26k added last month, with 3 days less in that month.
Figures are 353k, 80k since December, and a national unemployment rate of 10.4%.
Starting to fear a social welfare tax coming up in the next budget. Which morally would be economic treason, by penalising the innocent victims at the very, very bottom end of the economic ladder. I couldn't vote for a party that ever carried or threatened to carry out such a measure.
Probably the shocking thing about the unemployment numbers is i think it has increased 78% in last 12 months & takes no account of the people on 3 day week or say one week off every month.
The more shocking thing is that the government don't care about the figures. They'll be put to bed, while they concentrate on those in the public sector and their finances (people who have jobs) until the next haemorrage figures are released next month.
The government should remember that they have a responsibility to look after every person in the country, not just those crying at losing €50-odd a week.![]()
The problem is that in order to look after the people on the dole (not sure what you mean by the way and what they should do) is to drop the corporate rate of tax and to have further tax incentives for companies and entrepreneurs to create jobs. However there is not much of a climate out there for that sort of thing as people will see that as rewarding the rich.
The other thing they can do is to help those on the dole is to increae their benefits, something they are not going to do with the public finances the way they are and also as we are in a largely deflationary environment.
Another thing they could do is to employ more people in the Dept of Social Welfare to deal with the long waiting list for people to get their dole. Again because of the public finances they will not do this. However there is a call for temporary staff to help with this.
THere are a few other things they can do like re-training in areas that are growth areas (is there any out there?) They could also have tax incentives for employers who employ more staff this year and have some sort of half and half measue for people to keep their staff on etc. THere does need to be creative thinking in this area.
In Trap we trust
What about the other 4,297 reasons not to vote for them?
Were the backdrop not so serious, I'd have died laughing at Greens Deputy Leader Mary Whites uggesting a text message tax this morning.
The Government are spineless, baseless, self-serving cowards without a scintilla of remorse for their role in getting us to this position, but even worse, they will do anything to postpone raising taxes on their watch, even when, day-by-day, it further jeopardizes our fiscal position. In this light, the request for the opposition to provide ideas should be seen for what it is, a pathetic attempt to share the blame for the inevitable cutbacks that will be suggested rather than being a positive example of "pulling together in a crisis".
You treat the unemployed as taboo. It's already tough getting by on €10k a year, without the added punishment of a tax or cutback on the measly amount given to them.Originally Posted by OneRedArmy
We're a good way off IMF ground yet.
Energy prices have dropped by the bare minimum, but the cost of living is still high. Transport costs are still at January levels and won't come down. Pub and restaurant prices remain unchanged.
Saw Lenihan's interview tonight on RTE, which reading between the lines, he's clearly looking at social welfare cuts. Apparantly, handing €6.50 last January was a "generous increase".It wouldn't even buy you a standard McDonalds meal.
If he could spend a month living on €800, less rent/mortgage/bills, he wouldn't dare touch social welfare. Hitting the most vulnerable in society is not treason, it's daylight robbery.
No offence but I wouldn't necessarily include pubs, restaurants and McDonalds in the "struggling to make ends meet" category.
There's price deflation in many key areas. That's a fact.
As for being far away from the IMF, day by day, it looks more likely that they, or the EU, will have to bail us out.
Last edited by OneRedArmy; 04/03/2009 at 11:01 PM.
The IMF question is for the financial crisis thread.
Deflation or inflation, imposing a sw cut will cause uproar. You don't attack the most vulnerable in society, be they OAP's or the dole, you just don't. Lenihan will have to find other means of getting the state's finances in order.
Job creation should be the number one priority for the government, not playing musical chairs every few months with the public finances.
Private Members Motion in the Dail now, discussing unemployment.
Well, Labour who tabled the motion are discussing it. The FF-Green cabinet are busy pointing out their efforts with training and education schemes in response.
In one ear and out the other.![]()
From reading your posts I know what you are against but I do not have a clue what you are for. YOu have offered no solutions on this board or any really constructive criticism. People may argue over less tax or more tax etc etc but at least people can agree that there is an intellectual basis for both sides I do not see any intellectual basis for any of your comments other than they are rants to be honest.
In Trap we trust
The emphasis should be on job creation and stimulating the economy. Tax increases are not going to stimulate the economy and will cut jobs.
With respect to the training that the government are so fond of, you can do all the training you like, but if there is no job at the end of it, or the economy hasn't picked up by then in order for someone to find a job, the training is practically useless, and all it succeeds in doing is waste more money.
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