Do you think wages for public servants should increase when we as a nation are borrowing to consume?
You are honed in on a narrow perspective. Looking over your shoulder at your neighbour wondering how much it is costing you.
The topic is about a global trend to increase the return on labour (admittedly, the title does not lend itself to that view).
But to answer your question, yes. I also think private sector workers need to see increases in their incomes, predominantly from the bottom up. For instance, a 25% increase in the minimum wage would spark demands for higher wages up the food chain. This will set about generating real domestic demand, increase savings, reduce debt etc.
Of course it cannot occur in a vacuum, international considerations need to be factored. But even a fleeting knowledge of national and global affairs would surely pick up the ascent of unlikely political outcomes. The cause of which is mistakenly construed by some commentators from the rise of extremism, racism, etc.
It is not, it is simple, as it always is - 'its the economy, stupid' (not you personally). When wages cannot pay the bills, rent, childcare etc, then there is a big problem. Add to that the extreme levels of wealth, overvalued labour at top-end earnings, that is prevalent in this economic model and tensions will start to rise. Scapegoats will be made of Gardai who cannot afford to live in Dublin, teachers who have seen their savings depleted, LUAS drivers whose employers tried to renege on previous agreements, etc, etc.
