Peasant culture to blame for woe
Wednesday December 23 2009
It seems clear that peasant culture is still alive and well in Ireland, as evidenced by current scandals.
This culture elevates subjective values such as personal bias, preferential treatment, cronyism and a combination of false modesty with cute behaviour, over objective values such as respect for the law, equal treatment and plain dealing.
This is not the mark of a republic.
Many will claim that this is not unique to Ireland, and they're right. Such culture is to be found especially in the poorer parts of southern Europe, the weakest states in the US, and perhaps in most Third World countries.
This culture is the perfect explanation for many of the disasters that afflict us, including clerical sex abuse, banking scandals and the property bubble.
How long can a republic that is not based on fairness and plain dealing endure?
JOHN STAFFORD
Knocklyon, Dublin 16
Irish Independent
