Frontline 22/02/10
The topic of discussion was the current economic crisis and disaffected youth. Among the gurus of the current world order in attendance was one Bill Cullen - a multi millionaire from humble origins who clawed his way into the ranks of Ireland's financial oligarchy. Cullen went on a rather stereotypical tirade about how the youth of today where lazy and spoilt, followed by a rant about how his days of hardship had thought him a thing or two about the value of ''hard work''. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1a1wHxTyo. Nor was he happy with people playing ''the blame game'' - complaining about Fianna Fail, the banks ect. This is understandable considering Cullen's (Glencullen Holdings) made €13,459 of political donations in 2002. Glencullen Distributors donated an additional €2,500 to Mary Hanafin (FF) in 2007.
One of the most shocking comments made by Cullen was that young people should be ''happy to work for nothing'' - in order to gain experience. Needless to say, Bills desire to see Ireland's youth engage in slave labor was hardly self disinterested. Cullen is a capitalist, and as such embodies a philosophy marked by a pathological urge to drive down labor costs so as to ascertain higher profits. Far from being a good Samaritan, Cullen is a greedy old man who wants more money at the expense of other people. His prognosis of Ireland's social ills cannot be separated from his own economic agenda.
One member of the audience made a statement in relation to wealth re-distribution to which Cullen was offended. Cullen responded by asserting that he had worked hard for the wealth in his possession, and re-distribution would only serve to penalize his efforts. The underlying assumption is of course that his wealth can be connected to ''his'' efforts. The notion that his companies $350m a year turnover can be attributed to his individual workload is nonsensical. Cullen has merely ascertained a position whereby he is able to make other people work for him, and as a consequence appropriate a large slice of the value that his employees generate. Cullen ''built'' the Glencullen enterprise in much the same sense as the Pharaoh's ''built'' the pyramids. To say that he ''or those like him'' create wealth is little more than a euphemism used to describe the process of speculative appropriation.
Amazingly some of those at the butt end of Bills abuse agreed with his general prescription, one commenting that ''bill is right, we do need a kick up the arse''. Well, if you accept Bills worldview then this might be the case - bend over and let him kick you. Socialists on the other hand understand very well that while kicks up the arse are in dire need of administration, those on low incomes have been kicked just about enough.
People like Cullen can neither imagine nor desire an Ireland where people get what they need through their own efforts, rather than awaiting crumbs from the king's table.
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