Some people have a lot of nerve. You know the ones, that say one thing and do another. The ones, and let’s face it there’s a lot of them out there, that think they’re perfect. They’re also mostly the ones that spend a lot of time hiding those skeletons in the closet, and then get all red faced and defensive when we realise what they’ve been up to.
As someone who freely admits to not being perfect I’m loving the whole FAS saga at the moment. You know the story about former director-general of FAS, Rody Molloy, who ‘made some mistakes’ while travelling on business for FAS. More like serious excessive spending by executives of FAS if you ask me.
French diplomat Talleyrand once said. They're worse than a crime; they're a mistake." Now no one is calling Rodney a criminal but making out that wasting hundreds and thousands of our money is an innocent mistake is like going to the shop and buying magic beans instead of insurance.
And on top of it all, good old Briano Lenihan has the cheek, no, the sheer audacity to tell us to reduce our standar of living. That’s like giving a dealer giving you a big bag of drugs, and just when you’re about to snort up your last line telling you not to get addicted! Does he realise that when Reeling In The Years gets to 2008 they will be referring to him as the worst Minister for Finance, ever? It seems as if he’s reading from the Charlie Haughey book of stupid and fickle quotes . I wonder how much his shirts cost?
This comes as Brian-o and co enjoy massive pay packages, extraordinary holidays, and fabulous pension schemes. The thing is: he's right. We are living beyond our means but for people to listen, the Government needs to lead. And to lead means to sacrifice. What better than with a gesture. A simple gesture, one which we as a country can follow.
But don't count on it.
The extraordinary waste at FAS is sadly only the tip of an iceberg deep enough to sink this Government and maybe this country. Leadership comes from the top. C'mon fellas, get rid of junior ministers! Cut your wages! Yes, these are just gestures. Only a few quid is at stake, but these gestures might mean we'll follow you.
In the meantime I plan on living frivolously. I’m going to buy all around me, I might just get some new credit cards to help me along the way. And wait until I’m so immersed in debt I don’t see any way out but to file for bankruptcy.
First on my list is a new hair do. So I’m, off to LA!
