Greece crisis: Europe on edge over snap election

[TomandJerry]

Courtesy of Mega News we are now learning that Tsipras’ chat with both leaders was far from cordial. The Greek prime minister, responding to Merkel’s protestations that the referendum would ultimately boil down to a choice “between the euro and drachma” is reported to have said:

“No it isn’t.

This is the birthplace of democracy. We are a sovereign country and will not be told what question to pose in this referendum. The referendum wiill take place regardless of whatever the decision the Eurogroup takes.”

 

[Westdene Seagull]

Can I arrange this when the UK votes to remain in the EU?

Careful, remember your last political prediction

 

[TomandJerry]

Acc to Greek diplomat sources the French fin min*#Sapin*was the only one who was in favour of the extension of the Greek progr.#Greferendum

 

[Beach Hut]

This is disgraceful behaviour from the EU as they bent the rules to get Greece to initially join the Euro as they did not meet the set down financial criteria and now they just abandon them.

 

[beorhthelm]

Time to take stock and re-calibrate the gun-sights on the correct targets.

that would be Syriza, who have strung along the Greek public on the falsehood they could negotiate a deal, where they get to keep and enhance spending, while not able to afford the existing deal. behind the protestations and outrage from the Greek ministers, they were going to go back to everyone and ask for another bail out next month.

and the point about a safety net is an interesting one because there has never been any such deal offered in europe. this is the tradgey of the whole situation, entry in to a common currency without common fiscal policy. they use the euro as a means to push forward their political project by the back door, rather than do the correct and honest approach of creating a federal europe then introducing a currency.

 

[Hampster Gull]

This is disgraceful behaviour from the EU as they bent the rules to get Greece to initially join the Euro as they did not meet the set down financial criteria and now they just abandon them.

Not the EU, the Eurozone. But yes, disgraceful. The euro elite driving their own agenda at their pace, many people jave suffered, but many have won, including whole nations such as germany. Too much vested interests

 

[Triggaaar]

I think the worse alternative he was talking about was an exit from the EU. As far as I am aware decapitation is not one of the possible outcomes here, correct me if I'm wrong.

People will die, I don't know if that counts to you as 'something worse'.

Well there is a country which ignored the fear mongering and decided to do the right thing. They liquidated the bad debt, they let the banks fail and the put several banking executives in prison. They went through some pain, for a short while. They took their medicine.

That country is Iceland.

How about the population of Iceland that had savings in the bank, ready for when they retire - what about the savings they lost? Are they just taking medicine?

 

[larus]

People will die, I don't know if that counts to you as 'something worse'.

How about the population of Iceland that had savings in the bank, ready for when they retire - what about the savings they lost? Are they just taking medicine?

I can sympathise with what you are saying. But, some of the countries which have lent money to Greece are poorer than the Greeks. Countries like Moldova can ill afford to lose money when Greece defaults.

I knew a Greek girls a few years ago when she was in the UK studying at Brighton Uni. She said, almost with a sense of pride, the tax evasion was a national sport in Greece. Now, she was an intelligent girl, but for every debtor there is a creditor. Those creditors aren't just big banks. It will be pension funds, other countries, etc.. Yes, there will be hardship, but countries need to learn to live within their means. Oh, that goes for the west too. High levels of public debt is not good policy, but everyone wants other people to pay for their top quality state-provided services. And the elite are very good at influencing government policies to allow them to use low tax environments to avoid their share.

It sticks at the top and at the bottom IMO. Average Joe gets screwed.

 

[Buzzer]

Kindly do the world a favour and remove yourself from the gene pool. The world is a better place with one less anti-semite .

 

[gregbrighton]

Kindly do the world a favour and remove yourself from the gene pool. The world is a better place with one less anti-Semite .

How am I an anti-Semite? I just pointed out who the American, Jewish and European elite are controlling our banking, financial and commercial institutions.

Get a grip of yourself!

 

[Buzzer]

You blame the world's problems on Jewish bankers and then tell me to get a grip? You're the one who needs to have a word with yourself, you anti-semitic bigot.

 

[gregbrighton]

You blame the world's problems on Jewish bankers and then tell me to get a grip? You're the one who needs to have a word with yourself, you anti-semitic bigot.

Nice try but you won't intimidate me!

Instead of verbal abuse, how about telling us who does control the banking system and financial institutions then? Perhaps you could tell us what role these elite families played in the Second World War that sent millions of people to their deaths? If you don't know, do some research. The truth will hurt.

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Nice try but you won't intimidate me!

Instead of verbal abuse, how about telling us who does control the banking system and financial institutions then? Perhaps you could tell us what role these elite families played in the Second World War that sent millions of people to their deaths? If you don't know, do some research. The truth will hurt.

You REALLY think that a Jewish banker family caused world war 2? Oh dear.

 

[dingodan]

People will die, I don't know if that counts to you as 'something worse'.

