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Column The Hunger Games of Ireland's Budget leaks

The villain of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series knows the value of ‘divide and conquer’ when keeping an unruly populace in check. Ireland’s yearly Budget “leaks”, which provoke panic across society, follow the same rule, writes Emer Delaney.

THE VILLAIN OF Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series knows a thing or two about keeping an unruly populace in check. President Snow governs the land of Panem, which is divided into twelve districts that suffer varying conditions of poverty – as well as the small, privileged Capitol, where Snow and his cronies live in plenty.

Every year, the districts are pitted against each other: twenty-four “tributes”, all under eighteen, must murder each other in a treacherous arena until only one is left standing. How can the districts unite against an oppressive ruler when their children are forced to turn swords and tridents and tracker-jackers on each other on an annual basis?

Divide and conquer

Snow’s particular application of “divide and conquer” may be the stuff of dystopian fantasy, but the principle behind it is a staple of our own legislators. Every year, in the run-up to the Irish Budget, the Oireachtas goes to sea in a sieve, it does. In other words, it spouts leaks wildly in all directions and pushes various threatened groups – carers, disabled people, pensioners, lone parents, migrants – into defensive islands. How can these groups unite to defend a shared principle of economic decency when each must muster already scant resources to protect its own people?

Recently, in a classic exposition of the “divide and conquer” tactic, a proposed cut to the old-age pension – a cut of €10 per week, without means-testing – was leaked by “senior coalition sources”. A whole swathe of other cuts was also mooted: cuts to child benefit, rent allowance, “non-core” health services, special needs assistants, third level funding… the list goes on.

Targeted groups have the smallest voices

Not coincidentally, none of the groups menaced by these proposals is in an ideal position to do much protesting, on their own or anyone else’s behalf. Many recipients of the old age pension face health and mobility problems that make rallies and marches unfeasible. Those parents who most need child benefit and special needs assistants, like many of those who avail of “non-core” health services, are engaged in exhausting, full-time caring that leaves little time for waving placards at the Dáil.

Students will protest, and will do it with vim – but those that do will generally have already gained access to third-level education and political knowledge. The young people for whom poverty bars the college gates will not have a loud voice in the protesting community.

In spite of all this, I don’t doubt that there will be letters, articles, rallies and marches against most of the leaked proposals. Community groups whose own funding has been slashed to half nothing have demonstrated huge resilience and energy in recent years, and will do so again. The problem, though, is that the government gets leaky in expectation of that very thing. It pits vulnerable groups against each other with a view to plucking out the one whose cries seem loudest and granting that group a much-publicised reprieve.

President Snow parades the victor of the Hunger Games through Panem, fostering both suitably faint hope and suitably strong inter-district resentment; similarly, our government parades its instances of mercy. “Look! We didn’t remove the medical card from the over-70s after all! (But we did slice the social welfare payment and raise university fees to a level that excludes poorer students).” “Hey! We reversed the latest cuts to special needs supports! (But the cuts to the respite care grant and the mobility allowance are going right ahead).”

Let’s demand systemic reform

We have been split into frightened, self-preserving ‘districts’ for long enough. We need to stop focusing on achieving random, piecemeal reprieves, and to start demanding systemic reform. With this in mind, the Equality Budgeting Campaign is calling for a new approach to the process of crafting the Budget.

First of all, budgetary decisions need to be made transparent. That means no more panic-inducing leaks, but the advance publication of a full draft Budget, and a public debate about its merits or lack thereof.

Secondly, we need some way of understanding how proposed measures will affect criss-crossing sections of society. People can sometimes be trapped at the intersections of several changes (if maternity benefit, facilities for disabled children and benefits for lone parents are all cut by seemingly small amounts, for instance, how will the circumstances of a pregnant lone mother of a disabled child be altered?).

