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The news media would have you think the jobs we have lost to China, India and other countries are the result of lower cost labor. They tend to blame greedy capitalists on moving production off shore to save a few pennies on the production of products sold in our markets.
The unspoken truth of the matter is that domestic producers are moving production offshore because of overhead costs. Overhead costs that are the direct result of our government. So if you want to blame someone for the jobs that are moving off shore, blame your favorite politician.
There are lots of things I can point to including OSHA, EPA, Workers Compensation, Employer Paid Pensions, Employer Paid Health Insurance, MSDS, EEOC and a raft of other government imposed programs. All of these have costs associated with them and none of them are present in India, China, Vietnam, Mexico and other low cost countries.
Today, however, I want to focus on just one government cost that is killing jobs in the U.S. and point out how the situation will only get worse if we don’t do something soon.
Jim Meyers in an article entitled “U.S. Leads World…In Corporate Taxes” in the September issue of “NewsMax” pointed out that the U.S. “now bears the dubious distinction of having the highest corporate tax rate in the developed world.” Why in heavens name would a manufacturer want to produce products and make a profit in this country? Instead, manufacturers make products and profits offshore while selling products at a loss in this country. It boils down to make your profits where you can keep most of them.
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece wrote that, “The current tax code distorts capital flows, hurting productivity, job creation and our global competitiveness.” He suggests that countries with a 1 percentage point lower tax rate will attract 3 percent more capital. Other countries have figured this out and are lowering taxes.
The Wall Street Journal reports that at least 25 developing countries have cut corporate tax rates since 2001. At approximately 39.3 percent, we are the highest and it results in receipts to the government of less than 2.5 percent of GDP. Ireland on the other hand has a corporate tax rate of 12.5 percent and collects 3.6 percent of its GDP in corporate revenues.
Even the French have figured this out and are cutting taxes under President Nicolas Sarkozy.
If you want to keep and grow the job market in this country, write to your Congressmen and tell them you want to see job opportunities in this country increase as well as tax revenues increase just as they have in Ireland through Corporate Tax reductions.
Galway, Ireland- Racism In Taxi Industry
Most times, expression without impression often gives rise to depression and as such, I am both impressed and depressed by an article written by one Yousef Loughnane on the above subject matter (Galway Advertiser, the 9th Nov, 2006).
I am impressed that someone like this writer has taken it upon himself to speak out and depressed that this ugly trend is happening in Galway City, which has been applauded for its continuous fight against racism.
The word racism is very ambiguous one, which is often inexplicable. There are different types of racism such as prejudice, discrimination, and economic as well as same race. Those involved in its practice with their ethno-centric based oriented views have one thing in common “hatred” Here is the big question: Is there any correlations between racism and discrimination? The answer is that both words are inter-related and sometimes because of ones colour or background, whenever you are denied of something from someone that is not of the same race with you, there is a great tendency for one to cry foul.
I honestly do not believe that the reason why I could not get the job I applied for in most establishments here especially from 6 months trained HR personnel who cannot construct other form of English except “We regret to inform you that we do not have position relevant to your qualifications” is primarily because of my colour. This could have 99.9% racial of racial attachment, which, invariably depends on the context under which it was written or individual perceptions.
Between January to June 2006, the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) in absence of official statistics recorded series of reported incidence relating to racism in Ireland some of which was said to have been forwarded by non-governmental organisations on behalf of the victims. These include key organisations working with Travellers, Refugees and Asylum Seekers and Migrants. Most victims have reported other incident directly to NCCRI.
Within these 6 months, there were 25 racist incidents reported and compiled by the NCCRI of which 75% are reportedly occurring in greater Dublin area. Majority of these incidents were targeted on adults, both male and female and in most cases, children were present. Their findings indicated that people of all ages and gender are experiencing racism in Ireland.
Statistics further revealed that racism is being experienced regardless of ones legal status. Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Travellers and Non-EU citizens including people visiting as tourists are not spared.
It is, however, disheartening in case of African Taxi drivers, most of whom must have spent between 4-5yrs in pursuit of excellence in the university from their respective countries. Some of them had come to Ireland as asylum seekers and by twist of faith; they were given unconditional permission to remain in the state and fend for themselves. They have resorted to driving taxi and without recourse to their qualifications after all efforts to use their hard earned degree to secure a gainful employment became counter-productive.
