The purpose of a government in a democracy is primarily to allocate society’s collective resources based on the public’s expressed preferences. Sure, there are other things that it can and does do, such as deciding whether new laws and crimes are necessary, or intervening to regulate the private sector of the economy. But there is a reason why the centerpiece of the political year is the budget. That is what the Irish politician builds his calendar around: It is the day that they get to take money from some people and give it to others, and pretend in the process that they are nearly giving it to you from their own pockets.
This is the highest achievement of the Irish politician. It is what he strives towards. It is what gets him re-elected: Giving out the goodies to people.
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