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From: LST
Date: 07/01/00
Time: 19:34:40
"So if I understand your argument correctly you are blaming the cost that the travellers place on the state for the fact that you pay high taxes.I wonder how much burden travellers actually place on the state? Here's a few examples off the top of my head. They have the lowest life expectancy of any section of society, so most will not reach pension age. There's some money back for you poor tax payer"
Average Lifespan of Irish person =70-75 years Normal Retirement age = 65 Years So most Irish people spend the majority of their lives working and supporting themselves. Is it the same for your average "traveler" ?
"They have the highest rate of illiteracy and within the education system, few get past the middle years of secondary school. So no college fees to be subsidized by poor long suffering tax payer either."
Well whose fault is that ? Under the School attendance acts "travelers" have the same entitlement to an education as anyone else but many choose not to avail of it. There were travelers in my class in school but their attendence was about 2 weeks per year. So who is to blame now for them being illiterate ?
"They have no voice and no representation in government or in opposition, so no opportunity to steal your hard earned tax or divert it to there own special interests in that circle either."
They are entitled to vote and as such have the same "voice" in government as you or I (not much actually)
"Because they are socially marginalised"
So were told !
"they have no opportunity to become part of the big business golden circles who the government favour with grants that disappear down black holes (to resurface in the Cayman Islands)"
Are you suggesting that the rest of us do ?
"Despite this marginalisation, the ingenious traveller successfully hides his millions by disguising his affluence in the apalling living conditions of a caravan on the side of the road"
Well for one thing they dont have to pay rent or mortgage repayments so where does that money go ? and how can people living in such apalling conditions afford to run large Hiace and Transit van's. Most people on social welfare can hardly afford the bus !
So poor disgruntled tax payer, will you swap your lifestyle for the life of a traveller? It sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
The way house prices are going I may not have much choice and What are the chances of me getting one of the council ?????