Only Half The Story

[righthand]

The following article in the New York Times only tells half the story, but what a half.

The END Of The RAINBOW http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/29/op...html?th&emc=th June 29, 2005 Op-Ed Columnist By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN in Dublin Here's something you probably didn't know: Ireland today is the richest country in the European Union after Luxembourg.... Ireland's advice is very simple: Make high school and college education free; make your corporate taxes low, simple and transparent; actively seek out global companies; open your economy to competition; speak English; keep your fiscal house in order; and build a consensus around the whole package with labor and management - then hang in there, because there will be bumps in the road - and you, too, can become one of the richest countries in Europe. "It wasn't a miracle, we didn't find gold," said Mary Harney. "It was the right domestic policies and embracing globalization."

This is only a snippet from a extensive article in the NYT. Excellent as it is, it is still less than half the story. Yes, it's all good news, but it's all only ECONOMIC good news. It could have been written by an economist!

For one thing, money isn't everything. We have CRAIC, and that's not US CRACK. No, ours is fun. It could be our music; our dance as in River; our drink as in whisky that we invented and not the Scots; our Gaelic games, both our football and our hurling - next fastest to ice hockey; to name a few. CRAIC is everywhere. Our soccer team is always in the top 10 in the world. Better than, is that our soccer supporters are acknowledged as the very best behaved when they travel the world.

The Emerald Isle may not be unique in it's beautiful in the world. It is what it doesn't have that makes it the best. There are no earthquakes, no typhoons, no tornadoes, no twisters, no land-slides, no forest fires, no weather extremes. It has ample rain and enough sun. It has rich soil and temperate climate. We are uniquely warmed by the Gulf Stream all the way from the Caribbean. We KNOW we have God's country.

We are a mild mannered and tolerant race that loves to talk and talk and talk. We only side with the underdog and detest bullies. We are generous with our time and money. It's not alone due to our love to travel that you will find us in every corner of the globe. Wherever there's a world disaster, there's where you'll find the Irish helping. Nowadays we're in the fortunate position to be able to return the hospitality accorded to us when times were hard.

We are noted for our wit and charm. In my youth I didn't appreciate the charm bit until I noticed in foreign non-english speaking countries that after it was made clear that you were Irish, suddenly the natives could speak english and had a big smile. Obviously they had previous encounters with the Irish. Part of our charm is how we use/abuse the english language. We twist and bend it in ways that were never intended so we can express ourselves more clearly. Thousands of EU kids and Chinese students come here to learn english, partly I'm sure as it's such a safe country.

Despite ample lessons from our US friends we are still not good at blowing our own trumpet. When the coincidence of the NYT article and this new thread presented itself, well, I could not resist. I know there is plenty more that with time I could disclose but I trust there may be something new in this effort.

[Jack]

I'm sold. Let me go dig out my passport. :) How's the job market?

[righthand]

Quote by: Isherwood I'm sold. Let me go dig out my passport. :) How's the job market?

God, you were quick off the mark. Gives me the opportunity to quote more from the NYT.

New York Times "The results have been phenomenal. Today, 9 out of 10 of the world's top pharmaceutical companies have operations here, as do 16 of the top 20 medical device companies and 7 out of the top 10 software designers. Last year, Ireland got more foreign direct investment from America than from China. And overall government tax receipts are way up.... In 1990, Ireland's total work force was 1.1 million. This year it will hit two million, with no unemployment and 200,000 foreign workers (including 50,000 Chinese ). Others are taking notes. Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said: "I've met the premier of China five times in the last two years."

Americans are always welcome in Ireland provided their name isn't Bush. I'm grey haired and I'd never ever been on a political march until Bush's last visit to Ireland. I spent most of a day paying my dues in the hope that my teenage kids can continue to enjoy the peace of mind that I used enjoy. So, we need some good Americans to stay at home and change things from within to make the world as safe a place for us all as it had been.
.

[Jack]

Would the fact I quit drinking (liquor, anyway) a decade ago go against me, show me to be unfit, an obvious rabble-rouser?

[righthand]

Quote by: Isherwood Would the fact I quit drinking (liquor, anyway) a decade ago go against me, show me to be unfit, an obvious rabble-rouser?

No, you might stand out as a rabble-rouser as we don't have as many of them over here any more. You know now, not to pack your fags, don't you. No cigarettes allowed in any work place, except the prisons.

Check out www.godulike.co.uk. It might interest you.

[Tesserakt]

Quote by: righthand We have CRAIC, and that's not US CRACK.

My grandmother was born in Ireland, so I applied for citizenship and got it. I'm looking forward to moving there in the next 2 years. Ever read "The Shipping News" by Proulx? It's about the importance of going back to where your ancestors came from. I'm concerned about America contaminating my kids with it's corporate-funded christo-fascist bile, so I'm hoping Ireland will be a better place to raise them when they make their debut. I understand it's a good place for the computer industry and I'm a computer engineer so things are looking positive.

[righthand]

Quote by: Tesserakt My grandmother was born in Ireland, so I applied for citizenship and got it. I'm looking forward to moving there in the next 2 years. Ever read "The Shipping News" by Proulx? It's about the importance of going back to where your ancestors came from. I'm concerned about America contaminating my kids with it's corporate-funded christo-fascist bile, so I'm hoping Ireland will be a better place to raise them when they make their debut. I understand it's a good place for the computer industry and I'm a computer engineer so things are looking positive.