My major concern here is that if this kind of misdemeanours and racial prejudice has been extended to taxi drivers from African extraction, then, it is, indeed, a monumental shame and a threat to social order. To these taxi drivers, I am going to pose this question asked by the legendry John Mason; Do you look at the horizon and see an opportunity or do you look into the distance and fear a problem? Fear is a poor chisel that carve out your tomorrows and if you are looking at your future from the position of fear, bear in mind that that view is inaccurate and distorted.
I hereby implore Galway City Council and National Action Plan against Racism to checkmate these people as soon as possible from further sowing this seed of discord that would ultimately trigger more tension and unnecessary fears.
In conclusion, “Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away, and that in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and brotherhood will shine over our great nation with all their scintillating beauty.”Martin Luther King, Jr.
Chris Obiajulu Okafor
……hails from Ogwashi-uku, Delta State, Nigeria but lives
Galway Ireland:
Turbulence in the domestic and international marketplace is causing a lot of problems in all businesses sectors.
There are reports every day informing us that the number of start up business is falling in
Europe and the USA. Pressure is fallen on the various governments to try and do something about the situation.
A recent report indicated there was a 18 per cent fall in the number of new companies formed in Ireland in the first half of this year, raising concerns that the economic slowdown is deterring entrepreneurs. There have been calls for the government to increase support to new business in the budget next month in Ireland.
Entrepreneurs come in many forms. Not all take the standard business start up trail. In fact more and more do not. Many now develop their business idea and often get the embryo businesses established before going the traditional routes of banks, registering for VAT. tax etc.
This is very much the case in the micro business sector. Often the businesses develop out of a life style choice, deep interest in a particular subject or a part time micro business venture. Because there is not a big financing requirement or capital need these new business ventures are financed by the owners. What better way to start and trial a business idea with out debt. Organic growth from day one is a big plus into days business climate. Who knows that could be the biggest reason why business in the sector will survive into the future because they are set up from the start as sustainable. The micro business owners often double jobs until they are confident that the business is viable for them. In some cases they are happy that the business will never be the primary income source but it will contribute to the family income.
However if the small business temperature continues to be taken by the number of start ups following the more traditional routes into business we may one day be in a position that reality and statistics are at odds.
Obviously the climate is not good for business that has a big overhead burden and needs buoyant order books, shops full of buyers or containers on the high seas to maintain the overhead structure. But the micro business sector do not have big overheads. The sector operates a sustainable model of business. It does not push the front end out to far. In times of plenty when business is easy I am sure the criticism would be that the sector does not capitalise on its business potential. The flip side however is that when times are not so good the sector wins hands down.
Micro business could be the more robust business model to go forward into these new economic conditions. Whilst it is not a quick fix for the rising unemployment and other grief going on in the commercial world at the moment, it is achievable for any of us that is motivated to give it a try. Running your own sustainable tiny business that at the very least makes a contribution to the family income is tempting to a lot of people at the moment.
The Small Business Partnership based in Ireland have recorded a large increase in the number of enquiries regarding the how, what, when and why of micro business in Ireland and the UK. Their ‘ready to go’ micro businesses are receiving interest. So I guess it proves one thing inattentive and ingenuity abounds when times change in the business world.
Figures from the Central Statistics Office in Ireland show that there was another big jump in the number of people on the Live Register last month.
The number of job seekers signing on for dole payments rose by almost 1,000 per day during the month of June, by far the highest amount ever recorded.
It brought the total on the dole to 220,811 – the highest for a decade.
Worrying for us all. It we multiply this up over the months left to Christmas well its not good. Better leave it at that.
However something rather interesting is stirring in the land.
The number of small and micro businesses start ups is going up.
So maybe when things are good and we all have jobs the motivation to start our own businesses is not strong. When that climate alters it stimulates us to start looking at our options. It is interesting to note that adversity or the threat of adversity stimulates entrepreneurial spirit much more than plentiful jobs.
So can it be a good time to start a micro business when there is so much uncertainty.
Maybe – the micro business is the only business that we soul be considering in these uncertain times.
Maybe - gone are the days of the big big loans, big gig risk, long payback times and reliance on a buoyant economy.
Maybe – we are growing into the time when small is beautiful when it comes to our new business set ups.
Maybe – sustainability in our business structure today has as much meaning as the need for constant growth in the previous decade.
