Irish to the Austerity Theves: Fuck Off and Die

This is what they fear: a critical mass of people who simply refuse to be robbed.

James Murphy at The Nation:

CAN’T PAY, WON’T PAY: March 31 marked the deadline for Irish households to register and pay a new property tax—the latest deficit-reducing initiative introduced by 
the government at the behest of its bailout partners in the European Union, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund. But in cities like Dublin and Waterford, and across rural towns from West Cork to Donegal, a network of “Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay” groups has called on citizens to boycott this “unjust tax.” The grassroots movement was initiated by political organizations from across the left, trade unionists and residents’ associations, and the campaign has spread like wildfire. Local campaigns recently elected delegates 
to form a national steering committee.


An unemployment rate of 14 percent, swingeing cuts to local services and stalled economic growth have sown seeds of discontent. But no issue has galled the Irish people more than the continued payment 
of billions of euros to the unguaranteed bondholders of Irish banks. That the proceeds of this new household charge will go to the same faceless agencies that spec­-
ulated and lost on Irish banks—many of which are now defunct—has been enough to ignite the anger stirring beneath the surface. And the fact that the deadline falls on the same day $4 billion in government money 
is to be paid to service a fraction of the catastrophic debts of the Anglo Irish Bank—
itself disbanded and the subject of a criminal investigation—has fanned the flames. 


Town hall meetings on the issue have regularly drawn crowds of several hundred people. A recent gathering in Dublin attracted 3,000. The movement has found resonance across all sectors of Irish society, uniting financially stretched communities.


Less than a week before the deadline, 
a full 80 percent of Irish households had 
not paid the charge. Although quiet and restrained, this degree of civil disobedience is sure to be heard loud and clear in 
Dublin. And more pertinently given Ireland’s receivership status, Brussels and Frankfurt too.

Stay in your house. Move your money to a local credit union. Demand every government service that keeps this country civilized and operating. Defy the Austerity Thieves.