Sunday View
November 16, 2009
I do an occasional slot as a guest on the Sunday View, WLRFM’s review of the Sunday papers. It’s an excellent show with a variety of panellists from the Waterford area – check it out on Sundays from 12-1 on 95.1 FM if you’re in Waterford (though it can be picked up in much of Cork) or click on ‘listen live’ on the www.wlrfm.com home page.
My fellow guests on my latest outing were a local businesswoman and a senior trade unionist. I was asked whether I saw lower paid workers being brough into the tax net in the budget. I said it was an unfortunate inevitability given the state of the nation’s finances but far from desirable. From the texts coming in, it’s clear that many workers feel they would be better off on the dole.
The unions continue to compaign for higher taxes in preference to spending cuts. We went through this in the 1980s, trying to tax our way out of recession and ‘protecting the most vulnerable’ (but we must also preserve middle class handouts – child benefit and free university fees for millionaires). Result last time: mass unemployment and emigration. This time will be different…
I pointed out on the show that only 3,000 turned up for the public sector day of action last week in Dublin. From what I pick up, most private sector workers have scant sympathy for public sector unions, who had a veto on change under man of de people Bertie. Arguably, they are only doing their job (most public servants are on modest earnings) and the fault really lies with weak politicians. The reaction from the budget next month will be interesting – expect outrage from those affected but quite likely a rise in FF opinion poll ratings if they finally show decisiveness. The signs are that Lenihan is prevailing over the cabinet ostriches.
