For the last 10 years we've been hearing about how this, that and the other was a rip off and sure "That's rip off Ireland" for ye'!
Everyone from tradespeople to bankers, lawyers, doctors, publicans, shop owners and insurance companies were at it all the time. We went for over a decade without one person in this country getting value for money for anything!
We've all been hearing that a litre of beer is 2 cents in Portugal and you could go to Spain and live like a king for 2 weeks by selling the fluff from your belly button.
And yet, back at the ranch, any talk of reducing costs was seen as yet another example of the Fat Cats screwing the "Wurkers" and continuing their never-ending race to the bottom.
The notion that high wages caused high prices seemed to be so abstract and nonsensical that it flew in the face of common sense. How could the two be linked? How could there be a connection between input costs and cost of production/supply? How could available money influence price when demand outstripped supply? These things were nonsense!
Thankfully the current recession/depression/disaster has resulted in a greater level of understanding of basic economics by a greater proportion of the population so more people understand that prices are a result of demand and input costs and so higher wages result in higher costs.
Therefore some flocculent comrade on the Public Sector Broadcaster is now less likely to be greeted with vacuous nods of the head when he talks about racing to the bottom etc.
I just thought I’d share this one bright point in this rather depressing and benighted period of our country's history.
Link?
I agree, and try being the only GP in the area that doesn't put up their fees when everyone else does.Oh dear, Purple, I don't mean to offend your wife but I reckon the medical profession are still continuing the great Irish rip-off game.
Over 200 for a quick visit to a consultant - over 50 euros for an even quicker chat with a GP. I'm sure most reading this will say they've paid even more.
The medicos are about the only people that are making the same as five years ago. Indeed, looking at various old invoices and comparing them with recent visits, I'm guessing one is paying 20% more on average per consultant and GP visit.
Any reason for this increase? Am only asking as you've brought up the subject and your wife's a medical doctor.
The two countries are beside each other ans share many cultural similarities.
While the supply of money grew throughout Europe it grew a lot faster in Ireland during the artificial boom years.
And in the last 4 years the exact inverse has become apparent where a drop in money supply in Ireland has resulted in 2 years of negative CPI.
November 2008, country just about to head downhill and the taxi regulator puts up the price of fares
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