Fake choices, moving targets and diversions.

Some tricks to watch out for in opposing the cuts caused by the banking scam.


Fake Choices
In an attempt to fool people that 'we're all in this together' and that it's all above board and democratic, the government is providing us the opportunity to have some input into the public sector 'review' (also known as the big cuts, aka the 'tough decisions'.)

If you visit the website of the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform, you will see that Minister Howlin has a nice new section where we can all play our part in planning the cuts.

While there certainly is plenty of waste to complain about (mostly a result of corruption, appointment of incompetent cronies who couldn't run a chip shop etc.) the emphasis is on "suggestions and proposals for making further savings, and for introducing reforms and efficiencies in spending programmes and in the design of delivery of public services."
The biggest current waste of money doesn't get a mention. There s no option for 'burning bondholders'... nor of course do they propose taxing the rich, nor increasing taxes on (or nationalising) the Corrib Gas field.
You can suggest this yourself by sening an e-mail to expenditurereview@per.gov.ie

They haven't moved into a full on "choose your punishment" question... yet.

Actually, they could raise revenue by doing this.

 'Cuts Factor' - we all text in to a premium rate number to vote for what to cut or what to save. The govt still gets to make cuts, we get to think we had a choice, and they get lots of money from the call ins, which they can give to those lovely bond holders.
Everyone's a winner!


Moving Targets.
Another tactic is to propose one cut, and if it seems too unpopular, change your mind, and put forward another one. This will have people running around from pillar to post, preparing leaflets, organising meetings on local topics, and of course pit one cause against another.

Diversions.
There will of course be attempts to divert peoples energy.
E.g. Try to tie people up in the courts fighting trumped up charges, or fines for posters etc.
Anyone who is spending their energy fighting council bureaucrats about rights to leaflet, exchange information and erect posters will have less time and energy for the main goal. To some extent, this is unavoidable, but we have to box clever so as to know when to dig in, or when to come up with a creative way around the obstacles.  e.g. people who instead of erecting 4 posters on poles in town, would lock four bikes to bike stands where there would be good foot traffic, and then have the posters on the bikes, not the railings.
Technically, your poster is not on public property, and any interefence with it would be criminal damage.