Equally, measures can interact with each other in particularly unhelpful ways. (For instance, the recent decision to stop the one-parent family payment after the youngest child has reached seven – ostensibly to encourage lone parents into the workforce – was teamed with cuts to community training schemes which effectively cut those same parents off from the possibility of developing their work-related skills). An equality audit of the draft Budget could resolve many of these problems, by analysing the potential impact of each suggested measure across gender, age, ethnicity, socio-economic background, disability, marital status, and so forth.

Transparency and equality auditing

Equality Budgeting, then, demands two things: transparency and equality auditing. It is an entirely workable system – it already works in Scotland and, in various forms, has been or is being implemented in over 60 countries.

In The Hunger Games, the first chink in President Snow’s system of oppression occurs when District 11 sends a gift of bread to Katniss Everdeen, a tribute not their own. As the next Irish ‘Hunger Games’ draw near, we as a nation must do our utmost to resist the ‘district’ system, to insist instead on economic justice for everyone in our country, and to shift the odds that little bit more in all our favour.

Emer Delaney is a postgraduate researcher in Trinity College Dublin, where she studies the women’s suffrage movement in Italy. She has recently become one of the coordinators of the Irish Feminist Network, and is an activist with the Equality Budgeting Campaign. Visit the Equality Budgeting Campaign’s website or Facebook page for more information.

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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    Aug 17th 2013, 12:11 PM

    Good article and explains the governments “policy” of divide and separate all strands of society to prevent a unified voice saying stop this now. Comments in thejournal reflect this division every day.

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    Mute Catherine Mill
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    Aug 17th 2013, 10:19 PM

    http://www.whale.to/b/crow.html
    Divide and rule is the oldest trick in the book.
    The article has the essence of auto genocide to it. “The fifth primary factor to genocide is that women and children are the primary targets. Women are exterminated because of their fertility. Eliminate them and the next generation of unwanted people will automatically be eliminated or at least be considerably downsized. This applies to the elimination of children as well.”

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    Mute MrKnow
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    Aug 17th 2013, 12:49 PM

    Great article. I just hope people realise the need for change before its too late. I see parts of society breaking down on a daily basis.

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    Mute the lost lenore
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    Aug 17th 2013, 2:25 PM

    “Society” – does that even exist anymore for anyone under 40?

    29
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    Mute Glass Half Full
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    Aug 17th 2013, 1:40 PM

    The Public versus Private sectors constant battles on this forum are an excellent example of the divide and conquer approach used by Governments.
    Leaks of a ‘mean’ nature, such as the cut to OAP’s are also a devious way for Governments to attempt redemption come budget day, and deflect attention from the stealth taxes hidden behind the bold text.

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    Mute censored
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    Aug 17th 2013, 7:23 PM

    I don’t think THEY are really smart enough to play this game. The “divide and conquer” you refer to is actually just reality asserting itself. How long before the only people left in Ireland are all living on “Government” (ie taxpayer) support? … this is going to get more interesting.

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    Mute eric nelligan
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    Aug 17th 2013, 12:29 PM

    This used to be the remit of the unions, unfortunately the general ‘me féin’ attitude that developed during the Celtic tiger era along with the complete and utter corrupt nature of the ICTU leadership where by accept positions on state boards and groups has destroy the social solidarity that existed.

    Over the past few weeks I’ve watched reeling in the years on RTE1 and instances of the populace sticking together reminds me of what should have happens over the past 5/6 years. I wonder can the people ever be fairly governed or are we doomed by the weaknesses of our so called leaders.

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    Mute Willie
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    Aug 17th 2013, 12:09 PM

    So the cops knew internal affairs were setting them up ?

    33
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    Mute the lost lenore
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    Aug 17th 2013, 1:59 PM

    I really wish people would stop using the word “equality” about this stuff. Taking more money off working people and redistributing it in a way that the IFN and other media savvy, right on groups see fit in order to remodel “society” into something more palatable to their own world view is social engineering. Not “equality”. This is basically 1970s Marxism repackaged with better PR.

