Rising food and fuel costs, people losing their homes, no insurance, depleted savings, families facing financial ruin . . . no, not Anytown, U.S.A., but Northern Ireland, where the economic sun is setting rapidly on what is left of the British Empire. According to Claire McNeilly's article in the Friday, September 5, 2008 issue of the Belfast Telegraph ("Families facing financial ruin as 'economic tsunami' gathers pace"), "Thousands of Northern Ireland households are teetering on the brink of financial ruin as the rising cost of living tightens its unrelenting grip on already-strained budgets." The Northern Ireland Consumer Council released figures on Friday claiming that "almost 90%" of all people responding to a survey about the economy are "increasingly alarmed" about meeting ordinary living expenses.
The real question, of course, is this the beginning of the end, or the darkness before the dawn? If the State and the people of Northern Ireland continue to rely on the government for everything, and look to the failed welfare state as the source of all material, social, and religious needs, then, yes, this is the beginning of the end — and good riddance. If, on the other hand, people begin organizing and start agitating for immediate implementation of a Capital Homesteading program, then things will very quickly get better . . . if that is what they want. Otherwise, they can continue down the same path, lighting incense at the altar of the State, and finding solace only in wondering what to do when the solution is right in front of them.
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