The Big Lie - Who Profits From Ireland’s Austerity?
He is rightly critical of the cheerleading during the boom and beyond, but rarely names names nor lands a shot. It seems to this reviewer that there is an excellent book inside The Big Lie waiting to get out and that book would examine the role that the media played in the country's collapse. As an experienced journalist with clean hands, Kerrigan is well placed to write such a book. But this is not it. Besides his unexpected reticence when it comes to naming sinners, Kerrigan can also be casual with his facts.
To take one example among many and one that his publishers Transworld Ireland really should have spotted , Kerrigan claims that the economy expanded by 0. The reality, of course, is that is still some way from ending and so we won't know exactly what happened to the economy until some time next summer.
This may sound like carping but when you criticise others for poor forecasting or paying themselves too much, you'd better have your ducks in a row. While Kerrigan says little that is new or controversial, he still remains a great writer who has a wonderful way with words, along with a bracing lack of respect for our rulers. Talking about a toe-curling meeting between Finance Minister Michael Noonan and his US counterpart Timothy Geithner, which ended with Noonan bragging that he now had Geithner's mobile phone number, Kerrigan compares the year-old Limerick man to a "ten-year-old girl who had just shared a milkshake with Justin Bieber".
Prose like this means readers can forgive a lot, but the reality is that this is far from Kerrigan's best book. Here the Mediterranean lifestyle meets the jet One year ago, Denise Gough was another actress hoping for her big break. But now, hers is the name on everyone's lips: Prince William and his wife Justin Bieber showed his serious side as he spoke to This book offers an alternative view to the official cover story of austerity.
There's a great book to write on austerity – this one isn't it
It's about the great majority of us who weren't gambling with our future. It's about what's being done to us, who is doing it and why. It's also about who benefits from this and who gets it in the neck. And what we might do about that. Gene Kerrigan delves deep into the muddy waters of the boom and crash, the chaos in the banks, the intervention by the troika and the erosion of democracy. Meanwhile, the elites in our society wrap the green flag around themselves, calling for sacrifice and patriotism, while they hold on fiercely to every perk and privilege. It's time to tell the truth. Paperback , pages.
Published June 6th by Transworld Ireland first published October 1st To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about The Big Lie , please sign up. Lists with This Book.
The Big Lie - Who Profits From Ireland’s Austerity? - Gene Kerrigan - Google Книги
Mar 25, Sarah Jean rated it liked it. The author presents the lead-up to the current economic circumstances in a neat, linear fashion, and does so with a bitter tone of voice.
Like other books, blogs and articles on the subject, it doesn't offer a lot in the way of solutions though. It feels like the author is venting his spleen in writing this book but he's also probably raising the blood pressure The author presents the lead-up to the current economic circumstances in a neat, linear fashion, and does so with a bitter tone of voice. It feels like the author is venting his spleen in writing this book but he's also probably raising the blood pressure of many of his readers.
Jan 05, Thady rated it really liked it. Great book by Gene Kerrigan detailing how austerity affects ordinary people - partly inspired my blog The Big Lie - Emigration and Government Policies at wisethady. One of a number of books I would recommend to all of my fellow Irish people.
An easy introduction to how Ireland went from boom to bust, and how so many of the people who were responsible for bad decisions are still being paid to make decisions that affect us all.
Ironic really that the property dealers who told us that land and house prices were not only realistic but sustainable, are now being paid with taxpayers money, to off load that same over valued property to speculators looking to make One of a number of books I would recommend to all of my fellow Irish people. Ironic really that the property dealers who told us that land and house prices were not only realistic but sustainable, are now being paid with taxpayers money, to off load that same over valued property to speculators looking to make a fast dollar.
Also ironic is that the regulators and bankers who failed to pay heed to the regulations that were in place, who failed to rein in the more exuberant lenders and borrowers, are also still in charge. Not ironic but more of an insult is that they are being paid huge salaries and fees from taxpayers money and the best advice they have for us is to "knuckle down" and get on with it. Easy to say when you not only have a huge salary but also are secure in the knowledge that no matter how badly you mess up in your current job, there will be another place on another board of directors waiting for you as soon as you are available.
Carrito de compra
Oh yes, and possibly a seat on one of the many government committees to give you something to do between rounds of golf. A thought provoking book. Nov 24, Karina rated it it was amazing Shelves: A sustained note of contained fury runs through the chapters that make up this book, as Gene Kerrigan points out the fallacies of Ireland's current austerity climate, and how we got here in the first place. So much for 'sharing the pain' - while teachers, nu A sustained note of contained fury runs through the chapters that make up this book, as Gene Kerrigan points out the fallacies of Ireland's current austerity climate, and how we got here in the first place.
So much for 'sharing the pain' - while teachers, nurses, police, the disabled, lone parents, old age pensioners and PAYE workers are targeted for pay cuts and tax hikes and cuts in services and conditions, the very rich are making even more money in this recession. Memoirs of a Tory Radical. The 'Too Difficult' Box. Take Your Best Shot. Breaking the Sheep's Back. The Mess We're In. When the Luck of the Irish Ran Out.
The Price of Power. Whose land is our land? Back From The Brink. A Piece of the Pie. In the Corridors of Power. Essential Public Affairs for Journalists. The Rotten State of Britain. Confessions of a Political Maverick. The Gods that Failed.