    Luckily, the Journal is always on hand to give a national airing to this pseudoacademic navel gazing.

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    Mute Reginald St Worthing
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    Aug 17th 2013, 2:43 PM

    “1970s Marxism”? Don’t make me laugh. It’s 2010s’ neo-liberalism. Full stop.

    13
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    Mute the lost lenore
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    Aug 17th 2013, 3:01 PM

    I’m reluctant to use liberal to describe a way of thinking that’s so rigid. End of the story is that no, the IFN and its associated lobby groups may not have *more* of my money to fund their media campaigns to ban this, that or the other, implement quotas or whatever other b@tsh!t endeavour is currently underway.

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    Mute Doey Walsh
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    Aug 17th 2013, 4:12 PM

    Too right, political correctness is bs, irony being “equal rights” groups will often go out their way to silence anyone using the same bullying tactics they claim are used solely against them

    Such as Norway or Iceland trying to bring in legislation that would make all opposing views to feminism, freedom of speech is becoming more of a one way systems it seems

    Political correctness “down with this sort of thing”

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    Mute Doey Walsh
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    Aug 17th 2013, 4:13 PM

    Opposing view of feminism “hate speech” sorry

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    Mute the lost lenore
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    Aug 17th 2013, 4:32 PM

    It’s rarely actually about equal rights, Doey. All these lobby groups are looking at the end of the day is getting funding and pushing their own agenda.

    I had to laugh at an ad on IFN’s site: equality activists wanted, but must be female between 18 and 30. Clearly these are people who see nothing contradictory in a completely homogenous group of people being used to promote “equality” and actively discriminating against women over 30 and all men.

    I really wish they’d stop abusing the word “equality” though. It does a disservice to people who genuinely work for real equality.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 17th 2013, 6:18 PM

    Can’t you see what’s being sold here?
    RadFem Lite. Reaches the parts mere protest can’t reach.

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    Mute Doey Walsh
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    Aug 17th 2013, 6:20 PM

    Ironically and tragically I might add “equal rights” institutions seems to be pushing people apart rather than bring them together

    Thanks god for whiskey ;)

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 17th 2013, 7:34 PM

    Can we get a comparative article using the works of Nicholas Sparks as it’s basis?

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    Mute Brendan
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    Aug 17th 2013, 3:13 PM

    @Eric
    Reeling in the Years is a lot of Fianna Fáilure corruption. 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s.

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    Mute eric nelligan
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    Aug 17th 2013, 7:29 PM

    True but at least the unions mounted an opposition to attacks on the general society.

    Now a days the majority of union leaderships do the governments dirty work and coerce the workers into accepting the governments demands.

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    Mute Jack Daniels
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    Aug 17th 2013, 4:53 PM

    Divide and Conquer dont you have to fight to be conquered id say more like raped and pillaged .

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    Mute itiswhatitisMF
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    Aug 17th 2013, 5:00 PM

    Propaganda and mind conditioning is at the heart of FG . It has been highly effective to date

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    Mute Rísteard Ó Muineacháin
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    Aug 17th 2013, 3:13 PM

    I love how the article is mainly aimed at different groups in society but under the best international practise part of tje website, it clearly references thats it about women.

    If ye wanted to make an article, and campaign, advertising for.women, just be honest about it, luv.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 17th 2013, 6:20 PM

    Typical!
    All the comments are from men!

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    Mute Rísteard Ó Muineacháin
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    Aug 17th 2013, 6:33 PM

    Women have the equal right to comment if they so choose.

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    Mute Meg Stokes
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    Aug 18th 2013, 3:54 PM

    Perhaps women have looked at these utterly inane, vitriolic comments and decided that their time and energy would be better spent elsewhere. The author is not writing anything about feminism. She merely lists her credentials at the end, common practice for a guest writer in a newspaper. She might as well have listed President of the Irish Dairy Council for all it had to do with what was written before.

