Victory to the Greek people

[Coolfonz]

Some real politics going on in Athens...

[scaryteacher]

Might be us if we're not careful. The EU says we have to reduce the deficit. Thank God we are not in the Eurozone.

[gingercat12]

Do you think holidaymakers should buy euros or drachmas for the summer ?

I know it is not an option. But I think the Germans will cut them loose from the eurozone.

[Coolfonz]

Let's hope so...there would be a revolution...

[wannaBe]

and this is playing havvock with our own economy - £ vs euro and $ plummeted yesterday as did the FTSE.

I agree - careful we're not next.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

So they should be cut loose. It is becoming very clear that the Greek government must have fudged the figures in order for them to be admitted to the EU, never mind the Euro.

[scaryteacher]

The Greeks are now saying that the loan/bailout should be given by the Germans in recompense for war damage done to Greece.

[TheCrackFox]

So glad we are not in the Euro.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

scaryteacher you are joking? That is ridiculous.
The problem with Greece is that culturally they do not accept taxation, but they have still voted in a socialist and therefore high-spend Government. Disaster.

[scaryteacher]

See todays Telegraph:

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/7681518/Greece-bail-out-money-is-reparation-for-Sec ond-World-War.html

[Elenio]

3 people have been killed today in the riots in Athens.

Its very scary here at the moment.

[gingercat12]

Elenio Look after yourself.

[amidaiwish]

Coolfonz, i don't get your thread title?

keep us posted Elenio and take care.

[Coolfonz]

Greece should default. Fuck the banks. Make the banks pay, they created this crisis, they even cooked the Greek books with the Greek Tories...

This is structural adjustment. What happened all over the world, and now it is happening in Europe and it will happen in the UK as well.

[gingercat12]

Coolfonz You do not know what you are talking about, and what suffering it would mean to the Greek people. The banks would never pay.
Do you really think it is fun to live through a revolution?! Well, I can tell you it is not. I only had the misfortune of experiencing one, but my Dad had suffer two plus ground invasion in Europe. I would not wish it on anybody.

[gingercat12]

I mean ground invasion in the second world war.

[Coolfonz]

The banks won't pay, of course they won't. But they won't get their money back. Defaulting is the only answer. Fuck the banks and then nationalise them, take them out of private hands.

Neo-liberalism is in a race to the bottom.

Choose your side.

[TheCrackFox]

"...that culturally they do not accept taxation...". Nobody really likes paying tax though.

It seems to me the Greeks expect the Germans to pay tax on their behalf.

My Grandmother lived through a revolution and half her family died. It wasn't a barrel of laughs by all accounts.

[Chil1234]

It's far too simplistic to say 'make the banks pay' and gaze misty-eyed at your Che Guevara posters. Greece has been living beyond its means... average retirement age 53, not collecting enough tax, spending too much money.... for several years. That's 'real politics', it's come to a grinding halt and we're not so far from it ourselves.

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

CrackFox my Mum listened to an interview on R4 I think it was. A group of 5 professional Greeks being interview re. the austerity measures.
The journo asked if they paid their tax, none of them do. The reason they gave was that lots of taxation money just went to line politician pockets. Fair enough.

Next question was 'if politics was cleaned up and the tax you paid genuinely went to public services, would you then pay your tax?'
Only 1 person said yes.

[Coolfonz]

They don't let me have Che Guervara posters working in investment banking

You mug. Line your pockets, it's all going tits up...

I give it 25 years tops...

[GrimmaTheNome]

I'm afraid the Greek people need to come to their senses and realise they have been living beyond their means.

Retire at 53 on 80% of salary, and then expect the Germans to bail you out when they prudently retire at (IIRC) 67 on 40% of salary?

These riots are not real politics. They are self-destructive - horrible that they are proving literally lethal too.

[Coolfonz]

And who pays tax in the UK? Self assessment? That and the drug economy are huge vats of liquidity for the economy. The very rich don't pay tax either. My boss earns £1.5mn - £2mn a year, you think he pays fucking tax? What world do you people live in?

It's not fucking scones and daisies you know. It's cash and power. Don't roll over...

[Coolfonz]

(Very sad any workers have died of course, just for clarity)

[Chil1234]

So you don't pay tax then coolfonz?....

[Sweeedes]

Coolfonz - You sound about 14.