If a person gives a gun to a small child and that child then shoots someone then the adult who gave the gun to the child is at fault.
If a person gives a gun to another adult and that adult then shoots someone then the adult who used the gun is at fault.
The Central bank and the Financial regulator did nothing to stop profligate lending by the banks.
All of the above set the scene for the massive levels of borrowing that the Irish people then indulged in but in the end nobody forced anyone to take out a loan. Adults are responsible for their own actions so if people borrowed too much then they only have themselves to blame. I really don’t see how you can blame the current government for any of the above, that’s like blaming the people steering the lifeboats for sinking the Titanic.
+1, but isn't this the common cry lately?
It wasn't me that done it, I done nuthin' wrong, Bud.
The absolute lunacy of people who bought houses they couldn't afford, accepted mortgages that they knew were too much, remortgaged to 'release equity' to have a holiday or buy a new car, holidayed on credit etc are the ones Enda is referring to.
How that can be a source of righteous indignation is beyond me.
Blame the govt, the banks and (sigh) the bondholders. That makes us all feel better.
It reminds me of the teacher who was told not to mark the childrens exams in red ink, as if there was too many marks, it would make the poor ickle diddums feel bad.
We, as a society 'should' feel bad. We had a part to play, and a not insignificant one at that. Yes, there is much more to it as Purple mentions. But stop deflecting the blame by saying "well 'I' didin't do anything wrong". Fine, good for you. Stop being so bleedin sensitive though. It's a statement about the people, not 'you' personally.
The State Of The Nation Address was a fop. Everyone knew that, but the precious souls didn't want to hear anything that might insinuate that they were ultimately responsible for their own actions. People wanted a fall-guy, and we had loads, FF, Banks & (sigh) bondholders. T'was them that done it. Ignoring the fact that without people falling over themselves to buy a bigger and better house, or more houses, (which they could not ultimately afford) then the policies of FF and the Banks would have amounted to nowt.