Catie Keogh - Irish American News

August 2011 Irish American News “We’ve AlWAys Been Green!” 21Lying for a LivingI don’t suppose that anyone with even onefoot in the real world expected Fine Gael to,in the heel of the hunt, turn out to be any differentfrom their crooked predecessors. Afterall, they are politicians and what politiciansdo is lie for a living.Of course their main concern once theyhave conned their way into power is to setabout feathering their own nests; and pardonthe mixed metaphors but if they haven’t gottheir pig snouts in the troughs from a veryearly point, then they feel as if they are missingout on something.Their next main task is to steal as much asthey can from the suckers who voted for themwhile still calling it legal. It doesn’t matterif they destroy peoples’ lives as long as it isthe lives of the poorer people. They must becareful at all times not to upset the rich.As to the steadily rising suicide rate, completelyout of control in some areas, wellthey’re just collateral damage. In fact, it mighteven be encouraged as a way to bring downthe unemployment figures.After all, at least one loathsome politician—BertieAhern—famously wonderedwhy anyone who had a problem with theeconomy didn’t just “go off and commitsuicide.”Anyway, having done all this they then getstuck into what they endlessly accused theirpredecessors of doing: acts of shamelesscronyism and nepotism. It doesn’t matter ifthere is someone better qualified for the job,to a politician the crony always comes first.So if it’s a case of an unemployed person,out of work through no fault of their own,well capable and hungry to work—and thepolitician’s nephew, who left school at tenand has an IQ of 45, then the nephew willalways win.Now that they have their hands in the till;now that all the endless expense forms arefilled out in triplicate and double checked justin case there is a spare cent that they couldhave claimed for; now that plans are in placeto gouge asmuch more lootout of the suckersas humanlypossible and thefamily and theextended familyare taken careof with as manyjobs for the boys as they can fill; well then it istime for the politician’s really important task,almost as important as siphoning off as muchas he can get into his especially enlargedpockets. Yes, it’s time for them to cover theirasses. Now you would think that having beenat it for so long these guys would be reallybloody top notch at covering those great bigwell fed backsides, but no. They always seemto get caught out.However, the thing is this isn’t somecountry like Britain, where they actually sendcrooks to jail. No, this is Ireland. So theyknow they are relatively safe. They have theshining examples of a chancer like Haugheyand a proven and disgraced liar like Ahern.No one is going to do time. At worst we willhave a tribunal that lasts for ten years, we’lldenounce whoever needs to be denouncedand they will be warned not tomisbehave again.This is nothing that I haven’tsaid before but it’s worth repeatingnow that we have a whole newset of gangsters in power. We—eejits that we are—were willingto give them the benefit of thedoubt at least until Christmas. Imean, surely even people who arecrooks by nature could keep theirgreasy hands to themselves untilthe end of their minimum graceperiod at least.Well, as we all know by now,that was a hopelessly unrealisticway of thinking. Most of themwere out of the traps with theirTrue Colours flapping in theslipstream long before the usualhundred days’ leeway was over,never mind Christmas. Oneby one they were caught doingexactly what they had held thehideous Fianna Failures up toridicule for doing.The second week in July, as Iwrite, really does take the biscuitthough. As the Roscommon A&E closes, italso highlights the cynical, heartless nature ofwhat this government is going to be like. Afterall, if it is as cruel as this in its infancy I don’tsee it getting any better. It’s only five months—on February 8—since the party leader EndaKenny told listeners unequivocally that he wascommitted to Roscommon County Hospitalstaying open. Even a politician should be ableto remember that far back.Of course, being a politician—someonethat lying comes to naturally when theyemerge from the womb—Kenny denied eversaying any such thing.Don’t you find it rather worrying that in theage of tape recorders, never mind youtube, theleader of a modern country thinks he can getaway with just flatly denying everything hehas said? As he has been caught—and onlybecause he has been caught—Kenny is nowapologising for “any confusion.”Mr. Kenny, there was no confusion. Youare a liar; and you have given us the signthat this government will be no different tothe previous one.When Marlon Brando described his professionas “lying for a living” he could have beendescribing your own.Terrence J. O’Brien, President of the Metropolitan WaterReclamation District of Greater Chicago announcedthat the Board of Commissioners and staff hosted a tourof the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, MainstreamPumping Station and the McCook Reservoir. Among theattendees were, (L-R) M.W.R.D. Commissioner MariyanaT. Spyropoulos, Commissioner Kathleen Therese Meany,State Representative Bill Cunningham, and CommissionerPatricia Horton.HELP WANTEDFULL-TIME CHEFPapa’s Fresh Foods12207 S Harlem Ave, Palos Heights IL 60463Call Allan 708-923-0109Visit us atGIFT SHOPShamrock ImportsMaureen O’Looney3150 N. Laramie, Chicago773-286-6866AppearancesCutsFoil HighlightsColorWaxingPermsGifts/JewelryCall Mary 847-825-7615229 N Northwest Hwy, Park RidgeVacationGalena RentalsExperience the scenic beautyof Ireland in Galena, ILfor a vacation in Resort Homeswithout Resort Prices773-631-5253Toll free 866-GalenaRentalse-mailGalenaRentals@ameritech.netVisit www.GalenaRentals.comIrish owned & operatedTop Source Industries, Inc.503 Westgate RoadAddison, IL 60101Fine CabinetryCustom Designed and Crafted Cabinetry,Entertainment Centers and more...Call Us Today(FREE initial consultation and sketch)1-800-362-9625www.quickdisplay.net