This offers a review of the effects of neo-liberal policies as practiced in Ireland which "for a decade, ...was heralded by the most ardent partisans of neo-liberal capitalism as a model to be imitated." Of course, this is only an example that is being replicated in many parts of the free-market capitalist world. What is so remarkable is that the practitioners of this global scam are undeterred in their efforts to continue the operation.
Far from relinquishing its neo-liberal orientation, the IMF declared that among Ireland’s priorities it is counting on the adoption of reforms to do away with structural obstacles to business, so as to support competitiveness in the coming years. “Socialist” Dominique Strauss-Kahn said he was convinced that a new government after the elections in early 2011 would not change anything: “I’m confident that even if the opposition parties, Fine Gael and Labour, are criticizing the government and the programme [...], they understand the need to implement the programme.”Notice the use of the political identifier, "socialist". This is widely practiced in Europe where real socialism was a dream of many and often used by capitalists and fascists, like wolves masquerading in sheep's clothing, to manage, or "manufacture", the consent of the people. Even the Nazis used the term in the name of their party, "National Socialist German Workers' Party", This is identical to the widespread practice in the US of using "democracy" and "democratic" in reference to practices or countries that are likely the opposite. See the Orwellian term, "doublespeak".
Actually, I think that the widespread degradation of political terms and concepts are a deliberate attempt by ruling classes to confuse ordinary people, who want to understand politics, so that they never understand the injustices of class rule.