    Basic solidarity and awareness of well documented divide and conquer strategies is “RadFem Lite”? Give me a break. All this straw-feminist boogeyman nonsense seems to do is silence women with legitimate complaints, rather than temper the more radical elements, and is beside the point in any case. Carers, OAPs, people with disabilities? Get off the computer, go outside, talk to some actual human beings, and grow some bloody empathy.

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 18th 2013, 4:29 PM

    There’s always one…

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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Aug 17th 2013, 1:55 PM

    Machiavelli got there first with “The Prince”.
    He was a man, you know ;)

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    Mute Simon Gaites
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    Aug 17th 2013, 2:05 PM

    What will the journal publish to balance this column?

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    Mute the lost lenore
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    Aug 17th 2013, 2:08 PM

    Don’t be ridiculous. The Journal’s opinion section is basically an extension of the IFN. Their very own e-Pravda, if you will. Dissent will not be tolerated.

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    Mute Simon Jester
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    Aug 17th 2013, 5:41 PM

    Nice romantic article based on a silly juvenile seris of books. Historically Ireland has always suffered of divide& conquer.Only one person ever united this country to drive out an invader and that was Brian Boru,and he had to murder or conquer the native opposition to do it.The thought of trying to unite people in the Irish republic for their own common good is about as likely as our Irish space programme to Alpha Centari launching next year.
    There would be as much point of us decending on the Dail enmasse anyway.The inhabitants dont care,and the usual slaggers and nay sayers in our ranks would say we are all acting like thugs and dossers who need a job.

    The better way to knock this country ,is simply we all become “bad citizens” in as many or any way possible.IOW rebel in your own small way when and if you can get away with it. Dodge a bus or train fare ,doss off as much work if it is a govt job if possible,waste govt stationery if possible,ignore their edicts,quit volenteering for whatever other things you have to do on your own unpaid expense that is part of your job.EG the Gaurds and using their mobile phones for police work or their own private cars.
    The more we ignore the Govt and deprive of its lifeblood our tax money ,the sooner we will start to change things.
    but of course that requires each and every one of us to be as mad as hell with their current personal and private situation and be willing to want to change the system. We would rather sit in our own shit and complain here than try and get out of the septic tank via the rope ladder on the side.

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    Mute Brendan
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    Aug 17th 2013, 2:35 PM

    Simon, welcome to the Guardian newspaper. Sit back and enjoy the show. Comment is free.

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    Mute Brendan
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    Aug 17th 2013, 2:41 PM

    Meanwhile over at the real Guardian:
    Zoe Williams takes on Alexander Ehmann of the Institute of Directors over employers’ increasing use of zero-hours contracts. Do they enable businesses to take on more staff than they otherwise would? Or, as critics suggest, are they being used to undermine employment rights and exploit vulnerable workers?
    Don’t fall asleep. Listen to them. Take it all in.

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    Mute Ignoreland
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    Aug 17th 2013, 5:15 PM

    Leaks also have to do with the different coalition partners putting pressure on the other members of the government and NOT to “divide and conquer”.
    For example:
    There was debate there about whether we should adjust for 3.1 billion or 1.8 billion. Some members of FG were pushing for 3.1 billion so Joan Burton floats the suggestion that a cut on the pension could be on the cards. This stirs the pensioners who everybody knows lobe to vote and protest (e.g. the medical card debacle in 2008) so FG then get scared and back down from the 3.1 billion.

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    Mute GerOliver
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    Aug 17th 2013, 7:58 PM

    if things keep going the way they have will the last person out please close the door

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    Mute tomharry636
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    Mute Declan Pollard
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    Aug 21st 2013, 7:55 AM

    Kite flying before the budget is a disgusting way of frightening the electorate before the budget. Decisions and proposals for the budget should be debated in a transparent way before any legislation is implemented. This idea of nobody knowing what changes are going to happen, but only a secret cabal of ministers is repugnant and goes against democracy.

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