The Government Giveth And The Recession Taketh Away

How about if the lower and middle income earners in the public sector paid in more to the pension levy? That way the government wouldn't have to make cuts in other areas.

No, no, no, no says the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. Too painful for our members. Too heavy of a burden. Besides, the other social partners might not agree either and ICTU doesn't want to be left standing alone.

So there's no common ground to stand upon. The Irish Government is desperate to find billions in cuts to expenses, but the trade unionists don't want to inflict the burden on their members.

The sad fact is, the expenses must be cut somewhere because there's simply no money to pay for all the little goodies that the government handed out when times were fat. The lean years are beginning, and no one wants to go on a diet, but someone will have to starve to death if others are to fill their financial bellies.

Brian Cowen will announce his plans later, when he'll detail where he's found two billion euros worth of excess that can be trimmed. It may involve a pension levy, in spite of ICTU's displeasure, and it may involve decreased funding for child care, roads and infrastructure improvements.

The government can legislate national health care, family services, generous social welfare payments, and anything else the public would like. When the bill comes due, however, the public is none too pleased to discover that they have to give up the luxuries they once took for granted. They can vote out Fianna Fail at the next election, to punish them, but that won't bring the money back.