Tuesday 1 January 2013

Happy 2013?


"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves."

Bill Vaughan (American columnist and author).

You could probably substitute the word "pessimist" with "realist" in the above quote.

But if you're one of the hopeless optimists (or fantasists?) who think 2013 is going be the year of Irish economic recovery, you might consider Johnson's words concerning hope's triumph over experience

But you have to say "happy New Year", all the same. 

It's expected, isn't it?


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9 comments:

Anonymous said...

glass half full I say....

DB said...

"Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has predicted a “post-recession” Republic will become apparent by the end of 2013, bringing enormous potential for growth to our economy.

Mr Gilmore believes the recession will have ended by 2014 and that the political and economic landscape will alter radically."

One of the fantasists you refer to GM.

DC3 said...

An economic (forget social recovery, as that's gone) recovery in Oireland can only happen when the World economy picks up. Oireland as ever has nothing to do with it.

The Gombeen Man said...

@ Anon. We'll see who's glass half-empty/half-full come the end of the year.

@ DB. One of quite a few... I wonder what they think is going to drive it, with decreased take-home pay and extra taxes with more in the pipeline?


@ DC3... that's true, unless they still think they can buck all normally accepted economic laws, as they thought they could do during the bubble. And we saw what happened there.

Ella said...

Hi GM, Happy New Year to you and your readers. I just love that pic of the rose tinted glasses!

DC3 said...

Yes GM, nothing has changed, the bubble mentality predictability just mutates into ever more incomprehensible forms. The disconnect from reality in this country is just staggering.

The amount of destruction that has been wrought on the Irish economy is mind boggling. All with the consent of the Irish people. Baffling.

GM, DB, just try to read this without laughing:
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/taxpayers-cant-bear-weight-of-eu-bank-debt-gilmore-3341610.html

He seems to be serious.


DB said...

Today he is quoted as saying that Ireland can be

"Europe's success-story again"

AGAIN? WTF

He does not get it. None of them do.

NewYear boy said...

ah gm - you're a tricky little divil and you caught me out a beauty with your rose coloured glasses. Shure didn't i think you were turning over a new leaf and seeing the world as glass half full and never for the life of me noticed the rose shades (thx Ella for pointing it out). And of course in my haste to post i also forget to.... well I mean c'mon "Anonymous" Lads and Lasses of the blog I wish you all the very best for the new year from Hobart where the temperature has hit 42 degrees C today (your toothpaste comes out warm) and those of us with two storey houses forget the upper level and find couches downstairs to sleep on. I love this blog and GM - you're a bit of a star to keep on churning it out - much appreciated as it does focus the thoughts and has on mor than one occassion saved me the cost of an airfare back...................... pb

The Gombeen Man said...

@ Ella. Thanks.

@ DC3, DB. He's becoming Rent A Quote. That stuff about Ireland being a "success story again is sheer madness". Have they learnt nothing?

@ PB. There you go mate, hidden depths!!! Glad to have saved you a few Aussie dollars with warnings from the old country! No rose (or green tint) on GN.