Irish economist David McWilliams tells it all in "Outsiders," live on stage

They say things were bad in the 50's and the 80's. The 40's,60's and 70's were'nt up to much either. Ireland is not a capitalistic system. Anyone with political connections will do well. From what I see, it's an oligarchy. Time for the younger people to take to the Roads, Sea and Air again. It's unfortunate but it's true.

You could probably apply his 'Insider/Outsider' thesis to almost any society/economy in the world. But, I think he's probably right. The electorate time and time again vote in FF (been in government for 18 of the last 20 years) who, at election time manage to present themselves as salt of the earth/one of the people against 'high falutin' types' who have an ideology (Greens, PDs, Labour) and posh types (FG) but once they're in govt. they cosy up to developers/industrialists - insiders. Meanwhile there is an on-going informal campaign aided and abetted by the media, to vilify the ideology based parties, of which Irish people seem to be suspicious. Witness what's happening to the Greens currently. They introduce a ban on hunting - which they believe is wrong on ideological grounds and which in reality is the preserve of a snobbish elite and which most ordinary people in the country see as a West Brit activty, but FF are everywhere in the media getting all upset and accusing the Greens of an anti-rual bias and are making sure everyone sees them as defenders of ordinary country folk. Likewise when the Greens delayed the building of the M3 to study the possible heritage impacts (which personally I disagreed with) they were roundly ganged up on by the FF/FG and the media who accused them of ruining the local economy and destroy jobs etc. etc. Similar examples can be found in the previous coalition with the PDs, who in due course were all but annihilated at the ballot box in the election that followed, while their partner in government, FF, increased their share of the vote! As long as Irish people persist in siding with the fella who'll 'look after us' with a wink and a nod at election time this insider/outsider clientelist system will continue.