If Greece defaults and leaves the Eurozone, people will die? That would make for the most convincing argument I've heard for staying in, if it's true. I look forward to hearing that argument being made in the coming days.

Of course it won't be, because it has no basis, it's a childish argument that only someone on an internet forum would make.

How about the population of Iceland that had savings in the bank, ready for when they retire - what about the savings they lost? Are they just taking medicine?

"The government did guarantee that Icelanders would not lose the money in their savings accounts, but other financial assets — including the many investment funds that the banks offered — plummeted in value, and many ordinary Icelanders lost large sums that they believed were safely invested."

Research before you comment. Savings were protected. Banks investment funds did suffer, and ordinary people who made those investments suffered as a result. But an investment is a risk, anyone who invests should know that, if they don't know that they should not be investing. If there are going to invest, knowing it is a risk, they should weigh that risk, they should look carefully at what they have invested in.

"The success of the nation’s banks, however, was deceptive to say the least. The assets of Icelandic banks were equal to 174 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product in 2003, and rose to 744 percent in 2007, while the G.D.P. itself rose by an average of 5.5 percent per year."

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/15/magazine/icelands-big-economic-thaw.html?_r=0

Trying to make out that I don't care about people dying or losing their retirement savings is pretty low, don't you think?

 

[dingodan]

Nice try but you won't intimidate me!

Instead of verbal abuse, how about telling us who does control the banking system and financial institutions then? Perhaps you could tell us what role these elite families played in the Second World War that sent millions of people to their deaths? If you don't know, do some research. The truth will hurt.

Are you not the same guy who downvoted my posts about Obamas policies? You think Obama and "Old money" are on opposing sides?

Do some research, the truth will hurt.

 

[TomandJerry]

Breaking news:

GREEK GOVERNMENT WINS REFERENDUM VOTE

A majority of Greek MPs have voted in favour of holding a referendum on its bailout terms on Sunday, 5th July.

Even though, as covered through the day, that bailout it set to expires in three day’s time.

 

[gregbrighton]

You think Obama and "Old money" are on opposing sides?

Of course not. It doesn't matter who gets in as he/she will be doing the bidding for the elite until the banking system is broken up and the power is destroyed. I only thumbed down because you ignored the human rights and social policies he has achieved and supported - issues he can influence in the current environment.

JFK tried to strip some of the power away from the Federal Reserve Bank and look what happened to him! The elite are ruthless in the way they protect their interests.

The current Greek government are acting as how a socialist administration would be expected to react against the capitalist monetary institutions. It might not get them anywhere but if the deal failing precipitates financial uncertainty and even chaos within the Eurozone and beyond the elite bankers surely wont want that risk. With that sort of scenario the financiers may sufficiently compromise. Or perhaps it might set out to destroy this troublesome government in some other way.....

 

[Triggaaar]

If Greece defaults and leaves the Eurozone, people will die? That would make for the most convincing argument I've heard for staying in, if it's true.

Poverty kills. The country wont be able to afford the levels of healthcare we get here - hospitals, medicine and doctors and nurses all need paying for, and with the crisis they're in savings will have to be made and corners will be cut.

I can sympathise with what you are saying. But, some of the countries which have lent money to Greece are poorer than the Greeks. Countries like Moldova can ill afford to lose money when Greece defaults.

I knew a Greek girls a few years ago when she was in the UK studying at Brighton Uni. She said, almost with a sense of pride, the tax evasion was a national sport in Greece. Now, she was an intelligent girl, but for every debtor there is a creditor. Those creditors aren't just big banks. It will be pension funds, other countries, etc.. Yes, there will be hardship, but countries need to learn to live within their means. Oh, that goes for the west too. High levels of public debt is not good policy, but everyone wants other people to pay for their top quality state-provided services.

You're preaching to the converted here. My comment made it sound like I was on Greece's side, but while I do have empathy for the people of Greece, they do have to be making an effort to pay their debts.

IMO Greece should not have joined the Euro - they fudged their figures and the EU helped them - both sides are to blame. I think they should be allowed to write off some of the debt owed to the likes of Germany, because it's the only way they could possibly ever pay it off. But I also think they should have to change. While it's not nice to contemplate letting Greece exit and have nothing, that simply has to be an option. If it wasn't an option, then the message to all member countries is 'don't bother working or paying tax, just have a party, because we will always bail you out'.

Of course that can't be the case, there has to be a line. It's just a question of where the line is, and whether the EU can support Greece while Greece also make an effort. I agree that some of the austerity measures are unworkable, but then I also empathise with the creditors when you see the general attitude towards working and paying tax in Greece. I certainly don't want them borrowing my money.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33303105

 

[TomandJerry]

William Hill, the UK bookmaker, has refused to accept any more bets on Greece leaving the eurozone, after a flood of wagers on an early Grexit.