The respectability imperative: Why do the Irish not protest?

At midnight – though you might not feel the impact of it for a few days – the Government increased the cost of petrol and diesel for Irish motorists by 7 cents and 5 cents per litre respectively. At the same time, it increased the cost of food and drink in Irish restaurants by 4.5%.

These increases, both of which served directly to make Irish consumers poorer and the Irish Government a little richer at their expense, both passed off without incident. Or as much as a hint of protest or dissent. At my local filling station yesterday, there was a small queue for the pumps because people knew the increase was coming, and like me, rushed out to top up before it hit.