Micro business is just that small. I have tried to work out what exactly defines a micro business in Ireland and the UK please see http://thesmallbusinesspartnership.com/?page_id=17
After dismissing all the usual criteria number of employees turnover and sole trader. I have concluded that it is the spirit of the people themselves. They all have one thing in common they are prepared to try at a very basic honest level.
It is in recognition of this that I started The Small Business Partnership in an attempt to unit a community round these people to support and help them in running there businesses. One of the more unusual elements of support offered is ready for sale micro businesses. Affordable and established well researched micro businesses just waiting for the right new owner.
They require very low start up capital, a lot of the initial hard work has been done and above all I offer the new owners help and support over the first months of their new business management. Helping to smooth the path from unemployment to self emplyment in Ireland
Finding the right real estate requires diligent research and a knowledge of the region in which housing or commercial property is sought. Information that is even a week old can be of little use, making timeliness of the essence. Property news for Northern Ireland, because of the activity of the market, needs to be particularly current.
It’s particularly important to be able to search for listings that suit one’s needs by region, price and property type. Especially for those who aren’t from the region to which they’re relocating, web sites that provide real estate shoppers with the ability to search and locate properties via dynamic mapping technology are particularly useful.
For families looking to sell their own homes and avoid paying a realtor commission, such websites that allow homeowners to list are immensely valuable. Northern Ireland has a competitive, active real estate market. Some of the best property news for Northern Ireland homeowners is that they can list their own homes online which allows them to reach a worldwide audience.
Selling one’s home on such a site requires a bit of diligence on the part of the property owner. Make sure any photographs of the property emphasize its best features. Remember that the sale won’t be made completely based on the online photos; they’re there so that shoppers can find something that piques their interest. It’s not about fooling people, it’s about trying to show them features in which they might be interested.
Give an accurate assessment of the property while emphasizing its advantages using bulleted lists. These make it easy for home seekers to compare different properties quickly. Likely, they’re deciding upon a number of properties to visit and what they see on these lists will probably be retained more than what they read in long blocks of text.
Those seeking homes should consider the market into which they are buying. The property news from Northern Ireland has been good of late, with the technological boom driving the economy upwards and new, well-paid jobs becoming available in the region on a seemingly daily basis. Of course, as an area becomes more desirable the property values tend to rise, which should figure into any new homeowner’s investment strategy.
Explore the different regions of the city to which you’re moving using the mapping technology provided by the website. If you’re moving for a job, you can even map out prospective routes to and from work which can help you figure commuting costs into your monthly budget and determine if the price of the house offsets them or makes them unmanageable.
Moving is always stressful but it can also be very exciting. Using the Internet smartly when exploring one’s options for buying, or selling, a home makes good sense all around. With such sites available worldwide, the property news from Northern Ireland not only tends to be consistently good, it gets broadcast to a worldwide audience looking for new opportunities and a new place to call home!
This report presents a comprehensive picture of the contribution of small enterprises in Ireland. The report contains data on the contribution of small businesses in industry, services and construction, as well as statistics on the labor, the knowledge-based economy and workforce. It also includes international comparisons.
In the report, a small business is defined as an enterprise which employs fewer than 50 people. Statistics on medium (50-249 persons) and large enterprises (250 or more people) are included for comparison.
Highlights of the report are:
Industry: Production and employment dominated by medium and large enterprises
* In 2005, four of the five industrial companies (81%) were small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. This company employs 50,000 people, slightly more than one fifth of total industrial employment. * The larger companies (50 or more persons) employed 181,100 people in 2005 and generated 93% of the total turnover in the industry. * The vast majority of small industrial firms were Irish owned (95%). Nearly 42% of larger companies are foreign-owned.
Services: More than 380,000 employees of small businesses in the service sector
* In the service sector, almost all companies (98%) were small. There were 82,100 small businesses, employing over 380,000 people in the service sector in 2005. That was more than half of total employment in this sector. * Small businesses account for nearly half (49%) of total turnover in the services sector, and generates a turnover of nearly ? 81.6bn in 2005. * Nearly half of small businesses in the service sector are the property of the family (47%). The vast majority of these family businesses employed fewer than 10 people.
