THERE ARE SEVERAL strong indications in today's Sunday Times in Ireland that the current ruling coalition government will not enjoy the results of upcoming local elections in June. Besides economic gloom and wrong-footed response to a growing budget deficit, the current Taoiseach has fanned discontent in the regions by reshuffling two seats in his cabinet. In the process, Taoiseach Brian Cowen cut loose direct-talking John McGuinness for the national media. Now in addition to the lowest-recorded popularity of Fianna Fail, there are open criticisms mounting against the senior Irish cabinet--criticisms arising from within Fianna Fail itself. [1] This did not have to happen. But because it has transpired, every national broadsheet in Ireland is documenting the discontent [5], making it easy for voters and opposition to form a more substantial judgment against the current Irish government. If I was a betting man, I would put Brian Cowen on the opposition benches before the end of 2010. These thoughts form part of my conclusions in a short Qik video filmed as I flicked through the Sunday Times in Ireland, summarising my thoughts as a few phrases below.
Vision. By now, a majority of the Irish voting public does not believe the current government has the vision to lead Ireland out of its burst bubble. A lot of that feeling stems from Irish politicians failing to take the lead in slashing perceived largesse, such as big pensions for serving politicians. [2] Something innovative, like getting social partners on board for flexible workforce practises [3], has to happen. As things now stand, Ireland's unborn enter the world with a massive debt burden.
Clogged. Cyberspace is filling up frighteningly fast. According to Nemertes Research, the amount of traffic generated each month by YouTube is now equivalent to the amount generated across the entire internet in all of 2000. [4]
Portfolio Career Laced with Start-up Juices. We're in a new era of flexible gigs in which professionals mix part-time work. This means people with marketable skills are creating a portfolio career. It's an important way of juggling time to offset job insecurity. [6] In a related item, Thomas Cooney and Jerry Kennelly are fronting an initiative that brings Exploring Enterprise into primary and secondary school curricula where the young students can learn how to refine ideas into paying ventures.
1. Sarah McInerney -- "Row adds to Cowen's gloom" on the front page of the Sunday Times, 27 April 2009.
2. Stephen O'Brien -- "Politicians face big pensions cut" in the Sunday Times, 27 April 2009.
3. Damien Kiberd -- "Flexible workforce is key to recovery" in the Business Analysis section of the Sunday Times, 27 April 2009.
4. John Harlow -- "Clogged internet faces the big freeze" in the the Sunday Times, 27 April 2009.
5. Editorial -- "Cowen is reshuffling a house of cards" in the Comment section of the Sunday Times, 27 April 2009.
6. Gabrielle Monaghan -- "Don't get a job, get a portfolio career" in the Appointments section of the Sunday Times, 27 April 2009.
7. Gabrielle Monaghan -- "Start those entrepreneurs young" in the Sunday Times, 27 April 2009. Direct link to video: http://www.qik.com/video/1553201.
