Hello once again readers. Before I get into it, don't worry, this isn't a rant blog.
As we all know, it's the end of yet another year; hell, the end of a decade! How fast time went by... I've seen people do these survey blogs about 2009 and thought about doing one, but I felt that this was a better idea.

So where to begin? 2009 was a year like no other. It was both the best and the worst year yet. It was the year that I finished that dreaded Leaving Cert (with no help from the SEC fucking it up TWICE). It was the year in which I finally got the opportunity to meet people who I hold enormous amounts of respect for. It was the year that I grew further away from my close friends and end up wishing I didn't in the end. It was the year that I had a world torn apart from me. It was the year I watched someone I loved become a slave to an industry and their false perception of "cool". It was a year that started great, then went to the shitter, but then evened out a bit. It was the year that I made new friends and became closer with other friends, both of which I intend to keep in the next year.

It was a busy year.

So what am I actually writing about?
I don't actually know. Why are you still here?
As 2009 comes to a close I think about what I want for the new year. So many people have resolutions to quit something, or to cut back on something, blah blah blah.
My resolution will be to be a better person. I'd like to think that I end 2009 with very few people who are angry at me. That goes for the year in general. I know that at least one person is not happy with me, but what can I do about that?

I'll end this at that. I hope you all have a good New Year's Eve and a good start into the new year, try and remember it.
With love,
Emmanuel Goldstein.

Edit: This blog is dedicated to Sinead Murphey!

So it looks like we meet again, my friends. I hate how it comes to this every so often that it takes a student to make suggestions that actually makes sense, and could work, yet the government doesn't seem to think that it's a good idea at all. Interesting.


Before I begin, this blog is dedicated to Jessica Thomson because she's my first subscriber. So subscribe now and get a blog dedicated to you!


Where to begin? There's so much I could start on. We all know that the budget for 20120 was recently. And wow, did that have a lot of things to change!


I must say first, that I am quite surprised that they didn't go anywhere near Third Level Fees or anything of the sort. I was expecting that fine gentleman to raise the registration fee as he couldn't bring in any sort of "student contribution".

However these pay cuts, no no no! Why do you think that it's a good idea to cut the pay of those on low/middle income levels? Is this just your alternative to taxing them? So you're going to cut 5% of the wage of people under €30,000 a year. That's €1500 a year gone for them. €1500 gone from a wage that is already below the average industrial wage is a hell of a lot. And again, you take "a reduction of 7½ per cent on the next €40,000 of salary. How is this fair? But you're only taking 15% from those above €200,000? Now, I want you to tell me what people are the ones who earn this. Are they the hard workers who are the necessary cogs of this depreciating machine? The very heart and soul of this country that make it work? No. These people are those bureaucrats in the government, as well as those high-end public broadcasting figures. The people who do nothing except hold a high position. The very people who do sweet fuck all and earn a killing. Yet those who work hard their whole life just so they can make it by are the ones you're hitting hardest. You disgust me.

I noticed that Brian Cowen's salary is going to be cut by 20%. Only 20%? Why not more? He doesn't do much. Nor does any of those in the government. Why should they earn more than the US President? I don't remember when the members of the Irish government became more important than the US President... Oh wait, that's right! THEY'RE NOT. What should be done? They're incomes should be heavily attacked. But they won't do it. But I ask you this people who read my blog, why? Please come up with a reason that doesn't coincide with greed.

Now, this next part I'm quite shocked that I'm going to have to even touch on. You intend to cut payments to the disabled, to the widowers and to carers. How DARE you. If I had the chance, I would spit right in your face regardless of the consequences for myself. I didn't realize that by taking from those who may have a severe disability, it will help get Ireland out of this self-made depression. I didn't know that taking money from those most vulnerable to this, those who are on the border of the poverty line, those who can barely afford to put food on their table before this, it would make the economy better. It's great to see our government taking this honorable decision to attack those who barely make it by to protect those who have money coming out their ears. Well done!

You're going to make those on the medical card pay for their prescriptions? Ok, let's put this into context: If you're on the medical card, it means that you are either on social welfare payments because you are out of a job, you are on an income under a certain point which is considered border to the poverty line, or you're on a pension which may or may not be high or low (in most cases, rather low.). So by giving additional costs to those who are barely scraping by, it will help the economy? What about those who have conditions who are on a number of prescriptions? They won't be able to constantly afford these prescribed drugs, which may end up causing them to not getting them at all, t

Hello again my dear friends and people of the internet. As promised, I'm delivering a follow up to "The Ink And The Quill" for you all on this evening.

Anyway, as we all know, the Lisbon vote Round 2, went to the yes campaign.
But alas, the Irish people went out there and voted. Sure, a large number of them were probably under this Political Blanket ( I hear by coin that phrase) created by the mixture of an economic catastrophe in which people are uncertain about their future, and propaganda to emphasis this as much as possible. Anyone who who can think freely can see that this was the case.

Of course, nothing at this stage can change the outcome. I respect the power of Democracy and this result, despite it being hurtful towards her. I will not be asking for another referendum, and I will nearly guarantee that most, if not all, of the No Campaigners will do the same. I found it EXTREMELY ironic seeing some of the Yes campaigners, particularly politicians, saying how they "respect the will of the Irish people" and how they "respect Democracy". If you really did you wouldn't have pushed and brought on another round onto us. By all legal means, this treaty was dead as of June 12th 2008. But no, you and the Eurocrats thought it best to abuse Democracy for your own political interests. How many of you read the treaty? Very few I bet.

I also extend my hand to all of the near 600,000 people who kept to their stance and voted No on this treaty. Despite the attempts to secure you under the Political Blanket, you still went out there and let the world know that you opposed this completely. Every vote counts.

I'd be extremely interested now in seeing how the country is going to start magically producing jobs, and bringing back recovery. Those of you who voted yes because of this are going to get a very unpleasant surprise in the next year or so when your promises that you clung so tightly to, are broken before your eyes. It just might make you wish that you listened to me, the one who refuses to shut the fuck up. It might make you realize that you voted for the wrong thing.

I think I'll leave it at this. So as the treaty is brought through ( hopefully the Czech President won't bring it through...), just sit and watch how the things I brought up in my last blog, as well as the other issues that No Campaigners were bringing up, start to slowly unfold before your eyes. You've taken another step towards a police state. But when you finally realize this, is will, unfortunately, be far too late for you. Go against the grain; eat from the Tree of Knowledge of good and bad. Question, not accept.

Until next time,
With Love
Emmanuel Goldstein.