D Tuesday, August 4, 2009 METRO 17 Music for the masses:VenezuelanconductorGustavoDudamelperformswiththeSimon BolivarYouthSymphonicOrchestraduringafreeconcertinthelow-incomeneighbourhoodof LaVegainCaracasaspartofcelebrationsforthe442ndanniversaryofthecity The Big Picture Banks at it again Byebye:Throwingitaway... The announcement of huge profits for banks, which intend to continue paying huge bonuses as a result, underlines how well the Government and, by extension, the taxpayer has been duped. The banks have been allowed to restore their balance sheets at the taxpayers expense. Borrowing rates have reached rock bottom but rate cuts have only been handed on to savers. Meanwhile, lending to small businesses has been restricted. While the banks are allowed to operate in this bubble of prosperity, everyone else picks up the bill. The Government still appears enthralled by the bankers, blustering about regulation while allowing business to continue as usual. When the next crash comes about, as it undoubtedly will due to the lack of serious regulation, whoever is in power may be forced to let banks go to the wall. They need to be put on notice that they will not be bailed out next time. Paul D It is going to be interesting to see how much effort Nama really does put into chasing (and I would imagine bankrupting) the debt-ridden developers of this country. If their hounding of the corrupt bankers that brought this country to its knees is anything to go by, then the developers must be breathing a huge sigh of relief (and I imagine the only reason for taking over their debts to foreign banks is to further protect them). Well, who can begrudge a few people to continue living the high life if it only means the erosion of the standard of living for 99.9 per cent of the population... PN The reason your coffee in Dublin costs 2.75 is because the worker Dublins best-read letters page Metro Mail E-mail letters to mail@metroireland.iewith a name. Or text us. Text MAIL followed by comment and name to 53131. *Texts cost 30cent per message + standard network charges. SP. Opera Telecom, Hospitality House, Cumberland Street South, D2. Customer service number 0818286606 talk to us Tax and tact: Sand, society decided to give support to marriage through tax benefits like inheritance tax as a way of encouraging heterosexual couples to commit, which is better for children. As not many gay couples will be bringing up children, why should they all have the same tax breaks? Pat Clueless: So Anchorman reckons women have no place at a big GAA match. Bet you Wanchorman is one of those summer GAA fans who asks when the match is due to kick off. The GAA is a community organisation which welcomes men, women and children alike. If you want a traditional urban macho lads day out, stay away from Croke Park and do your tuneless singing elsewhere. You dont understand the GAA, and we dont need your sort! Culchie GAA Fan How now: Anchorman, instead of banishing women from the Hill, could we not try and banish the drunken louts who arrive late? And what about the so-called supporters who dont even know the players names, never mind not knowing where Parnell Park is? Blue Jackie In Brief making it is paid 8.65 an hour, which is the second highest minimum wage in the European Union. In France and Germany, low-skilled workers are paid as little as 4 to 5 an hour. As such, I think a decrease in minimum wage is the best move this Government has made in years! Does anyone remember the time before the high minimum wage? And if you think it will only make people stay on welfare, that is happening already. We, as taxpayers, have another ten years of working poor. So now, I guess its just a case of shut up and put up. Kev The best thing that could happen for this country would be if the Government accepts that the next general election is lost and thus starts doing what is best in order to get Ireland up off its knees. As long as they keep one eye on the voting electorate, they will remain frozen in fear and panic that the measures actually needed are going to be vote-losers, and will therefore keep doing nothing. Patrick Send us your txt Following the complaints about the U2 concert, maybe something could be done about noise pollution in general, particularly at night. As I see it, the only reason music is so loud in pubs and nightclubs is to make people drink more. TK To cheeky Anchorman, as a Dubs supporter, I belong on the Hill! And us women burned our bras once for equality, and would have no problem doing it again! DD Nama is a fine example of how to throw good money after bad money. PB Looking through a catalogue advertising home safes do they really need to specify money not included? Kim MS, to stop people peeing in your garden, think about fitting a micro-sprinkler system. Then you can set it to come on at the end of concerts or matches. VB Why is it that the cheaper the perfume, the more must be applied before getting on the train and sitting next to me in the morning? Emily txt MAIL to 53131* Picture: Reuters index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html