Christmas Crackers
The decision to withhold the Christmas bonus, combined with Cowen’s arrogant defence of this shameful act, is not just a slap in the face to Ireland’s pensioners; it is a veritable spit in the face from a group of criminal reprobates.
This bonus was not much, but for hundreds and thousands of people who had worked hard all their lives it was “a little something” at Christmas, allowing them to enjoy some small luxury. Maybe they were able to spoil a grandchild etc. Whatever it was, it was in many ways more valuable than the cash mount. It was truly the thought that counts.
So it is hardly surprising that its suspension should have found favour with economists who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Most pensioners Christmases will be a little bleaker and blacker without the bonus, in contrast to Ireland’s government, its ministers and employees. The Christmas Party has long been the highlight of the year from every branch of the public service at both local and national level, from the local Health Service Executive branch right up to the minister’s office. No member of the public may have the cheek to look for any public servant while they are preening themselves, and it goes without saying that members of the public will look for many of those attending in vain in the days following. This is a time of conspicuous consumption and equally conspicuous bad taste, when no expense is spared on the booze. At local government level the local Gardai know that it is more than their jobs are worth to haul anyone returning from such parties for drink driving offences.
Most of these bacchanalian excesses are picked up by that smelly, amorphous group whom public servants hate – The Public. The Christmas Party is therefore a cracker!
