Good wishes mean little in a country blighted by hardship

Sir, How hollow the new year’s greeting ‘ Happy New Year’ must have sounded to many recipients this year, most knowing full well they will not experience a happy 2012

Your front page headline in The Kerryman of January 4 said it all, ‘Many families can’t afford to put food on the table’.

The alarming drop in consumer sentiment is easy to understand. People don’t know which taxes will be increased or what new taxes will be dreamed up by the current government. It’s all about choices, but expect the middle and low earners to feel most of the pain.the Irish League of Credit Unions have conducted a survey which showed the depressing plight of many people and the lack of hope and optimism for the coming year.

The St. Vincent De Paul Society are at the coalface and are saying what our “holidaying” politicians are unwilling to admit; that there is misery and devastation throughout this island.

Tommy Tiernan put it very well on the Late Late Show before Christmas when he said, “It’s the longest funeral ever”.

The people have suffered four years of cuts and hardship, with many more to come. All this because our cowardly and inept politicians slavishly pursue a failed economic policy and won’t confront the ECB and tell them that the innocent Irish people will not pay any further private bank debt.

There isn’t the making of one complete backbone amongst the whole lot of them. But then again they are all very comfortable financially. Is it possible to find a poor politician, working or retired? No matter what cuts are imposed on the unfortunate inhabitants of this small piece of rock we call home, the politicians’ lifestyles will not be curtailed.

I was asked recently what I would wish for in 2012. I replied: “Enda Kenny’s salary or Brian Cowen’s pension”.

If someone unfairly tried to make me pay the personal debt of another I could go to court and seek justice. How is it that the injustice of what has happened to the Irish people is of no concern to those with high position and influence in this country?

No doubt future historians will explain that the Irish people were severely wronged during the current period. But what good will it be for those now living through it? Sincerely, Gerry Cournane, Tralee.