COMMENT

AS THE fifth anniversary of the infamous bank guarantee of 2008 came and went without much fanfare, our international friends must continue to marvel at how compliant we have turned out to be as a nation.

We’re often described in unflattering terms as one of the

‘PIGS’ but the reality is we have behaved more like a puppy seeking the approval of its owner. In other words, the recession has exposed the fluffy underbelly of Irish society.

Yes, there have been protests over the years but certainly nothing like what we’ve witnessed in countries like Greece. If you stripped out the ragbag of socialist and other leftwing groups, most of the protests that pass off as social unrest would frankly be pitiful.

Most ordinary families have lost the appetite for a fight – they’re far too busy trying to keep their heads above water. Those lucky enough to have jobs are trying to stay in their homes and find the extra money for childcare costs. Many of those on the dole are simply too dispirited or broken to lead the charge against austerity.

Calls for social disobedience through non-payment of unpopular taxes have been undermined by Revenue’s powerful role in collecting these charges.

This week will see the start of a water meter installation programme in Dublin city. There’s nothing that people can do about that either as this work takes place outside householders’ properties on the water mains.

We may not like it, but it looks like we’ll have to live with it.

But despite the ongoing hardship and negativity, Irish people remain decent, resilient people. This was best exemplified recently when Alzheimer’s sufferer Peggy Mangan went missing.

Despite the tragic outcome to the search efforts, the scale of volunteerism on display showed that we are well able to mobilise as a community when it comes to the things that really matter.

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