Greece crisis: Europe on edge over snap election

[Buzzer]

i do not believe they owe it directly, but under various EU/ECB/Euro mechanisms. it is not in their gift to write it off, even if they wanted to.

I'm no economist so you could well be right but from what I've read, I disagree and believe that they are the creditors and have it within their remit to offer debt relief.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Is there an issue in the world that - according to you - isn't the fault of the European Union?

So true Simster

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

debt relief isn't on the agenda because it wasn't/isn't for Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Italy. the risk is you bow to pressure for Greece and they all pile in behind. we cant look at the Greece situation in isolation.

I don't agree with this. You can generally always deal with issues on a case-by-case basis in most walks of life....and if anything I see the Greece situation as unique and a prefect example of needing a one-off isolation deal.

 

[Simster]

So true Simster

In many ways, it us a shame [MENTION=12825]cunning fergus[/MENTION] is quite so indignant with rage over the EU because he is right on some things IMO. But in my view, all he does is cheapen some of his well constructed arguments against that institution by literally blaming EVERYTHING on it.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

In many ways, it us a shame [MENTION=12825]cunning fergus[/MENTION] is quite so indignant with rage over the EU because he is right on some things IMO. But in my view, all he does is cheapen some of his well constructed arguments against that institution by literally blaming EVERYTHING on it.

I easily picked apart his last two "well constructed arguments" though. I'd suggest his anti-EU goggles affect his judgement.

 

[cunning fergus]

In many ways, it us a shame [MENTION=12825]cunning fergus[/MENTION] is quite so indignant with rage over the EU because he is right on some things IMO. But in my view, all he does is cheapen some of his well constructed arguments against that institution by literally blaming EVERYTHING on it.

I think there are some nuances in my views on the EU that you may miss, the points I have made recently on this thread is a case in point.

The issue I reguarly have is with the politicains, (both domestic and at EU level) and their blind commitment to the EU project, even when as we can see with Greece and migration it is failing catastrophically.

They seem to avoid the kind of attack that many on here would happily direct only to the global banks and corporates, yet as I said before as far as the EU is concerned they are 2 cheeks of the same arse.

The most powerful man in the EU is Jean-Claude Juncker, (check out what that surname means in Europe by the way) who facilitated mass tax avoidance by corporates in Luxembourg whilst PM there, and despite the EU citizenry having absolutely no say on his appointment, he is now in control of the executive law making mechanism of the EU.

Do you think a man such as this, who has been crowned by other EU serving heads of state is going to act against the interests of corporate capitalism?

I dont think he is and yet I have had no say, even the UK's democratically elected PM Cameron didn't want him yet, there he is as large as life.

I rarely rage to be fair, its more dismay, not least those on here that will perpetually advocate the progressive nature of the EU on socialist principles despite the whole organisation being driven by global corporate interests which is frankly uninterested in social rights. On this matter the old Labour Party were right, no to the EU...............and its why the tories still support the single market.

Some are more honest than others, one idividual has regularly stated he doesnt care about the British working class, yet is a passionate supporter of the Labour Party.....................I know, mental.

 

[Triggaaar]

I easily picked apart his last two "well constructed arguments" though.

Is that according to you? Wow, you're amazing.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

I easily picked apart his last two "well constructed arguments" though.

In the same exacting way you suggested we would get a Labour government ?

 

[TomandJerry]

Greek government rejects proposed bailout extension

The Greek government has rejected a proposed five-month extension of the country’s bailout accord, Helena Smith reports from Athens.

Greek officials have turned down the deal. “The text that was given to the Greek side is worse than the memorandum,” one was quoted as saying by the Athens news agency.

Government sources have lashed out at the “unacceptable” tactics employed by interlocutors representing foreign lenders at the EU, ECB and IMF.

There are reports, says Helena, that prime minister Alexis Tsipras is making a speedy return to Athens.

 

[TomandJerry]

Helena reports that the deputy social security minister Dimitris Stratoulis has also levelled an excoriating critique of the lenders’ latest proposal.

The creditors’ latest offer amounted to “the ultimate demolition” of the welfare state and “total misery and impoverishment” of those already on very low pensions, he said.

The ruling Syriza party had decided to take action.

“[We] will erect a wall against the brazen claims of creditors who seek the complete humiliation of the left government and [whose actions will] lead to the enslavement and extermination of [our] people.”

 

[yxee]

Anyone getting tired of the Greek rhetoric? The leaks, interviews, press releases being regurgitated for five months...

They want to have their cake and eat it, plain and simple.

 

[nicko31]

Anyone getting tired of the Greek rhetoric? The leaks, interviews, press releases being regurgitated for five months...

They want to have their cake and eat it, plain and simple.

The issue they have even if they give it, it still has to go past the Greek parliament. Lets face it the Greeks invented chaos...

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Is that according to you? Wow, you're amazing.

Did you see his posts relating to pharmacoeconomics?

 

[Triggaaar]

No.

 

[TomandJerry]

On the eve of crunch talks in Brussels, our main story tonight is that eurozone finance ministers and Greece’s creditors are to draw up plans for emergency measures to ringfence the country’s financial system unless the Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, accepts the creditors’ terms for a five-month extension of Athens’s bailout on Saturday.

David Cameron told a fellow EU leader that it “might be better” for Greece to withdraw from the eurozone to allow it to fix its economy, according to a leaked diplomatic document.

 

[Hampster Gull]

At the centre of the EU is a bunch of self interested bureaucras and politicians keen to keep maximising their personal the spoils? But this is the same at the heart of any government. We are better off within the EU in this world

 

[beorhthelm]

the thing the Greek government dont seem to understand is that if they dont get the loan, they can afford the pensions and everything else they want to spend. if anyone hasnt been paying attention, this is just a final installment of an old bail out, and in the summer they would be arranging a new one to cover the next few years. but they act like they deserve this money as a right.

as the weeks and months have past, they have alienated, insulted and pissed off everyone including their one time allies. the reports that Merkel, who has been trying to keep the door open, told them to "shut up" at the dinner last night tells us they've burnt all their bridges.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Referendum next Sunday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33296839

The two sides seem further apart than ever.

 

[beorhthelm]

Referendum next Sunday

did anyone tell them thats after they've defaulted?

 

[TomandJerry]

did anyone tell them thats after they've defaulted?

Nope