Sir, – Three cheers for Fintan O’Toole (Opinion & Analysis, April 15th). The only difference between Ireland and Greece is that we speak English, and therefore our unemployed can emigrate to the American and Australian continents.
Hence no drain on the economy from their dole money, no energetic protesters rioting in our cities and risking being shot, no youthful energy to change our torpid politics. This “safety valve” has prevented the septic political system from erupting and discharging its poison.
But I think it represents a missed opportunity for this state to rediscover its essentially decent roots. Iceland and Greece will recover, and their young will catch the next wave. But how will our ageing population feel when our state is fumbling in the greasy pot of our pension funds to feed the “red cents” back to the bondholders? Yours, etc,
VALERIE COLLINS,
Lios na Mona,
Caragh Lake,
Killorglin,
Co Kerry