No reason to feel shame

Today, the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, leader of our country told me that I had no reason to feel shame. Strange that I do not feel comforted. Stranger still that he is talking about feeling anything at all. But these are strange days we're living in.

When it comes right down do it, why should anyone feel shame?
The Bankers? Their function is to make a profit for their owners/shareholders. They will charge the highest rate they legally can, and as much as the market can bear.

The Developers? See above...

The Regulators? They were appointed and directed by Government. Shure they were only doing what they were told... weren't we all?

The Mortgagees? Well, 'everyone' said that they'd be left behind if they didn't get on the property ladder - so is it their fault if they tried to live the dream? If the Bankers told them that they had confidence in their ability to pay, who were they to disagree?

And so we come to Government. What are their responsibilities? Is it not the case that they DO have a responsibility to civil society, not the markets. We are their shareholders. Their function is to oversee that the Bankers, the Developers, and all the rest, are Regulated. They do this by appointing people of substance and authority to Regulate. They develop policies according to their manifestos. They legislate in order to protect civil society from insatiable greed and unfettered criminality.

No, Mr. Cowen, I don't feel shame. I don't feel much of anything except anger, that that's all directed at YOU and your inept, corrupt, excuse for a Government.

How DARE you condescendingly state that I need feel no shame.
We'll get through this. My daughter will probably never get to College.
But we'll feel no shame...

My son has had one holiday away, a long weekend with friends in France, in his nine years. He'll probably not see the likes for another 10 years. He'll be lucky to get to Leaving Cert, let alone College. But we'll feel no shame...

I'll probably not have a job after Christmas, my husband will be bloody lucky to keep his part-time job. We'll both have to work like lunatics - probably in the black economy if we're lucky enough to find something. But we'll feel no shame...

When we're choosing between a doctors fee and the electricity bill...
When we're cutting back on those little luxuries we tend to get a taste for - like food...

We'll feel no shame...

I will tell everyone who will listen that the Troika of ineptitude; Fianna Fáil, the PD's, the Glasraí, did this.

I do not feel any shame.

I feel anger.