Here's more from that NYT article

"We set up in Ireland in 1990," Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computer , explained to me via e-mail. "What attracted us? [A] well-educated work force - and good universities close by. [Also,] Ireland has an industrial and tax policy which is consistently very supportive of businesses, independent of which political party is in power. I believe this is because there are enough people who remember the very bad times to de-politicize economic development. [Ireland also has] very good transportation and logistics and a good location - easy to move products to major markets in Europe quickly." Finally, added Mr. Dell, "they're competitive, want to succeed, hungry and know how to win. ... Our factory is in Limerick, but we also have several thousand sales and technical people outside of Dublin. The talent in Ireland has proven to be a wonderful resource for us. ... Fun fact: We are Ireland's largest exporter." Intel opened its first chip factory in Ireland in 1993. James Jarrett, an Intel vice president, said Intel was attracted by Ireland's large pool of young educated men and women, low corporate taxes and other incentives that saved Intel roughly a billion dollars over 10 years. National health care didn't hurt, either. "We have 4,700 employees there now in four factories, and we are even doing some high-end chip designing in Shannon with Irish engineers," he said.

A drop of Irish blood is precious, so you've plenty and qualify to play soccer for Ireland!. What ages are your kids or are they only a speck in your eye for now. Mine are 15 and 17, one of each. The education system is our best asset. It's free to all and better, it is very good. School transport is free and schools or safe and non-violent. You buy books and uniform. Religion is no big deal any more in schools and non-Catholics are well catered for. The Irish language is mandatory, but with full dispensation for non-Irish born. It's a beautiful language, badly taught and little spoken. The subjects for the Leaving next year are; Irish, English, Maths, History, Geography, French, German, Accounting, Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Art, Home Economics, Music, Construction, Engineering & Physical Education.

GUNS and knives are totally out in Ireland for anybody, young or old. Our police -Garda- are unarmed and "we never see enough of them". There is a drug problem but it's not getting worse.

Houses are very expensive and small by US standards, but we find them ample. Owner-occupier is about the highest in the EU despite their cost. Public transport is good and improving. I'm not so certain that we have a "very good transportation" as Mr Dell mentions, but is better and improving rapidly.

History is all around you in Ireland. In my village there is a Round Tower dated 632. Newgrange is 5,000 years old and about 20 miles away as is the Hill of Tara where the High Kings of Ireland resided.

The Irish are sports mad. I mentioned earlier that we have Gaelic Games that are unique to Ireland and are entirely amateur. Played well, hurling is an absolutely fantastic sport played with a stick a very hard tennis size ball. Gaelic football is played with a soccer size ball but in the hands. It's like 'Aussie Rules' football but it's played with an oval ball. After Gaelic, Soccer is most played. Our best players play in England. (We mostly beat them, well usually, well more than 50%. Sore subject with the Brits.) In Rugby, they won the last World Cup, but we've beaten them twice since. I could tell you about winning the non-existent Triple Crown, but it wouldn't make sense, probably because its 6am and I've not been to bed yet.

Ask me anything. Yes if all who claim allegiance to the 'old sod' came back, there's no doubt that it would sink, but there is plenty of room for now. Pre-famine there were 8 million, so there's plenty of room. There's no better place to bring up kids.

[Sean]

Moved..this is an Op-ed piece. The latest news forum is for..LATEST NEWS :) (not opinion, old news, etc).

[Zeebadee]

A man stumbles up to the only other patron in a bar
and asks if he could buy him a drink. “Why, of course,
“ comes the reply. The first man then asks,
“Where are you from? “ “I’m from Ireland, “ replies
the second man.
The first man responds: “You don’t say, I’m from
Ireland too! Let’s have Another round to Ireland. “
“Of course, “ says the second.

Curious, the first asks: “Where in Ireland? “
“Dublin, “ comes the reply.

“I can’t believe it, Me too! Lets have another round
of drinks to Dublin. “ “Of course “

The second man can’t help himself so he asks, “What
school did you attend? “
“Saint Mary’s “, replies the first man.
“I graduated in ‘62. “ “This is becoming
unbelievable!!! “ They say in union.

About that time, in comes one of the regulars and sits
down at the bar.
“What’s up? “ he asks the bartender. “Nothing much, “
replied the bartender.
“The O’Malley twins are drunk again! “

[righthand]

Good one Zeebadee. What would the world do if it didn't have Irish drinking jokes!

I thought I'd lost you Zeebadee when you didn't reply to my observing on your 'handle' "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government" in "US finds it's back bone!!!" of 6/26/2005

[righthand]

That THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN guy from the NYT is at it again. Who does he think he is - PR/Lobbyist for the Irish Government. Not one negative remark in two articles. Something strange is going on here. Is he looking for a Green Card or is he moving to Ireland?

Quote by: New York Times Follow the Leapin' Leprechaun http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/01/op...html?th&emc=th "Harry Kraemer Jr., the former C.E.O. of Baxter International, a medical equipment maker that has made several investments in Ireland, explained that "the energy level, the work ethic, the tax optimization and the flexibility of the labor supply" all made Ireland infinitely more attractive to invest in than France or Germany, where it was enormously costly to let go even one worker. The Irish, he added, had the self-confidence that if they kept their labor laws flexible some jobs would go, but new jobs would keep coming - and that is exactly what has happened.

Look, this is just not on. Soon there will be more non-nationals in the Emerald Isle than natives. It's getting so you can't get a drink in your own bar! It's just not on. Soon Comical George will have his eye on us as an aircraft carrier or another Gitmo or refuge for wounded soldiers or whatever. Thank God he doesn't read the newspapers.