European Governments Wage War on their People to Satisfy "The Markets" - Ireland and Spain

[C. Flower]

On November 3rd, 2010, Irish riot police systematically battered the heads of seated, peaceful student demonstrators in full view of many cameras.

The students were seated outside the Department of Finance, Merrion Row. At that at that time EU placemen already had their legs under desks in that building, sifting through the data as they began work on a virtual IMF/EU coup over the Irish economy, with full complicity of the Irish Government.

The students were demonstrating against cuts and against punitive increases in fees that will prevent students from lower income families out of higher education.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrBgTuue2rE&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Merrion Row Clashes - Uncut Key Clip[/ame]

NAMAwinelake explains here that the IMF/EU bailout is entirely a bailout for banks and bondholders, that have no legal call on public funds and that it is not essential for the Irish economy or for public spending.

http://www.politicalworld.org/showpo...8&postcount=95

The actions of the riot police were not random or "out of control", and have all the appearance of a premeditated nod to the markets and to the EU/IMF by the Irish Government, that they have the "iron in the belly" required to bring in an era of social deprivation to salvage Europe's bankrupt financial system and to drive back any organised resistance.

Today, the Spanish air traffic controllers have been forced back to work under threat of a military emergency penal code not used since 1975. The air traffic controllers are very highly paid public sector workers, but are fighting against extended hours, halved incomes and privatisation of the Spanish air authority.

The use of legislation not used since 1975 and reminiscent of the fascist era has been widely reported to be a gesture to the markets and to the EU by the Socialist government in Spain that it is prepared to take any measures to bring about austerity for salaried workers and their familes.

Most of Spain's air traffic controllers have returned to work and airspace has reopened, after a walkout grounded flights and stranded thousands.
The government had imposed emergency measures not seen since military rule ended in 1975, threatening to prosecute workers who refused to end the strike.
...
Works minister Jose Blanco said the situation was improving, and all Spanish airspace had now reopened. But he added: "Normality will take some time, between 24 and 48 hours, if the controllers return to work as they must."

Airport authority AENA said some flights had already begun to leave.
But most airlines have already cancelled the majority of their flights in and
The government stepped in with the firmest possible measures. For the first time ever, the government has declared a state of alert in Spain, with immediate effect.

This means air traffic controllers are officially mobilised. If they refuse to work they will be committing the crime of disobedience according to Spain's military penal code. These are extremely tough measures being taken by the government, which says the controllers are holding the country hostage and that is unacceptable.

The controllers can earn 350,000 euros ($470,000; £297,000). There is not a lot of sympathy for them in a country with 20% unemployment.

The strike came as many Spaniards were preparing to enjoy a long holiday weekend. The army was called in to take charge of the country's airspace on Friday, (and occupied control towers) but they do not have the training to direct air traffic.

Announcing the first state of alert since the end of military rule in 1975, Deputy Prime Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said the air traffic controllers were trying to protect "unacceptable privileges".
"Our airports are still at a standstill, and according to the Spanish constitution, the government is imposing a state of alert," Mr Rubalcaba said.

"The immediate effect is that the controllers are are now under orders to go back to work and can be charged with a crime under the military penal code if they refuse. The state of alert will initially last for 15 days."

The only way that our current economic system has of recuperating a dead financial sector is by increasing working hours, decreasing wages and cutting benefits and public services. The private sector also expects windfall gains even in a recession, through firesale forced sales of public assets under the command of the IMF and the pressures of the bond markets.

A rational response of investment, short time working and re-education, which could provide for full employment across Europe, is simply not feasible in a profit-based system.

The Irish and Spanish Government's actions, by a Fianna Fail and a Socialist government, shows that the governments we have now have used and will use force, if they feel it is required, to drive their favoured solutions through to preserve the positions of the wealthy.

