I love the word ‘bedlam’, meaning insane or totally out of control. It comes from the Royal St Mary Bethlehem Hospital in Bishopsgate, London. The Royal Bethlehem was an asylum dating back to the 15th century where poor creatures suffering from seizures and other afflictions were remanded to end their days roaring and screaming, packed away out of sight. Bethlehem was abbreviated to Bedlam and the word bedlam fell into common usage.
In the old days, the descent from normality to lunacy might be rapid or unpredictable, largely because our understanding of medicine and psychiatry was limited.
One person who moved from being a pillar of society to becoming an inmate of Bedlam was Augustin Pugin, architect of London’s Big Ben. I’m thinking about Pugin and Bedlam because I am walking down Albert Embankment. It’s cold, crisp and sunny in London and the turrets of the House of Commons across the river from me are twinkling in the sunlight.
The building looks beautiful. The architect who designed the British Houses of Parliament as well as Big Ben, the brilliant Mr Pugin died young and screaming.
He was a genius who also, incidentally, designed St Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford. He was the most celebrated architect of his day but he died in the Royal Bethlehem lunatic asylum at the age of just 40 in 1852. It is thought that he contracted mercury poisoning, as mercury was used extensively in building work during the early Victorian period. Pugin’s legacy lives on in his architecture.
I’m in London at the Houses of Parliament to interview Nigel Farage and Alex Salmond for ‘Agenda’, which will be aired on TV3 at noon on Sunday. These two men intrigue me because they have probably done more than any other two politicians working in the UK to change the political landscape of Britain. Farage took an extreme — frankly marginal — movement, the movement for Britain to leave the EU, and he brought it centre stage and succeeded in making it a constitutional reality. Whether you agree with him or not, this is an extraordinary political achievement.
Consider this. In 1994, the multimillionaire Jimmy Goldsmith set up and funded the Referendum Party on a Brexit platform. In 1997, Goldsmith, with all his millions, stood for parliament in Putney. He stood on exactly the same platform as Farage would later do in 2016, yet Goldsmith got only 1,500 votes campaigning for the UK to leave the EU.
Politics can make for some strange associations, but who would have seen Gerry Adams as a source of inspiration for Nigel Farage? After a few pleasantries, Mr Farage volunteers the following:
“I remember the Nice Treaty which Ireland rejected, and I remember the Lisbon Treaty which Ireland rejected just over 10 years ago. And I remember Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin saying in both of those referendums, ‘we didn’t fight the British for 500 years to have Ireland governed by the EU’.
“And I thought, I’m not a Gerry Adams supporter, but actually what he’s saying is completely and utterly logical. Irish nationalism actually made some sense. They wanted Ireland to be an independent, self- governing, democratic nation.
“And Sinn Féin have completely sold out to the EU. Now, whether it’s to do with money, or what the reasoning is, I don’t know.”
He has evidently given Ireland a lot of thought and he predicts that change is on the wind:
“I don’t buy the fact that Ireland is now a pro-European country. You are the only member state of the EU that has rejected two treaties in referendums. I think Irish public opinion is now very similar to British public opinion. I suspect if there was a referendum on Ireland’s future, it would be a close-run thing.”
He is also pretty sure that Brussels has not quite done with us yet:
“I worked in Brussels for 17 years. They do not like your level of corporation tax, which is why they will move towards what they call a CCCTB [Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base]. You will, over the next few years, lose your big competitive advantage. And when that happens, the debate in Ireland about EU membership will change.”
According to Farage, we had better brace ourselves because there is no stopping the momentum.
“As Trump goes in that direction, as the UK undoubtedly goes in that direction, of lower tax rates, Ireland is about to go for higher corporation tax rates. Not because the Government wants it, not because the Dáil wants it, not because the people want it, but because that’s what Brussels wants.”
Whether you agree with Farage or not, only a fool would dismiss him. Consider that only 19 years ago, Brexit was regarded as eccentric, off-the-wall and not particularly serious. This year, the same movement — largely driven by Farage — garnered close to 18 million votes in the referendum and, as a result, Britain is on its way out of the EU.
So how does this happen? How does an idea which is regarded as extreme and inconsequential become mainstream?
