Public policy and a metaphorical bridge

Sir, – Fintan O'Toole accuses others of building a "bridge of bullshit" regarding the funding of public services such as education ("Between aspiration and reality we build a bridge of bullshit", Opinion & Analysis, September 20th).

The reason that public services are underfunded is that the country was bankrupted by the reckless decisions of a small number of its own most powerful citizens during the years of the boom prior to 2009.

During that time, most of the Irish media were telling us that all in the garden was rosy ,and anyone who had the temerity to criticise that narrative was laughed at.

The powerful people in government, the financial institutions, etc, who were making the decisions that bankrupted the country were celebrities. It is hard to believe but some of them are still celebrities now.

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The “bridge of bullshit” did not appear last week. – Yours, etc,

A LEAVY,

Sutton, Dublin 13.

Sir, – Fintan O'Toole's lively writing is a jewel in the rich tapestry of The Irish Times but I failed to follow him across the "bridge of bullshit" that Irish public policy builds between aspiration and reality. This is a bridge too far in metaphorical alliteration. – Yours, etc,

Dr JOHN DOHERTY,

Vienna.

Sir, – I share Fintan O’Toole’s anger. If anything, his colourful language did not go far enough. – Yours, etc,

ANNE BYRNE,

Bray, Co Wicklow.