The general chit-chat thread [READ THE FIRST POST BEFORE POSTING HERE]

devil-80

Anyone know good car mechanic for VW?

Basq

devil-80 wrote: »

Anyone know good car mechanic for VW?

Fred or Joe at IMC..

.. a tad pricey at times but they'll do a superb job!

****

- no phone numbers in threads please b. - fozzle

devil-80

Somebody told me about hmm i think Tony Kelly (but cant find him) he works at bridge tyres now somewhere near SMYTHS.

Slidey

devil-80 wrote: »

Somebody told me about hmm i think Tony Kelly (but cant find him) he work at bridge tyres now somewhere near SMYTHS.

I know who you are thinking of but his name isn't Tony.

He no longer works in Bridge Tyre

devil-80

im not sure about his name You know where i can find his? Is he good?

Slidey

devil-80 wrote: »

im not sure about his name You know where i can find his? Is he good?

He is good, and a friend of mine and for that reason I won't be giving his name on thread, however I was talking to him the other day and he is very busy.

What is it you need doing? He would be more into the electrical side of things and petrol cars

devil-80

I have passat diesel problem with brakes (hard pedal) I think is water in brake servo or master cylinder (its common problem of this model). Do you know can he help me because driving with brakes in that condition its not safe and i need car for sunday.

Slidey

I sent you the number there

devil-80

Thanks. I rang him few minutes ago-he is very busy but shuld look at my car about friday night.

Thanks once again.

darealtulip

bobcar61 wrote: »

I got my exam results today from my 1st Semester exams and I passed them all At least i don't have to worry about the repeats in August just yet.

Goncratulations! I passed whole first semester aswell. No repeats for me either!

magnumlady

darealtulip wrote: »

Goncratulations! I passed whole first semester aswell. No repeats for me either!

Well done to you and Bobcar

Buford T Justice

Guys, anyone know why Starbelgrade was banned?

bobcar61

I think it had something to do with After Hours and the Soccer forum. As far as I know he re-reg'd to navigate around a ban from the forum and has since been site banned.

EuskalHerria

RSYM 'House the Homeless' Campaign

Statement by the Republican Socialist Youth Movement:


Over the last number of weeks the Republican Socialist Youth Movement has been agitating over the issue of homelessness in Ireland. With young activists in areas such as Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Ennis, Derry, Sligo, Strabane, Tipperary and Galway taking part in our ’House the Homeless’ campaign which was designed to highlight the plight of some of the most vulnerable people in Irish society today.

Figures given to the RSYM by Focus Ireland estimate that there is currently up to 5,000 people who are homeless throughout the country. We believe that this is totally unacceptable. We find it reprehensible that with so many properties left lying vacant after the collapse of the property market (some estimates put the figure at up to 300,000) and with housing prices on the wane that the government would rather hand over billions to the profiteering millionaires who have led us to economic ruin than to come to the aid of people who need their help the most.

This is the great contradiction within the capitalist system.

Thousands upon thousands of properties are left derelict and unused throughout the country while Irish citizens are forced to sleep on the streets in huge numbers. There is absolutely no excuse for it. We need a system that caters for the needs of the people of Ireland and that doesn’t simply pander to the richest in society whenever their risk-taking gets them into trouble and they come to the taxpayer with a begging-bowl.

We are dealing here with the same government that encouraged the property bubble to spiral out of control, ensuring that many young families could simply not afford their first home and for those who tried to pay the greatly inflated prices, they are now left with huge mortgages that they cannot possibly pay back. The repossession of families homes, as in the recent case in Waterford, will become an all too common story. There will be no bail-out for these families. This government, and moreover the political system we currently live under do not have the interests of people at heart but the interests of private profit.

The RSYM calls on this government to stop bailing out those who have held our economy to ransom and to invest in people. If the measure of a nation’s economy is not to be the price of bank shares or property values but how well the most vulnerable people in society are looked after, then it is indeed clear that we are in the middle of an economic crisis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeR4_Lod038

Attached is a video with some pictures from the campaign thus far.