Scottish nationalism under Alex Salmond experienced a somewhat similar transformation. In 1983, the SNP had 10pc of the Scottish vote. Last year, it garnered 46pc and the Scots are on course for another referendum, which the SNP may well win. This would take Scotland out of the UK and begin the process of British disintegration. Although there are many factors driving Scottish independence, the energy and vision of Alex Salmond was and still is a huge driving force. His vision and his tireless campaigning have pulled the SNP from the margins to being by far the biggest party in Scotland.
Again, not unlike Farage, Salmond has taken a minority idea and made it mainstream.
In political science, this notion of an unusual idea becoming mainstream very quickly is called an ‘Overton window’ after Joseph Overton, an American political theorist. Overton was interested in how odd ideas move from the sidelines to the mainstream quickly. The window he referred to was what he called the “window of acceptability”. He noticed, particularly in the US, how ideas that start far outside the political mainstream, like building a wall on the Mexican border, go from being unthinkable to being thinkable.
When there is a crisis, ideas that were marginal become mainstream and ideas that were mainstream become redundant, and quickly.
So once an idea is stated boldly, talked about and digested, it can become palatable. Once it becomes palatable, it begins to encroach on acceptability and gradually moves towards the mainstream.
It then crosses over from the academic fringe into electoral discourse and very quickly ideas that were once regarded as wacky become policy platforms or at least possible policy platforms.
Typically, an economic crisis will accelerate the transition from the fringe to the centre.
In 2016, we had a number of these crossovers where the obscure became the mainstream. Trump and Brexit are two classic examples where the window of acceptability moves dramatically and political reality is turned on its head.
David McWilliams hosts ‘Agenda’ on TV3 on Sunday at noon
Subscribe from lovely Tobago.
Seeing that he knows the inner workings of the EU so well perhaps he could become their representative with plenipotentiary powers in Ireland. Advise us on stuff….and shit.
Never mind Adam, he is on a major loved up high, Ive seen his new old lady and you dont get much higher. Brexit was never a radical idea for the average English man who said no to it from the beginning. Ass lickers with no original thoughts in their tiny craniums like Sleepy Noonan, Dopey Enda, Grumpy Franny Fitz, a Hillary voter, and Bashful Richard, not to mention Doc “little Leo Varadkar” who is more like a Munchkin or Smurf than a dwarf, will not lead anything, anywhere, anytime, ever. They are clever bean counters who make money and… Read more »
Pugin’s Legacy in Ireland
Wexford County has been fortunate to have had many buildings by Pugin who was popular in the county then . My late parents were married in St Aidans Cathedral . My late father in law, an architect ,re-developed the spire of St Aidans in the 60’s when it fell into dis-repair and also other works by Pugin . . Maynooth College and Killarney Cathedral are also others done by Pugin.
A subsequent practice Aislinn Coleman that included Pugins son did many variations of Pugins style around the whole of Ireland after his early death.
The iron grip that O brien/RTE Hold will ensure that the conversation is halted or stymied at every opportunity , of course this power will fade , and what fills the conversation vacuum will decide the future.
ENARCHY
We talk in conspiracies and yet we have no specifics when we speak about the threat from Europe .Shadow boxing is only for practice and not to win but only ‘to dream to win’.
Trinity , Cambridge and Oxford cannot match the ENARCHY from Europe.
This new power enabler Ecole Nationale Administrif ( Enarchy) will subsume life as we know it on ‘the isles’ of Britain and Ireland .Many of their members are already in-situ in Ireland and that includes The Central Bank.It is now an attack from within the decomposing corpse.
