Иконописикони цениПравославни икониThis is a transcript of an letter I sent to all the current TDs voicing my opinion on Wednesday’s vote whether to accept the IMF “bailout” or not. If you feel as strongly about this issue as I do please let your TDs know. You can get a list of all sitting TDs email addresses here.
A Chara,
I am writing you this letter as a citizen, on foot of Tuesday’s Dáil vote on whether to accept the loan agreement from the IMF. As an Irishman and a business man I have taken great interest in the travails of our economy over the past number of years and have until recently felt that our representatives in the Dáil have been doing their best in keeping with the interests of the people. However, with all the situations that have come to light over the last number of years, my faith in my Government’s actions have been severely shaken.
I am well aware of the pressures on our economy, both internally and from other nations but I am asking you now to take a stand for us as citizens of Ireland and refuse the loan agreement the IMF have offered. I firmly believe that if we show some backbone now and refuse to place the debts of the banks on ourselves we will succeed in getting back up from our knees. If we do not, we will be crippled for many years to come. The IMF deal is primarily to fund the banks’ losses and we can use alternative methods to resuscitate them. We should not feel forced to take their loans to cover what is a European problem. This loan arrangement will not do us any favours and in the long run will not do Europe any favours either. The government has made serious errors in the past but now we have a chance to show our capability and independence by making the right choice.
The bank’s bond holders and other stakeholders can take the losses themselves and us too indirectly through our pension funds if a solution like those offered such a a debt / equity swap if used. We will recover quickly and thanks to the devaluation caused by the austerity measures in the budgets we will find ourselves competing internationally with our best side showing. These are scary times for all of us, citizens and citizens representatives alike but if we show vision now we will be repaid both economically and more importantly in demonstrating a strong Irish identity.
Thank you for taking the time to read my opinion and for taking up the unenviable task of stewarding our country. Please consider what I have said to you when you make your vote on Tuesday.
Is Mise le Meas,
Patrick O’Connor