The disastrous reality of self-delusion
The Establishment has an incredible ability to convince itself of anything, writes Gene Kerrigan
It's over. Just when we were beginning to think we were doomed to permanent economic recession – it's over. Don't take my word for it, here's the Irish Times headline on Thursday: "Eurozone's powerhouse economies ensure recession grinds to timely halt". And the entire first paragraph of the story consisted of one breathless sentence, unflinching in its certainty: "Europe's recession is over".
The next paragraph told us there was, "much relief among all those who concern themselves with matters economic". And so there should be. In the words of the late, great Roy Orbison, "It's over! It's over! It's ooooooooover!!!!"
This was followed by a separate Irish Times story revealing indications that "Ireland emerged out of recession between April and June". There ye are – we burst forth out of recession and we weren't even paying attention.