Who would have thought that after the bankers abuse of 2003 to 2009 , Ireland politicians would abolish consumer law, ignore contract law and tell the very same bankers that they could name their very own profits. The very weak 31st dail, plus Irish justice system was a window of acceptability for failed irish bankers to recieve promotions, flip customer redress and restructuring of debt to naming their own profits and continuing customer abuse. Its like living in a Stepford World. The ongoing so called private Irish banking Bailout is costing 2bn interest per year servicing their portion of the… Read more »
I agree David that the possibility of Ireland leaving the EU should not be dismissed. Given what has happened recently with Brexit and in the last decade or so with exchange rate volatility between Euro & Sterling, another possibility that should not be ruled out is Ireland leaving the Euro. Let’s face it the biggest source of pain for Irish exporters is when exchange rates move by 20%. These fluctuations surpass the impact of most tariffs and can play a major role in mitigating/amplifying the differences in corporation tax. Who knows how Brexit will yet play out? Could there be… Read more »
https://youtu.be/2gm9q8uabTs
Good article. Here are my observations. ‘In the old days… our understanding of medicine an psychiatry was limited.’ Whatever about medicine our understanding of psychology is limited. If you don’t get the basic, rock-bottom basic, concept of introversion and extraversion (and they don’t) then you are unlikely to get anything else. (Note of thanks here to Colm, late of this parish, who first, and unwittingly, gave me a crucial insight.) ‘Farage took an extreme – frankly marginal – movement…’ Only extreme and marginal in the eyes of the Irish media and political elite, and their thousands (if not millions) of… Read more »
IS MICHAEL D HIGGINS EUROPE’S DUMBEST PRESIDENT? President Michael D Higgins has described Fidel Castro (who ordered filming and showing in cinemas the executions of political prisoners, and he backed the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968) as a “giant amongst global leaders”. On November 10, 1984, he described Nicaragua as a “pluralist democracy”, and in 2007 he described the Islamic Revolution of Iran and the revolution of Nicaragua in 1979 as “twin revolutions”, saying that “they have similar goals of justice, freedom, sovereignty and peace.” He protested against President Reagan’s visit to Ireland – a man who liberated parts of… Read more »
Fine article David. Thank you. I think what is driving the centrifugal political and social forces such as Brexit, is a growing concern and opposition in the general population about globalisation and how it is being managed and directed. And I think the key antagonist is not nostalgic nationalism but fundamentalist economics. Specifically neoliberal economics. Neoliberal globalisation is founded on an irrational economic ideology which has two principal foundational intellectual pillars: 1. An irrational principle of market fundamentalism 2. A pseudo-rational a priori theoretical mathematical apparatus and methodology Living breathing human beings (and any life form whatsoever) are absent from… Read more »
Some time ago I have come across of a jolly fantastic YouTube run by some Irishman (or woman). He or she posts links to documentary that are otherwise hard to find. I thought I’ll put up a link to his channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC–Ru-Cve1fxhZ8m8xXxeUg Btw, recently I have reported on Facebook and YouTube censoring some patriotic channels in Poland (while allowing anonymous threats) and not bringing them back even after finding out that they were suspended or deleted illegally even according to their own internal laws (and the laws of the country in which they operate). Yesterday, I have found out that… Read more »
Greetings from Mexico where a CAd is 15 pesos and a USD is 20 peso. A canadian works 33% more the same product!!!!!!!!!
Judging by his extensive use of quotes from his TV3 “Agenda” interview with Farage, David’s latest Indo column looks more like a promo for Farage’s anti-EU campaign than media commentary. Even the title of his latest piece “Ireland may quit EU” is loaded. It has been clear for a long time that David has an anti-EU anti-Euro “Agenda”, the trouble is where it is all coming from. Somebody may be financing his so-called economic commentary because they like what he is peddling. Britain’s old fear of a resurgent Germany still dominates European power politics. The British have never accepted the… Read more »
Hi David,
My VHI bill for my family is 25% higher this year than last year. My car insurance is the same about 25% higher.
Now guess what? The WAR on cash continues. The ECB are going to stop printing the 500 euro note from 2018 on;
https://www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/2016/html/pr160504.en.html
The 500 euro note represents one third of the total value of EU cash currency in circulation David.
Any chance you or someone like you would sound the klaxon;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_9KR3mYkUo
Because Farage knows that the war in cash will force us out if nothing else does.
Hi,
The ones that are in circulation when lodged won’t be recirculated.
Michael.