Construction: Small businesses occupied two thirds of all people who work in construction
* According to the Quarterly National Household Survey, there were 253,200 employed in construction in the fourth quarter of 2005. Of these, 211,000 have indicated that they worked in small businesses (fewer than 50 employees), while 24,500 have indicated that they worked in large enterprises (50 or more employees). A further 17,600 not specify the number of employees to their jobs.
* Among the 253,200 people employed in the construction industry, more than 65% worked for very small concerns employing less tha ten people.
Salaries and wages: 54% of private sector employees in small firms earned between ? 10 – ? 20 per hour in 2006
* The average hourly wage in small businesses were ? 15.22 in 2006 compared to ? 19.38 in companies with 50 or more workers in 2006.
* The average annual salary for employees in a small business amounted to ? 32,453 in 2006. The average wage in large enterprises was ? 44,794 per year.
Knowledge-based economy: the larger companies have shown higher levels of e-government activities
* Small businesses generally not more modern information and communication technology than larger companies.
* Almost all companies with 10 or more employees were connected to the Internet that two-thirds of businesses with fewer than 10 employees to use the Internet.
Size of work: almost 56% of employment in small workplaces
* In all areas, 56% of jobs in workplaces where fewer than 50 persons were employed in the second quarter of 2007. A total of 1175800 people worked in small workplaces. Of these, 839,300 were employees, 216,600 are self-employed and 107,900 are self-employed with employees. These figures include agriculture and the public sector and the economy.
* Among the 316,300 non-Irish nationals in employment in the second quarter of 2007, less than half (47%) worked in small workplaces.
EU comparison, the value added in small construction firms in Ireland was three times the EU average in 2005
* Almost three-quarters of production in Ireland turnover was generated by large companies, while the EU average was 60%.
* In 2005, Ireland is recorded but the gross value added per employee of ? 51,600 in the distribution of services. The EU average was ? 33,000 per employee. * The gross value added per employee in the construction industry in Ireland was significantly higher than the EU average for all types of employment dimension.
The Emerald Isle
Ireland is a country in Europe. It is considered the third-biggest island among the other islands in the continent. The low plains of the country are surrounded by coastal mountains. The abundant vegetation of the country earned it the nickname “Emerald Isle.”
This is because of the constant yet mild rainfall and balmy climate of Ireland. There are also areas in the country that are rocky and blessed with mountain ranges adding more beauty to the country’s grandeur. These characteristics provide the area with a breathtaking green view from a distance. With the magnificent view that the country has to offer, getting an Ireland real estate property is now a growing profit-earning venture among investors.
Growing economy
Before the popularity of the Celtic Tiger in Ireland and when people have been emigrating from the country to find job opportunities, the Ireland real estate has not been that well-known. Properties and homes in the country were not considered as profitable investments. But when the government of the country started to turn the situation around, the economy of Ireland started to grow and the Emerald Isle gradually become popular over the years.
Strategic location
During the time when the economic condition of Ireland was boosted by the government, the prices of Ireland real estate properties spiraled upwards. The government pleaded for its nationals to come back. It also attracted investments from within the country and from the neighboring regions.
Eventually, real estate properties in the country became a big hit. This goes especially true in historically rich areas. Dublin is one of the places in Ireland that has grown quite popular for investments. With the growing economy of the country, investments on an Ireland real estate are promising. The real estate market of the country is strong, and the popularity of the investments depends greatly on its location.
Market possibility
The rural property of Ireland also has a market possibility. Investors of Ireland real estate and other people who would want to own a home in the country should look into particular regions that are rich in history. Numerous websites offer a wide range of selection for properties suitable for the lifestyle you dream to live. Locations that are full of charm and beauty are the best places to start your investments. The country of Ireland is magnificent, and if you invest on the right areas, you are sure to make considerable profit out of your properties.
Things to consider
If you want to purchase properties in Ireland as an investment, contact agents or realtors. Inquire about the various locations that are considered as tourist destinations. When you want an opportunity on an investment for a long time, consider the location of your property.
When you purchase an Ireland real estate, see to it that the area is worth your money. Popular locations that will mostly appeal to the hearts of the people or property buyers are those that are located near the coastlines. Hence, properties nestled on beaches are always great investments. Aside from beaches, inns or resorts near the mountains are also profitable. Most people love waking up to the natural fresh scents of the mountains. All these things can be experienced when you avail of an Ireland real estate property.
