@Orangejuice @petergray47 What was particularly cruel was the adherence to Laissez-faire economics in the face of the devastation.

Anytime I hear the trumpeting of free markets as a solution to all of societies ills, I remind them of the epic failure that was #TheGreatHunger and how that tragedy makes the case for significant government intervention in times of crisis.

#FreeMarkets #Economics #Famine #IrishHistory

@Orangejuice I don’t think you’re radical at all. Indeed many Irish would line up with genocide viewpoint.

Interestingly it’s a view that might be held more broadly by the #IrishAmericsn community and as Fin Dwyer mentions in his podcast episode, #TheGreatHunger is taught in certain school systems as part of a curriculum on genocide.

Terrible colonial wrongs were perpetrated on the Irish people. The legacy of being a victimized people in Ireland is strong to this day.

@Orangejuice

I'm far from lining up with the virtues of colonial rule and associated cruelties perpetrated on our people over past centuries.

The catastrophe of #TheGreatHunger is likely poorly understood these days as it retreats into the historical background. I'm a believer that cross-generational trauma is still haunts descendants of the victims.

I line up with Fin Dwyer on whether the tragedy should be considered a genocide

#IrishHistory

https://irishhistorypodcast.ie/was-the-great-famine-a-genocide/

@Orangejuice

Difficult to know how Ireland’s population would have tracked or was famine inevitable when coupled with dire conditions of impoverishment

On the applicability of the word genocide to #TheGreatHunger, I’m wary of its usage which I think implies planning and intentional outcome by those in power. I’m not convinced that was the case, more like mass culpable homicide. Whatever the term there’s no denying the impact or the tragedy or the callous disregard for life.

Excellent episode from David McWilliams with John Davis on the idea of an island of Ireland populated by 10 million people.

How likely is it that Ireland will eventually exceed the maximal population of 8 million recorded in 1841 before #TheGreatHunger?

What are the implications in terms of an increase in immigration, better education, improved transportation, and more robust healthcare?

#IrishPodcast #IrishEconomics

https://lnns.co/ML6GlugiPdR