Ronnie Delaney – Ireland’s greatest ever athlete. Bedlam Michelle De Bruin winning her swimming golds – definitely not part of the script. Nigel Farage – Robert Bruce. If at first you don’t succeed. …. Ronnie Delaney – Met him once, had his individed attention for ten minutes and totally blew the chance to ask him the following questions. We’ve all had days when everything goes righ, you feel almost invincible. Was the day you won gold one of those days. Did you feel/know it was one of those days and most importantly of all was it something you were able… Read more »
As regards staying in the EU or leaving. I think it could take quite a long time for Brexit to actually happen. Assuming however it did happen then it’s quite likely that we would be pushed out of the EU because the price of staying in would be too high. NOW this raises one very simple question. If Ireland left the EU, for whatever reason, what is to stop Ireland continueing to use the Euro as it’s currency, legally and practically speaking. Depending on the considered opinions on that question there are a few follow on questions but I’ll keep… Read more »
@ Grzegorz, . Corelating with a theme [ notion of an unusual idea becoming mainstream very quickly is called an ‘Overton window’ after Joseph Overton, an American political theorist. ] in David’s article above, I would greatly welcome ur thoughts on my observation that . LANDLORDISM . [ incl. Landlording, being a Tenant, being a neighboring Tenant, interacting with government interlopers : Residential Tenancy Board [ farce ], Ombudsman as justice / injustice facility per Rent Allowance matters [ ditto farce ], Health Executive [ Community Welfare Officers ] as requirement for getting Rent Allowance [ ditto farce ], Housing… Read more »
Do not be daunted by the bastards & bitches ; SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH ! POST THE TRUTH ! . Everyone who can now see your entire internet history, including the taxman, DWP and Food Standards Agency . EXCERPT ; . The full list of agencies that can now ask for UK citizens’ browsing history, which is laid out in Schedule 4 of the Bill and was collected by Chris Yiu, is below: Metropolitan Police Service City of London Police Police forces maintained under section 2 of the Police Act 1996 Police Service of Scotland Police Service of Northern Ireland… Read more »
Five things you need to know about Steve Mnuchin
By Michelle Fleury
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-38012410
Buying of the President 2016
Donald Trump offering huge perks for inauguration donors
President-elect offering access, luxury in exchange for big money
By Carrie Levineemail 4:07 pm, November 29, 2016
EXCERPT ;
Donald Trump’s inaugural committee is offering huge perks — prime tickets, luxurious lodging, access to the president-elect himself — in exchange for six- and seven-figure contributions from individual and corporate contributors.
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https://www.publicintegrity.org/2016/11/29/20486/donald-trump-offering-huge-perks-inauguration-donors
Undeniable Photographic Evidence That Martin Nesbitt & Dr. Anita Blanchard Nesbitt Are the True Parents of Sasha and Malia Obama This is more evidence to assert the case that Michelle Obama is really MICHAEL Obama. And, Michael / Michelle 8-) is currently being touted as serious contender as next USA President. EXCERPT ; Nov. 27, 2016, showing the photo of a Chicago couple, Marty and Dr. Anita Blanchard Nesbitt (right), close friends of Barack and Michelle, placed above a photo of Sasha and Malia Obama in which the physical resemblance between Sasha and Malia to the Nesbitts is striking, convincing… Read more »
@ Grzegorz, I purposely atimes reply as new post because the prompting post is physically too far up the discussion. And, this is the case here. . Re ; Aryan etc. . There is also the case for Erin. And, I conjecture Aran ; “Aran Islands” . . Re ; West to East in ad variance to the orthodox theory of East to West . Hebrew Script There is an argument that the Hebrew script originated in Ireland, & somehow ended up being used by the Hebrews in the Levant or wherever hot & sandy place they were then. .… Read more »
@coldblow -> THEY ARE ALL ON BOARD -> IT IS A GRAVY TRAIN IT SEEMS INSTITUTIONAL? => BECAUSE IT IS IT IS NEVER OPENLY DISCUSSED => SO AS TO APPEAR organic HA . . . => “GENDER MAINSTREAMING” -> IT IS BEEN PUSHED THROUGH THE UN -> IT IS OFFICIAL IRISH GOVERNMENT POLICY -> IT IS DISCUSSED IN STEALTH => AND YOU WERE NEVER ASKED . . . . “Identify appropriate Government, civil society and academic partners to be involved in the UNDAF process, including those from national women’s machineries, government gender focal points, workers’ and employers’ organizations, key national… Read more »
Another worthy pithy post from u Goldbug.
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Here is more evidence for what u highlight ;
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https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/the-homosexual-lefts-new-crusade-normalizing-adult-child-sex
This man is extremely important to follow for his insight ;
Sheikh Imran Hosein
Indulge urself to listen to him.
U will be pleasantly surprised.