Join the RSYM - For National Liberation and Socialism!

darealtulip

Why are these people homeless anyway? If you want to rent a house you have one in a week.

Is it people who can't have the dole or so?

In Dromahair where I live there are lots of empty houses and not derlict at all, brand new even.

EuskalHerria

darealtulip wrote: »

Why are these people homeless anyway? If you want to rent a house you have one in a week.

Is it people who can't have the dole or so?

In Dromahair where I live there are lots of empty houses and not derlict at all, brand new even.

I'm not sure I'm qualified to answer the first question specifically, but with those who are homeless there can be many different reasons and many more unfortunate stories. Its a problem that should not exist. Like was said in the statement the ratio of homeless people and houses lying empty is astonishing!
The worst thing is that every member of this forum could identify an empty house yet there will be people sleeping rough tonight. In any civilised society this should not be a problem.

darealtulip

Cwhyte wrote: »

Its a problem that should not exist. Like was said in the statement the ratio of homeless people and houses lying empty is astonishing!
The worst thing is that every member of this forum could identify an empty house yet there will be people sleeping rough tonight. In any civilised society this should not be a problem.

That's my point exactly. How is it possible? I mean in the statment they talk about derlict houses. There are perfectly fine new build houses emty every where. Whole estates even.

I only understand homelesness (wrote that wrong i think) when there is a shortness of houses but there are too many houses around here!! There should be an easy solution.

EuskalHerria

The Republican Socialist Youth Movement believes that the removal of essential cancer care services from Sligo General Hospital to University College Hospital, Galway, is a disgraceful attack on the people of Sligo. Cancer patients in Sligo are being forced to travel for well over 4 hours for what is in many cases 15 minutes of treatment. The required facilities and treatment for these people were previously accessible in Sligo General Hospital to the highest standard, that was before the savage intervention of Mary Harney and the Fianna Fáil/Green Party coalition government.

We in the RSYM think that this episode clearly demonstrates how the current system in place in this country cannot possibly cater for the needs of the Irish people. This government would rather throw billions at the banks in an attempt to preserve their failed system than to come to the aid of cancer sufferers who desperately need their help. The people of the North-West are entitled to their own Centre of Excellence and it is time those in positions of power in Ireland recognised this. As a socialist organisation, the RSYM believes that adequate health care is a right and not a privilege. Part of that right is accessibility, and due to the recent move of Sligo’s cancer services it is a guarantee that less people are going to avail of the treatments they need. This government is gambling with people’s lives. The Republican Socialist Youth Movement calls on the government to end the hand-outs to the bankers who have destroyed this country’s economy and to use some of that money to give the people of Sligo their own Centre of Excellence.

Republican Socialist Youth Movement

Slidey

I hope you are going to remove your posters after a while and not leave them to join the rest of the litter that is scattered around Sligos streets

darealtulip

That's all very nice and ok Cwhyte but don't you think that if the banks collapsed most working class people would be without work or even a house or cash? Maybe lost their live savings etc?

There wasn't really an option not to do it. I would expect the left wing to be pleased that the banks are finally state owned and politics could do a bit more to get the working class people their morgages etc. (I agree they not putting the pressure on).

EuskalHerria

darealtulip wrote: »

That's all very nice and ok Cwhyte but don't you think that if the banks collapsed most working class people would be without work or even a house or cash? Maybe lost their live savings etc?

The problem now is that the banks created the circumstances that led to the financial meltdown on a global scale, and what has happened, no punishment instead they are allowed carry on, business as usual as if nothing happened. And your right people are still losing jobs, still being forced from their homes and unable to pay their mortgages. People who have worked hard for years to pay their mortgages are now worrying about losing their home and everything they have worked for. While not one banker in this country will have to sweat over any of these problems because with NAMA being passed in the dail they have been completely bailed out now and nothing to worry about because they are still getting their huge bonuses.

