The "E" Word

     As we motor around Ireland, our driver/guide (Bob) keeps us entertained with historical information, painfully corny jokes, and commentary about recent Irish cultural and political matters.  Much like in the U.S., Ireland has suffered a bad recession following a building and lending boom that collapsed in 2008-9.  The news is filled with familiar debates over the failure to hold banks and other financial institutions responsible for their roles in these events.  The business closures and job losses that followed, are also familiar.

     Interestingly, although many are suffering from the poor economy and unemployment, the consequences are not as dire as we find for many in the U.S.   For example, (Bob tells us), there is no homelessness in Ireland.  Anybody who cannot afford housing on his own can sign up for it with the government and will be provided with a home.  Rent is charged according to ability to pay.  After living in such a home for 7 years, the occupant is eligible to purchase it at a favorable price and mortgage rate.  The government also provides health care as well as end-of-life hospice.  A person nearing end-of-life can receive multiple, daily care visits in his own home, and 24 hour attendance, if needed, at the very end.  College level education is government funded - there are no private universities. Thus, anyone can attend college, provided he passes the rigorous entrance exams. These are just a few examples of how Ireland takes care of its citizens.

     As you might have guessed, these services are paid for with very high income tax rates, from a low of 22% up to 60%.  There are additional taxes and fees at every turn -- a yearly tax on car ownership, for example.  My impression is that the Irish are no more thrilled at paying taxes and fees than anybody else, but there does seem to be general understanding and acceptance that this is is what it takes to provide the services to which all Irish citizens are entitled (ah! there it is -- the E word!).   Indeed "entitlement" seems to be a point of pride here in Ireland rather than being regarded with derision, as it often is in the U.S.  To say "everyone is entitled to housing and health services" is, in the U.S., a left leaning view.  But it's a given here in Ireland where the opposite -- that not everyone is entitled -- is unthinkable.