Seth Willis Jr. is the webmaster for http://www.planetpads.com and a savvy real estate investor. His focus for Planet Pads is to allow users to showcase their real estate from all over the world .Users can browse properties , rentals , vacation homes and commercial properties from every corner of the globe.
The approach of flexi-time working in Ireland is gaining popularity at a very fast pace. It is an approach where an employee is allowed to work during flexible hours.
Organizations with flexitime working systems allow its employees to work during hours of their choice. However, the chosen time period should cover the ‘core hours’ which are the busiest business hours. The biggest advantage of this style is that employees can come late and stay late, or vice versa, and complete the working hours.
It has been found that flexi-time working in Ireland is becoming more popular among the white-collar employees and is mostly beneficial for working women with small children at home.
The organizations concentrating on workforce management in Ireland consider flexible working system to be one of the best tools for improving productivity. This style reduces the work stress on employees and gives the freedom to choose the most suitable working hours for them, so that they can perform their duties most efficiently.
Studies have discovered that not only the employees, but the management of organizations using these systems, are highly satisfied by the opportunities and benefits offered by them. Studies have also stated that several groups of employees have shown remarkable improvements in their performance after the introduction of flexitime working style.
The style of flexible working in Ireland might not suit every job equally. For example, the jobs which involve team work might not find flexible working style to be a great idea, unless the entire team is ready to work during the same hours. On the other hand, some organizations do not prefer this style as it may lead to overhead expenses for the business, due to extended office hours. However, the organizations using this style state that even if there is any overhead expense, it is worth it, since flexible working helps to improve the productivity of an organization to a great extent and help the business to grow and succeed in the competitive market.
With the help of flexible working systems and efficient workforce management in Ireland, an organization can relocate its employees in various strategic jobs efficiently, instead of laying them off. These systems therefore help to reduce unemployment rates as well.
It was the summer of 1994 and the date was June 18, a day on which Italy would be playing its first world cup game against the Republic of Ireland. I for my part would be not only watching it but even present at âGiantâs Stadiumâ in the Meadowlands as I had gone through the trouble of getting a ticket, not only to see Italy take on Ireland but Norway in the next match as well. Regarding the game against Norway that had been a relatively easy task as interest had not been so high given there are not as many Norwegian Americans in New York or New Jersey as there are Irish Americans in these states. I however had pulled it off and would be sitting at âGiantâs Stadiumâ hopefully to watch Italy beat Ireland like they had done four years before in âItalia 90â.
By then I; it being four years after the tragedy had fully recovered from having lost to Argentina on penalties in 1990 and even from not having qualified to the European Nations Cup in 1992, which thanks to the by then already disintegrated Soviet Union, Italy did not play in. This would basically be Italyâs first competitive match in a major tournament since that night so long ago in Napoli, against Argentina. I mean after all who really counts a match for third place in any tournament as competitive.
Many had been the changes in Italy, now being coached by Arrigo Sacchi, the man who had made Milan invincible or practically and was expected to at least get to the final of USA 94. Roberto Baggio, had also become our star player after Italia 90, who surely would be starting every game; him even being considered by many at the time as arguably the greatest player of his generation, along with Brazilâs Romario and Argentinaâs Batistuta. Italy, naturally also had other solid players, some of which were new to the team, such as Dino Baggio (no relation to Roberto), and Daniele Massaro, from AC Milan and Signori from Lazio. Â
Of course as with every team that aspires to win a world cup, Italy also had those players who were returning from the previous tournament such as the more experienced Maldini and Baressi. Both these players coming from AC Milan, who had won that yearâs edition of the European Cup; presently known as the Champions League. As for notable absence, their really were not any, as most were healthy or least enough to start though some around the world wondered why Italyâs top goal scorer from the last world cup; Schillaci would not be playing but this was basically due to his poor form in the years preceding the world cup. All things considered there was great reason for Italyâs many fans to think their team could do in USA 94 what they had not managed to do in Italia 90 and that being to win the world cup. Â
In all this however there were other factors, and one of them being that Italyâs team was overly dependent on Roberto Baggio and the form he showed on any particular day; basically what it boiled down to was Italy was as good or as bad as Roberto Baggio was. Another thing to consider was that though Italy had qualified to the world cup without too many difficulties, they had not really been overly impressive coming in second to Switzerland in their group.
