Sure, go ahead and demonize Europe, even as Greece pleads for more money while simultaneously rioting against losing their pensions or needing to actually pay their taxes. The alternative? Europe could refuse to give Greece another drachma and refuse to do business with them (no import-export) until the debt is paid. Let Greece become a completely isolated economy, and then they’d have nobody to blame except themselves.
Greece isn’t getting a bailout. The creditors are. And I thought Banks and financial houses were supposed to have the smarts. Why did they lend the money? Because they can, they have total control/power. The people who will suffer the most had nothing to do with it. Goldman Sachs doubled their debt 5 years ago and walked away with several hundred million in ‘fees’.
(I can’t believe I’m about to say this.) Take a tip from Chicago and Illinois…instead of leasing your parking meters and expressways virtually in perpetuity, lease your national treasures like the Parthenon for sporting / social / political events and let the super-rich (definition in this case: "people with more dollars than sense) pay your way out of debt.
Greece is not the victim, although the Greek people are paying the price for the actions of their leaders. The real problems are decades of corruption, and an unrealistic expectation that European loans and subsidies would allow them to party on indefinitely.
Greece is a nightmarish version of American politics: the idea that all taxes are evil and should not be paid, plus borrow-and-spend policies that ignore the perils of spending money you don’t have. And then turning around and blaming the people who floated you the loans in the first place: “Heck, they should have know how irresponsible we are!”
The EU is not the only entity sucking the life out of Greece: The IMF. A shameless, US mega-bank that pretends to help, but is only after more profits.
Stan King almost 9 years ago
Sure, go ahead and demonize Europe, even as Greece pleads for more money while simultaneously rioting against losing their pensions or needing to actually pay their taxes. The alternative? Europe could refuse to give Greece another drachma and refuse to do business with them (no import-export) until the debt is paid. Let Greece become a completely isolated economy, and then they’d have nobody to blame except themselves.
RayMofda almost 9 years ago
Greece isn’t getting a bailout. The creditors are. And I thought Banks and financial houses were supposed to have the smarts. Why did they lend the money? Because they can, they have total control/power. The people who will suffer the most had nothing to do with it. Goldman Sachs doubled their debt 5 years ago and walked away with several hundred million in ‘fees’.
kurt.zwicky almost 9 years ago
Maybe Elon Musk should build his battery factory in Greece.
hippogriff almost 9 years ago
DaBoogadie: Why not, the US has been.
dogday Premium Member almost 9 years ago
(I can’t believe I’m about to say this.) Take a tip from Chicago and Illinois…instead of leasing your parking meters and expressways virtually in perpetuity, lease your national treasures like the Parthenon for sporting / social / political events and let the super-rich (definition in this case: "people with more dollars than sense) pay your way out of debt.
seablood almost 9 years ago
Putin would just love for us to flip off Greece. There would be an Orthodox revival and Putin would be the ’belle of the ball!"
badcyclist Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Greece is not the victim, although the Greek people are paying the price for the actions of their leaders. The real problems are decades of corruption, and an unrealistic expectation that European loans and subsidies would allow them to party on indefinitely.
Greece is a nightmarish version of American politics: the idea that all taxes are evil and should not be paid, plus borrow-and-spend policies that ignore the perils of spending money you don’t have. And then turning around and blaming the people who floated you the loans in the first place: “Heck, they should have know how irresponsible we are!”
Filmmuseum Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Tom Toles should change the direction of the “blood flow”. Right now, it`s about GIVING 80-86 billion euros TO the Greek, not collecting any money.
griffthegreat almost 9 years ago
Last I saw 89.9% don’t pay their taxes, get tough on collecting and all would be OK. Italy also has the same “culture” I understand.
danketaz Premium Member almost 9 years ago
Hope they get a good turnip crop this year.
Combatcarl almost 9 years ago
The EU is not the only entity sucking the life out of Greece: The IMF. A shameless, US mega-bank that pretends to help, but is only after more profits.
Tarredandfeathered almost 9 years ago
Yes they did. They learned to Suck Fast before the Last Drop is Gone.