There wasn't really an option not to do it. I would expect the left wing to be pleased that the banks are finally state owned and politics could do a bit more to get the working class people their mortgages etc. (I agree they not putting the pressure on).

The way it was done is a serious problem. The state is no more in control of the banking sector than it was before and they are still afraid to impose on the banks by placing restrictions on place to prevent the reckless actions that caused the recession in the first place. That could be seen not so long ago when the banks went completely against the governments instruction to lower the wage bill of one of the directors of a bank to under a million euro, the bank completely disregarded the government and went on to offer more than a million anyway.
State controlled banks are a good idea in theory because the banks are run for the people if it is run by the state. It just wouldn't work with the type of government in Ireland because lets face it most politicians are of the same ilk as the bankers, with the same interests.

darealtulip

I don't disagree with the above. I didn't understand the link between the bail out of the banks and the cancer department being moved.

If they didn't bail out the banks the worries would have been much bigger then a department of the hospital being moved.

It was never an option not to bail out the banks (and the bankers knew). The hospital is a seperate issue which you cannot compare or even link.

That was my point (not very well put forward, I realise after reading my first post.

Buford T Justice

Cwhyte wrote: »

The worst thing is that every member of this forum could identify an empty house yet there will be people sleeping rough tonight.

Lots of the houses that are vacant are privately owned, and if I was in possession of one such house, I certainly would not allow some homeless people stay in it. Would you?

Others are unsafe for dwelling. Should that be ignored and just stick people into unsafe houses for the sake of peoples consciences?

What is your solution to the situation regarding the homeless people?

Cwhyte wrote: »

In any civilised society this should not be a problem.

I see, and seeing as there are homeless people in Sligo, are you saying by de facto that the people of Sligo are not civilised? and also, that the people who make up this 'uncivilised' society are responsible for the number of homeless people sleeping rough.

Cwhyte wrote: »

The problem now is that the banks created the circumstances that led to the financial meltdow........................................ controlled banks are a good idea in theory because the banks are run for the people if it is run by the state. It just wouldn't work with the type of government in Ireland because lets face it most politicians are of the same ilk as the bankers, with the same interests.

I fail to see how any of the above is related to the homeless situation in Sligo or indeed the Cancer Services in Sligo (That is a whole other issue), in fact, the above post would be more suited to somewhere like politics. Are you trying to peddle multiple agenda's here?

EuskalHerria

darealtulip wrote: »

I don't disagree with the above. I didn't understand the link between the bail out of the banks and the cancer department being moved.

If they didn't bail out the banks the worries would have been much bigger then a department of the hospital being moved.

It was never an option not to bail out the banks (and the bankers knew). The hospital is a seperate issue which you cannot compare or even link.

That was my point (not very well put forward, I realise after reading my first post.

The link between the bailout and the hospital was the cancer services are still being dismantled in an effort to apparently "increase the services" which is a cop out, its just a way for them to save money. The fact is the government were willing to spend billions buying toxic debt from the banks that a lot of may never be recoverable and that will be billions wasted just so we can perpetuate a system of banking speculation and another inevitable recession in the future. The fact is the priorities of the government are to keep the banks going, because it is in their interest to do so, the good of the people never entered the equation.
Two things to take from this is
1. would you rather know that your loved ones have a decent cancer service be available in sligo and investment places into those services if the worst was to occur, or wasted on buying toxic debt to keep this system of banker speculation continuing.

2. Wouldn't most people rather the bankers learn from their mistakes now. Instead they get to continue on as if nothing happened because they haven't been sanctioned at all since the start of their recession. Its just disgusting that as you mentioned before people are losing there homes and struggling with mortgages and yet bankers continue to walse through the recession safely knowing they can mess up again and be bailed out.

Buford T Justice

darealtulip wrote: »

If they didn't bail out the banks the worries would have been much bigger then a department of the hospital being moved.