This a team, whom they barely managed a 2-2 draw against while playing at home and had even lost to by 1-0 on their return match. I even recall one particular qualifying match in which Italy was forced to play under a practical blizzard of snow in Scotland that ended in 0-0. Roberto Baggio, having to be literally carried of the field after a collision with a Scottish player, both of whom were going for the same ball which was coming down. Qualifying had definitely not been all that easy however Baggio and company had prevailed and even managed a win in their last qualifying match against Portugal at home, when a draw would have sufficed to get them to USA 94.
I, at the time (as far as my life went) no longer found myself working in John Hancockâs mutual fund department; having been laid off a couple of weeks earlier but not before having made a few bets with some of the Irish American at work, who naturally put their money on Irelandâs greens while I did so on Italyâs azzurri. I, however in looking back regarding my job would have in all honesty missed several days at work, in what would have been a first for me (who had not even taken one day off) in over a year at John Hancock, for as important as work is; this is football and a world cup at that, so it comes first. I imagine that to a lot of Americans, who do not descend from football playing countries; an attitude such as mine might seem strange, if not irresponsible but that is the way many all over the world feel about football. Some even go to the extreme of giving up their jobs and spending all their savings on going to the games to cheer their team to victory.Â
As for Ireland; they were definitely not a bad team, solid on defense with big strong players capable of shooting the ball with both legs, and not unskilled either. Ireland, also however did not have many good players on the bench and were limited in their attacking game to mostly plays that went down the flanks in order to set up the air ball in the box, for a header or a lucky bounce. These sometimes coming from their goalkeepers long distance kicks as had been the case with their tying goal against the Netherlands in Italia 90.
I, in all that concerned this most special day for me; will never forget the pride I took when putting on the blue shirt of the Italian national football team, in order to show my support for âLa Squadra Azzurraâ. I being a fan also had purchased a small Italian flag in the part of Manhattan known as âLittle Italyâ, where I would go on to watch the final. I was even slightly worried that I might end up being surrounded by a group of Irish fans; who probably would not take loosing too kindly. All of which made me hopeful of being in an Italian section but this I would have little control over.
As for the rest of the world cup, up and till that moment, only two games had been played with the first game ending with a surprisingly difficult 1-0 victory for Germany over Bolivia, while the second one held no unique attraction, other then it was the first world cup game ever to be played in an indoor stadium. This second game having been played the very day of the one I was getting ready to go to and having ended in a 1-1 draw between the USA and Switzerland, who in qualifying had given Italy everything it could handle.
In my excitement I also started thinking, how it was going to be the first game, I had ever seen live between two national teams which not only was not a friendly but a world cup match at that. I had never even seen as much as a qualifying match of any kind, not even to the European cup, so to me it was a huge deal to be able to see the nation of my forefathers in action against Ireland. This taking on an additional importance in New York City, given that many are either of Irish or Italian descent and are not always friendly toward each other.
I basically got in the spirit of the game that moment I bought my ticket however as for actually having it all around me; this came when I got to the Port Authority Bus terminal and saw all the flags, half of which were Irish and the other Italian. I, naturally looked to be near those who were Italian, as this was a day to be among oneâs contingents. The mood was definitely right for an international football game and as I looked around I could also see fans with painted faces, the Irish applying their national colors orange, green and white while Italians red, white and green.
Once at Port Authority I had no problems in catching a bus to Giantâs Stadium, where the game would be played. As for the bus I took I would say it was evenly divided among both Italian and Irish supporters, with it being abundantly clear who was for which team based on the colors on the flags they carried. In all this however it was odd to see that most of the fans weather for Ireland or Italy were actually Americans descendent from one or the other, with most of the Italian fans not even speaking Italian. Something I noticed when I tried speaking to a few in Italian who at least recognized what language it was even if they could not understand or much less reply.
In all this I must say much to the credit of the organizers of this tournament, there was no violence of any kind from either side though the occasional racial or ethnic slur could be heard from both sides with Italians refereeing to the Irish as âmicksâ. This given that many Irish have the letters Mc in their last name, while the Irish responded in not so kind be calling Italians âw.o.p.sâ These three letters standing for âwith out papersâ, as many Italians first arrived to America illegally and like the expression says without papers. However these âverbal tauntsâ for the most part were limited and did not, or at least that I saw degenerate in to physical violence.
