Protests and sharing the painIn Print Edition TENS OF thousands of workers took to the streets yesterday in an Irish Congress of Trade Unions-inspired “day of protest” against the Government’s budgetary strategy, particularly plans to cut the public sector pay and pensions bills by €1.3 billion in the December budget. The anger of the marchers was understandable. They are not responsible for the dire economic circumstances now facing the State. But the Government mismanaged the economy, is now broke and simply cannot afford to pay its bills. The level of borrowing for day-to-day spending is such that, should it continue unchecked, the prospects for an early economic recovery would be grim.
Guns in the USIn Print Edition THE TRAGIC shootings in Fort Hood, Texas, have drawn attention again to the frightening availability of guns in the US – a staggering 97 guns for every 100 people. Although the killings took place on an army base, neither of the pistols used were army-issue. And the state of Texas, ranked 27th by a gun control lobby group in terms of the ease with which guns can be bought, has no requirement that handgun buyers obtain a licence or undergo any type of safety training. Police do not know how many guns are in the state or where they are.

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