Madam, – There is a recent tendency in public discourse to portray banks and the people who work for them as variously anti-social, venal and even traitorous. Little or no effort is made to distinguish between the institutions, or the “bankers”, in the latter case not even to the extent of singling out those who have exercised real power in deciding upon and executing policies. This can be seen as a way of allowing people to blow off steam or as an attempt to deflect unwelcome attention by those who may also feel culpable for the very serious financial problems now facing the country.
However, I read recently that unidentified people have attacked the home of Sir Fred Goodwin, former chairman of RBS. Hopefully, this is not the start of a new phase in the “blame the bankers for everything” campaign.
Mr Shane Ó Mearáin (March 27th) indicates that his residence was broken into in the middle of the night by a gang of “bankers” who then proceeded to “rummage through” his wallet – or perhaps he is just anticipating such an event in light of the record of that class of people. Either way, vilification of all those who have an association with banks is well under way.
There are frequent calls made by prominent citizens for the jailing or the hauling off in handcuffs, of bankers, even though, to date, not a single charge has been laid, let alone sustained, against any person. It appears to be quite acceptable for slanderous statements to be made, with no protest forthcoming from any quarter.
It would be nice if our leaders and those in control of the media could make it clear that 99 per cent of bank staff and their families are no more culpable for the present state of the economy than any other private citizen. To the extent that any “banker” or any other citizen is guilty of any crime, let the evidence be produced and the normal legal processes entered upon. – Yours, etc,