After, a short bus ride, we that is I and my fellow Italian supporters entered Giantâs Stadium and by then the electricity was everywhere, today we would see who would have bragging rights in the city of New York. Would it be the Irish or Italians? This we would soon find out and though Italy was slightly favorite, this did not connote automatic victory by any means.
The national anthems were played and in all sincerity I do not remember whose was played first but this did not matter; for both were sung with equal passion by both sides after which our two captains, Baresi for Italy and Bonner (goalkeeper) for Ireland exchanged flags and the game was on. I, naturally by then found myself in my seat and was fortunate, that I was in a part were Italians outnumbered Irish, which put me at ease that I should not have too much trouble. For instance as my brother-in-law did once; at a game in Spain 82 were he suffered a broken head, this despite his being from Madrid.
Italy started much as they had played up and till that point; with Baresi leading the team and organizing it from the back. All the while looking for Baggioâs offensive creativity to provide us with the same kind of magic he had displayed for Juventus, the previous year that earned him the title of FIFA player of the year. Ireland as always solid, in their mobile defense, and always a danger on the counter attack, in fact there game was typical of the one mostly practiced on the British Isles and with Jack Charlton (brother of Bobby Charlton) as their coach why should it come as a surprise.
Chances there were some for Italy though Ireland, had studied their game plan well and goals would not come easy, however one did relatively early. Â It coming when Houghton lobbed our goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca at the 11 minute mark of the game to put Ireland a head 1-0. A perfect shot it was and in the net it went, after which Houghton did a roll over as all the Irish faithful celebrated and grew in confidence that they could beat the team that had not only eliminated them from the last world cup but had come in third place, along with having won three world titles.
The lines of battle were clearly drawn at that point, Italy would have to go forward while Ireland could simply wait in the midfield and take advantage of any loose ball to go on the counter and increase their lead. Baggio, was being well taken care of, as this was not only our greatest scoring threat but the key to our offense and Charlton knew it. The first half would end and still we were down 1-0 and the Irish grew more sure of themselves.
The second half came and by then Italy started to worry and go forward in attack with more desperation, though Ireland was still solid in their wall of defense, while chants from their supporters got louder as did their reason to believe this could be their day in the summer as Saint Patrickâs is theirs in the spring. It was actually half way through the second period that those of us who backed Italy could see that we might actually not only loose this game but not even end up getting on the score board. Chances we created but always the same result Bonner, and his defenders would not have anything put over on them or at least not on that day and in fact Ireland in the second half came closer to a second goal when they hit the post, then Italy did to a first. Â
The final whistle came, and so did the celebrations of the Irish, and did they ever want us to know they had gotten the best off us on that day. I, however for my part felt they played a good game but for Italy all was not lost. As they could still qualify, specially since many teams had lost their first match to go on not only to the second round but the finals as was the case with Argentina in 90 or Germany in 82, of course both these teams ended up loosing in the final but that was another issue. Italy could still do it but this would mean almost having to beat Norway, for a loss would really limit our chances though not completely for with the system at the time; 16 out of 24 teams qualified. This making it possible for the best four third place teams to make it and after all Uruguay and Bulgaria had both gone through to the second round in 86, on the strength of two draws and a loss. Hopefully, however it would not come to this for Italy as they would beat Norway but that is another game for that one had ended with the Irish on top by 1-0.
Italyâs fans were depressed but as I explained to someone on the bus back to New York that all it was; was a set back and not the end, which those around me eventually did see it as. I even remember passing by a pizzeria near my apartment, me living in Brooklyn at the time in a part of the city reserved mostly for Polish immigrants (Green Point) and seeing how dejected, all my fellow Italians (some Italian American, some born in the old country) were though perhaps more so because we had lost to a team we were expected to beat.
Italy at that point was down but not out, but from then on we would have to get serious and play hard! Norway who had eliminated England was not going to be easy and this we all knew so bearing this in mind we would have to be at our best to beat them. Norway, who had qualified after a very long absence from the world cup scene. This however was for another day though same stadium.
Managing finances after a job loss or redundancy
Gaining control over your finances is of paramount importance when the future is a little uncertain. There are many ways to combat this challenge and of course there can be unique aspects to each person’s situation. As experts in change management, we have years of experience helping people come to terms with a job loss and the financial strains that can come with this experience. Below we have listed the most important steps to assisting you cushion yourself thus allowing you take the necessary steps to securing your future.