It was never an option not to bail out the banks (and the bankers knew). The hospital is a seperate issue which you cannot compare or even link.

I agree. I do not agree with how the banks have been bailed out, but I do acknowledge that they did need bailing out. Its frightening to think how close we came to going to the cash machine and getting no money, and all of our cash in the banks gone. It would have been the end of society as we know it

Buford T Justice

Cwhyte wrote: »

The link between the bailout and the hospital was the cancer services are still being dismantled in an effort to apparently "increase the services" which is a cop out, its just a way for them to save money.

Is it just me, or does this still not explain the link between the banking crisis and the Cancer Services

Cwhyte wrote: »

The fact is the priorities of the government are to keep the banks going, because it is in their interest to do so, the good of the people never entered the equation.

Is it not in the interests of the people to keep the banks running? If all the banks went crash tomorrow and everyone lost all the money they had we would be all better off would we?

Cwhyte wrote: »

Two things to take from this is
1. would you rather know that your loved ones have a decent cancer service be available in sligo and investment places into those services if the worst was to occur, or wasted on buying toxic debt to keep this system of banker speculation continuing.

Were all the cuts in the budget related to the banking crisis? Nothing to do with defecit of revenues at all? (I'm not supporting the decision to lose the services btw)

Cwhyte wrote: »

2. Wouldn't most people rather the bankers learn from their mistakes now. Instead they get to continue on as if nothing happened because they haven't been sanctioned at all since the start of their recession. Its just disgusting that as you mentioned before people are losing there homes and struggling with mortgages and yet bankers continue to walse through the recession safely knowing they can mess up again and be bailed out.

So the bankers getting off scott free is the link between all three topics then?
Have you any statistics on how much the numbers of homeless have increased since the banking crisis? How many people have been made homeless and are now on the streets as a result of the banking crisis?

EuskalHerria

Fingers McGee wrote: »

Is it just me, or does this still not explain the link between the banking crisis and the Cancer Services

The point of the poster is that the government purchasing overpriced toxic debt is a good investment but cancer services for the north west are evidently not a priority.

Is it not in the interests of the people to keep the banks running? If all the banks went crash tomorrow and everyone lost all the money they had we would be all better off would we?

Again, my point was the it was in the governments interests to keep the banks going, the fact it was in the peoples favour is just coincidence. If the banks had the people in mind they would not allow the banks to continue as before. We are on the road to financial recovery now, but this will all come back again if the banks are not reprimanded now, and restrictions put in place to prevent it. Now that is what a government with the interests of the people would do.

Were all the cuts in the budget related to the banking crisis? Nothing to do with defecit of revenues at all? (I'm not supporting the decision to lose the services btw)

My only point to this would be, Why has everyone but the banking sector taken a pay cut? Pensioners, students and public sector workers all forced to make up for bankers mismanagement yet they suffer none of the consequences of their actions?

So the bankers getting off scott free is the link between all three topics then?
Have you any statistics on how much the numbers of homeless have increased since the banking crisis? How many people have been made homeless and are now on the streets as a result of the banking crisis?

Off hand I don't, http://www.focusireland.ie/htm/nonsectional/contact_us.htm, focus Ireland however would be the best people to get in contact with i'm sure they have noticed an increase in people contacting them and needing their help.

In all those comment you haven't outlined your own position or thoughts. You seem to be deflecting away from the responsibilities of the banks.

Buford T Justice

Cwhyte wrote: »

The point of the poster is that the government purchasing overpriced toxic debt is a good investment but cancer services for the north west are evidently not a priority.

No, the overpriced debt is not a good investment, its a necessary one. Cancer services are being handled how the government sees fit, as in they have no interest in what the people think locally about this despite all the protests and publicity that the campaigns gained. Fact is, they commissioned someone to do a report on a center for excellence, and acted on it.

