However, the Irish Government, in what several (Paul Krugman I seem to recall) have called the single most stupid and exepnsive action of the past decade, declared that the Irish State would guarantee all of the debts of all of the Irish banks.
Undeniably, as a species we are extremely adaptable, but we must never forget that the Oracle of Delphi called Socrates the wisest of all men: He was the wisest of all men because he realized he was stupid.