Though this article deals with the financial aspects of a job loss, I would like to say that the first step in a job loss situation is to:
· Not take it personally. The job loss has nothing to do with you. The job is redundant you are not. The decision to make redundancies was more than likely done in a boardroom thousands of miles away by people who have never met you and due to market conditions that have nothing to do with you.
· See this time as an opportunity for positive change and a chance to develop a challenging and rewarding career for the future.
Taking this as a given, it is important that if such a time arises, or has arisen, that you are able to sustain yourself during that period when you are not working so that you can concentrate on your job search and not worry about bills and expenses.
Step 1: Stay calm. Running around tearing your hair out will not help you in any shape of form. Whether you are willing to admit it or not, losing a job takes a lot out of a person and if you have not given yourself time to get over it, you will find it more difficult to get re-hired. So, allow yourself the time to come to terms with the change. Remember, concentrating your energy on solving this new job search challenge is far more productive than wasting energy on worrying about the cash side. So focus on the right things.
Step 2: Plan ahead. It is not everyone who gets advanced warning that their job is being made redundant so be prepared for this. Make sure that you have saved enough to get your by for at least three months should the worst happen. This may sound ridiculous, however having enough for several month means that you will not have to take the first job that comes along. It also gives you some free time to collect and recharge yourself.
Step 3: Know what your company will be giving you. You may be eligible for a redundancy payout. Ask HR and see what the company can provide for you. Also, look into social welfare payments and ask your local office what payments or allowances you can avail of.
Step 4: Add up all the essential bills, rent, utilities, food etc. Know exactly what you need to cover your basic costs. This will allow you to easily budget for the monthly essentials.
Step 5: Prioritise your bills. Some bills are paid monthly, other have a longer line of credit. Use this to your advantage. If the rent is due this week but the phone bill does not need to be paid until next month do not waste your money on the phone bill now. However do remember that the phone bill does need to be paid at some point.
Step 6: Cut out all other expenses. Examples of ways to do this are:
· Walk rather than take the bus/car
· Use Skype to Skype rather than your mobile phone
· Re-look at where you are doing your grocery shopping
· Substitute your shopping items to for the generic brand (its all the same produce in a different package)
· Invite your friends to your house rather than meet them in a café, or bar
Be strict with your spending and watch out for those impulsive buys that can really add up.
Step 7: Keep a diary of all your expenses for a month. Write down everything that you spend and what it was for. When you review this list you will see where you have been wasting your money. This is where you find the few extra shillings to put aside.
Step 8: Be very careful when using credit, especially credit cards. They are very expensive to run with extremely high interest rates and having a bad line of credit may hurt you down the line when you need a loan for something else. However if you really need a loan, shop around with the banks and credit unions to get the best deal on repayments. Also, while asking about loans, ask your bank manager if you can put current expenses on hold. Sometimes you can freeze mortgage payments or extend the time of an existing loan to decrease monthly payments.
Step 9: If things are getting tight and there is no new job in site then take a temporary role. It makes no difference what the job is. Just make sure that you leave enough time in the day to continue your job search.
Step 10: If all of that is not working well for you then consider explaining your situation to your family. They may have some ideas on how you can cut your costs further or come up with a favourable, repayable, finance plan to get you by for the short term.
Experiencing a job loss can be unnerving. But such situations can be effectively solved by carefully devising a plan on how to get past the unemployment period. Remember that you are not the only one who is going through this. The majority of people come out of it unscathed and ready to do battle again, as will you.
If you have just suffered a job loss and you are having difficulty dealing with it please seek help. There is plenty available and you should never face a situation like this alone.
If you know someone else who is faced with the above problem then please pass this article on to them. They will appreciate it. The link is www.jobsmanager.eu/job-search-articles.html
This article had been written and brought to you by Jobs Manager.
Jobs Manager is a specialist consultancy organisation operating with the UK and Ireland. We also provide confidential and sensitive services to individuals facing career change, redundancy or a new job search. We assist you discover your true career vocation and we ensure that you embrace change and think positively about the future. We will assist you develop your Job Marketing tools to ensure you get a new job and are ahead of the other candidates.
We also provide tailor made outsource solutions for organisations requiring help with HR, Recruitment or Redundancy programmes. We provide expert experience and expertise at a fraction of the cost of an In-house HR Department
Please visit us at www.jobsmanager.eu
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