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DO NOT FORGET THAT GEO-POLITICS IS GUIDED BY ESCHATOLOGY IF ONLY BECAUSE THE EVIL POWER BROKERS SEEK TO ACCORD WITH THE OCCULT
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Wt2vP2cIsM
David thanks for the article. Farage is 1005 correct about Adams and the political wing of a fuel laundering operation, that has millions hidden in real estate which talks about homelessness. In other SF is the most hypocritical of all Ireland’s assorted political machines. And that is a massive “achievement” given the tendency of FF and the ILP towards hyposrisy. Salmond is a liar, sitting over a state benefits for votes scam. And the big problem with the SNP, is money. They seem to run out of other people’s money faster than they can keep can keep it coming in.… Read more »
Looks like Zerohedge’s cage has been rattled. They have been very sensitive to news about fake sites recently. Am posting this because they are linked to often on this blog.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-02/house-quietly-passes-bill-targeting-russian-propaganda-websites
I reckon there is an overwhelming argument in favour of classifying RTE (Pravda) as “fake” news.
In fact the term “liar news” is relevant.
Hi Margaret, You said that the govnt need to get “REAL”. What is the measurement for “REAL” ??? What are the REAL costs? We need to realise that the Ostrich debt ratios of 2003 to 2009 are messing up REAL. We can have REAL if we can park/restructure the NOT REAL debt ratios of 2003 to 2009. Step 1 shout STOP. Step 2 identify the problem( in normal society without witch hunt) Ireland bend over backwards to have no witch hunt but the witches come out of the woodwork and boast about breaking consumer law and contract law with regard… Read more »
Nite
NEO-ZIO-FASCIST-COMMIE-NOMENKLATURA-DREADFUL FEW DETERMINED TO HAVE WW 3 . Will Mr. Me-Hole Martin [ Leader of MA-Fianna Fail-IA ] meaningfully contend against this policy ? . Will FINE GA-y-EL do likewise ? Will LAB-who-OR-e do likewise ? . Will Mr. Gerry — “compromised” & “primarily interested in power for himself & Sinn Fein just for the thrill of it, & opportunity to further the Dreadful Few’s Commie / Fascist world governance — do likewise ? . U.S. House Votes To Toughen Sanctions, Assess No-Fly Zone In Syria . . NOVEMBER 30, 2016 By Brandon Turbeville On November 15, 2016, the U.S.… Read more »
SHEER EVIL !
MORE ON WW 3 CUMING.
“IT WAS WORTH IT KILLING 500,000 IRAQI CHILDREN” MADELEINE ALBRIGHT HAS URGE TO HARDEN HER NIPPLES AGAIN.
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EXCERPT
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Famous Mass Murderer Madeleine Albright Urges All-out War in Syria
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Not satisfied with her disastrous endorsement of Hillary Clinton, Madeleine Albright has now taken it upon herself to advocate for full-blown war in Syria. Because killing 500,000 Iraqi children was just a warm-up lap.
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/famous-mass-murderer-madeleine-albright-urges-all-out-war-syria/ri17958
DO TRY TO PREVENT WW 3
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Great USA female politician ;
Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney
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Cynthia McKinney on 911 Zionist Controlled Media Congress & Syria – Truth!
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SyrianPerspective
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbJg1Pf8UcE
More sabotage of USA nation by The Dreadful Few ;
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Universities Fast-track Foreign Students into 147,000 White-Collar U.S. Jobs
Dubious “Refugees” brought to Germany for to be new labour force ? Nawh, I never believed that sales-pitch by our betters to the German nation & to the other EU countries. . As many degenerates brought to Germany & other EU countries for The Dreadful Few’s purposes of : engendering Clash of Civilisations between Christianity & Islam, & thus destroying both, but especially Christianity in Europe miscegnation of Europeans ; And, I say this not as racist or even racialist. But, it is how The Dreadful Few think. This was the destructive plan they had for launching degenerates from Soviet… Read more »
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/04/dont-interfere-austrias-far-right-presidential-candidate-tells/
Look at the chart; mortgage rates bottomed four years ago and are increasing. As with T-bond yields, Donald Trump’s nomination last summer resulted in a sharp increase in mortgage rates. It’s just a matter of time before they rise to the levels seen just prior to the 2008 sub-prime mortgage crisis, something over 6%. The real-estate market will find it impossible to maintain current market valuations as this trend develops. Ditto for the stock and bond markets. If I were Trump I’d recognize two obvious facts his presidency must deal with: that January 2017 is two years away from the… Read more »
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-12-04/something-strange-taking-place-mediterranean
The attached zerohedge report is very serious if true.
Is the Irish Navy in the Mediterranean re the Le Samuel Beckett
being used to traffic people from Africa.
Just Asking.