at 7:26pm
Excepting Jenny Granholm, we really should include the Canadians, Peter.
May '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Peter Robinson
The US, Eire, the UK, Australia, India. Put that group together and what would you have? Democracy, the rule of law, and free markets, that's what. · Nov 15 at 7:26pm
You obviously don't frequent Steyn's site. The picture Mark paints of Britain is ugly, to say the least.
May '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Is this how great civilizations end, not with a bang, but a foreclosure? The Mongol Hordes give way to Chinese bankers?
May '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Better Erin Go Bragh, than Erin Go Broke...wait a minute, wasn't that Tiger's wife's motto?
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
As usual, not great. It's hard to feed 2000 people all at once. Dinner's one thing, with staggered times: everybody likes to eat dinner at different times. But breakfast, that's an 8 to 9 affair. Which explains the subpar coffee and the soft toast.
But again: beats working.
Sep '10
Re: Erin Go Bragh, As Maggie Might Say
Rob Long
As usual, not great. It's hard to feed 2000 people all at once. Dinner's one thing, with staggered times: everybody likes to eat dinner at different times. But breakfast, that's an 8 to 9 affair. Which explains the subpar coffee and the soft toast.
But again: beats working. · Nov 15 at 10:25pm
How is the coffee? Are you stuck on a ship with some type of Nescafe (choke, ack, pfft) monopoly or do you get some variety?