The recounting of his tenure as a United States senator in the media's compelling coverage of the death of Ted Kennedy and the current successor campaign is more than the story of one man's growth and influence in that body; it is also the latest illustration of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts's unique contribution to the political history of the nation.

Though the general economy in Ireland is causing severe problems today, two to three years from now we may be looking at a far stronger country than would be the case if the Irish had not gone through these difficult times.

Perhaps Ireland grew too fast, building a system without checks and balances. But that most assuredly will not happen again if the lessons learned today result in new attitudes and regulations discouraging skyrocketing prices, collapsing banks, and 120 percent mortgages on property of exaggerated value.