None of this is a surprise. The government never has nor will given a monkeys about what the people of this country think about anything. In fact, the only people that the government took notice of was the OAP's about the medical card scheme and that was because of the action they took. Personally, I believe they always intended to rescind that action in the budget so they could turn around and say 'we can't do any more, we've already done a u-turn on this, we can't do it to anything else'. Sure, they were slaughtered in the most recent local elections because of it, but FF and the greens took a big hit nationally

Cwhyte wrote: »

Again, my point was the it was in the governments interests to keep the banks going, the fact it was in the peoples favour is just coincidence. If the banks had the people in mind they would not allow the banks to continue as before. We are on the road to financial recovery now, but this will all come back again if the banks are not reprimanded now, and restrictions put in place to prevent it. Now that is what a government with the interests of the people would do.

Banks never have people in mind, Money makes the world go round.

Cwhyte wrote: »

My only point to this would be, Why has everyone but the banking sector taken a pay cut? Pensioners, students and public sector workers all forced to make up for bankers mismanagement yet they suffer none of the consequences of their actions?

The majority of the banking sector is private, and in the same way private sector business operates, the will implement pay cuts and and when they see fit to themselves. They are under no obligation to do so.

Also, can you define what you mean by the banking sector. are you referring to anyone who works in a bank or just the ones who were responsible for the banking crisis?

Cwhyte wrote: »

Off hand I don't, http://www.focusireland.ie/htm/nonsectional/contact_us.htm, focus Ireland however would be the best people to get in contact with i'm sure they have noticed an increase in people contacting them and needing their help.

I have no interest in contact Focus Ireland. I fail to understand how the number of people contacting them needing help is related to the statistics around homelessness in Sligo
The reason I asked about this is because you inferred that the financial situation of the country was directly related to the homeless in Sligo. Now, its not beyond the realms of possibility that people have lost their homes as a result of it I would seriously doubt it, since the courts are looking favorably in case of the tenants of houses when eviction orders are sought.
In fact, I believe that the vast majority of the homeless in Sligo have been so since before the recession as a result of whatever personal circumstances they were facing at the time, therefore it is incorrect to blame the homeless situation in Sligo on the financial crisis. So again, i fail to see a link between the two.
If you wish to continue to make this claim, then I request that you provide some legitimate information (with links) to substantiate this.

Cwhyte wrote: »

In all those comment you haven't outlined your own position or thoughts. You seem to be deflecting away from the responsibilities of the banks.

I have outlined my thoughts on some aspects of what you have written, but you have covered a few topics here. What specifically are you looking for my thoughts on?

darealtulip

Cwhyte,

I think we are not disagreeing with you here. I just comment on the fact that the government did not have a choice but to bail the banks out. There was no choice, they had to.
So no matter if they thought it was a good investment or not doesn't come into it.

We all agree (I think) that the government could have handled it better.

We all (again I think) that it would be great to keep the cancer services in Sligo.



Fact is the bail out of the banks (which was no choice) affected the budget big time. But if they wouldn't bail out the banks the results would have been a lot worse then only the cancer department moving. You would have been lucky to have any hospitals at all in small towns and villages after that.

I really don't disagree whit most you are saying, I just think it doesn't go well together and they are 2 different issues.

One is a choice made and the other was a necessary evil with no choice involved at all.

On the homeless I already said it is strange that perfectly good houses are laying empty and people are sleeping on the streets, but as fingers I fail to see how this is related to the bank bail out, we would probaly have a lot more people sleeping rough if the banking system had fallen.

And yes it is obscene that they still get their bonus' and that is a failure of the government (not only the Irish government by the way).

Shadow78

The goverment were the ones with the power controlling what the banks could and couldnt do. The banks just did what they were allowed to do. Its a bit unfair to say everyone is paying because of the bankers. IMHO it would be more accurate to say that we are paying because FF/PD government were left in power and mis mannaged the whole thing. So lets just blame the people who voted for them.