The alternative is mass action across Europe to replace these politically bankrupt governments with elected representatives who are prepared to look after the needs of the population, not the banks. Better use of resources to maintain living standards won't happen under the present system.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/3769c0e8-f...#axzz17BOW9wx4

http://www.dailyfinance.com/article/...439003/?cid=13

[recycled employee]

I would say after this whole mess ireland needs to reconsider its relationship with europe,and have it on irelands terms as opposed to the other way around,the eu have a habit of dumping thier issues on others,short circuting and going over the heads of our oblivious irish politicians,at least the brits kept their pound..

I see spain and portugal are having huge problems,and i think a lot of this is down to our countries not dictating thier terms and conditions strongly enough,with the EU in the way.

They way i see it,it is a big cartel the EU ,it might have been a positive thing for us irish to join in the 70's,and we are lucky we did,but the terms have changed,we need to cut ourselves loose!

[SeanD6]

This is from the 'Golem XIV' blog last Friday (apologies it has already been quoted elsewhere on this site):

The cost of the bail out - just your democracy

"Loss of sovereignty is right. And it will come to us all. Ireland is NOT to make its bond holders nor the bond holders in its private banks share the pain. ALL the pain is to be taken by the Irish people. Even though billions of Euros of these loans were made by Private banks to people, institutions and other private banks NONE of them in Ireland, it will be the Irish people who will pay the debt.

And that will happen not just because financial experts at the European Commission, the ECB and the IMF have said it will, but because the continuation of all the ruination visited upon us so far by these people depends on it happening.

...This last point may seem soft but it is not. It gets to the rotten, anti-democratic core of the IMF and its 'reforms'. The IMF is non democratic and in its heart, distrusts it. It is and always has been One dollar one vote. The IMF believes in the rule of technocrats and ideologues - its own preferably. The IMF has spent half a century forcing governments to ignore their people and follow IMF diktats. It is what the IMF believes. It is what it knows. "

http://golemxiv-credo.blogspot.com/2...democracy.html

[C. Flower]

I would say after this whole mess ireland needs to reconsider its relationship with europe,and have it on irelands terms as opposed to the other way around,the eu have a habit of dumping thier issues on others,short circuting and going over the heads of our oblivious irish politicians,at least the brits kept their pound..

I see spain and portugal are having huge problems,and i think a lot of this is down to our countries not dictating thier terms and conditions strongly enough,with the EU in the way.

They way i see it,it is a big cartel the EU ,it might have been a positive thing for us irish to join in the 70's,and we are lucky we did,but the terms have changed,we need to cut ourselves loose!

The whole of Europe needs to consider its relations with Europe. I've no doubt in my mind that a lot of good can come out of us working together across Europe, but not on the project that the people in Brussels have in mind

[C. Flower]

It's a fair question - are the harsh terms of the EU loan agreement intended to pressurise Ireland into leaving the EU ?

http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/blog/415021-will-ireland-turn-against-europe

[TotalMayhem]

"Here's yer choices: Go to work or go to jail."

You have to admire the honesty of slavery in the olden days, twas unfree labour allright but at least they have been housed and fed. Today we pay for food and acccommodation and the 'privilege' to be held as slaves. Although the deal is sweetened with plasma TVs, fancy cars and holidays abroad, it's still slavery.

[Apjp]

if you listen to paul somerville a market analyst he says the markets are willing to work with people by not demanding so muc-it is more the politicians that worry markets than anything else. They do not seek to victimise us as people-i.e. the govt threw us to the wolves with the bailout and blamed the markets when really a general election and new govt, as well as debt forgiveness and sinking of anglo and INBS as well as punt nua now would get lower private interest rates.

[Apjp]

It's a fair question - are the harsh terms of the EU loan agreement intended to pressurise Ireland into leaving the EU ?

http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/blog/415021-will-ireland-turn-against-europe

In any case we should leave the euro. I think maybe we should take this decision ourselves rather than be forced out.

[moss]

"Here's yer choices: Go to work or go to jail."

You have to admire the honesty of slavery in the olden days, twas unfree labour allright but at least they have been housed and fed. Today we pay for food and acccommodation and the 'privilege' to be held as slaves. Although the deal is sweetened with plasma TVs, fancy cars and holidays abroad, it's still slavery.

Well said.

Slavery or burn the house down and rebuild ?