tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31886581.post3850081778260816002..comments2024-02-11T13:28:46.262+00:00Comments on In Place of Fear: German and EU hypocrisy and short memories on Greece : Syriza aren't extremists - they're asking for the same debt relief deal Greece gave Germany in 1953. The EU is handing the banks almost ten times the amount of money Greece is asking written off in debtscalgacushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253675072578015749noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31886581.post-80872083663393450062015-07-28T07:58:15.890+01:002015-07-28T07:58:15.890+01:00nice article, thanks for posting this herenice article, thanks for posting this <a href="http://www.writeversity.com/" rel="nofollow">here</a>Juliehttp://www.writeversity.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31886581.post-22908550603577146492015-02-02T11:27:53.262+00:002015-02-02T11:27:53.262+00:00Thanks for that calgacus, I agree that its the tax...Thanks for that calgacus, I agree that its the tax evasions of EU rich that is a problem, money that does not work causes problems over time.<br /><br />I would understand if Greece would ask for their 476 million Reichsmark loan back they received in 1942, most likely worth between 8.5-11 billion dollars today, but to create a separate ruling for Greece today would set the EU alight and open to money market sharks who'd love nothing better than chaos to inject their ideas of a TTIP.<br /><br />I agree that the EU needs a bottom up reform which must sort out our fisheries, offshore havens, many under British jurisdiction, but Tziprias three two finger responses do not encourage a right wing politicians such as Merkel to act. The ECB is not under German control, but I agree that what they wish for, is mostly accepted. As to why? I have no idea.<br /><br />I think Greek citizens will suffer under whoever runs their regime, unless they themselves tackle the massive tax evasion in their country, then no outside baksheesh will change the equation.ingonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31886581.post-80878786912017160812015-02-01T18:37:00.268+00:002015-02-01T18:37:00.268+00:00Should also say it was unfair to put the entire co...Should also say it was unfair to put the entire costs of WWI onto Germany as if it was solely responsible when this was far from the case, or to hold all Germans responsible for paying for what the Nazis did. <br /><br />Equally it's unfair to make all Greeks pay for debts run up by some corrupt politicians and businessmen.calgacushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18253675072578015749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31886581.post-21052146165373293892015-02-01T18:34:40.506+00:002015-02-01T18:34:40.506+00:00It's not on the back of one nation alone - eve...It's not on the back of one nation alone - every EU country pays into EU funds. And why, if the German government can approve the ECB issuing 1,100 billion euros for private banks, can't it issue 150 billion of those to Greece in debt forgiveness instead?<br /><br />I agree that the richest in Greece have mostly got off fine - some have likely even benefited by buying up Greek government assets that the EU forced Greece to privatise on the cheap.<br /><br />However the majority in Greece are suffering massively for the actions of a minority which they were not responsible for. Why should the majority of ordinary people be punished for the actions of the banks, while the banks get another massive payout from governments?<br /><br />And Germany has benefited from every country that joins the EU and every country that joined the Euro. With none of them able to protect their industries from German (or British or French) imports and with German and French etc exports made effectively cheaper by the end of currency exchange for exports/imports the wealthier countries benefited most during the times of economic boom, and so should pay most during the bust (though the banks should be the ones paying the most, instead of being allowed to avoid tax more and get more public money).<br /><br />On top of that why were the wealthiest in Greece able to move their money out of the country and avoid tax so easily? Partly because of all the tax havens allowed in other EU countries - Luxembourg, Switzerland, UK dependencies like the Channel Islands, etc. So if the EU wants Germany to crack down on tax avoidance, it could help out by closing down the tax havens in other EU countries that rich Greeks (and British and every other nationality) and the banks and big firms use to avoid tax.<br /><br />And if Greece wasn't ready for EU membership why did the French, German etc governments approve their membership rather than reject it?<br /><br />I compare it to the 1953 agreement because when Greece was in the position of strength (creditor) and Germany in the position of weakness( debtor) the Greeks approved debt write-off, despite the German occupation of Greece during WWII. I agree, there was also power politics involved. Is there no big money politics involved in the current situation in which there is apparently infinite money available from the ECB for private banks (1,100 billion euros) but not enough for 50% debt write-off for Greece (150 billion)?calgacushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18253675072578015749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31886581.post-89847281049515621092015-02-01T17:35:23.550+00:002015-02-01T17:35:23.550+00:00Germany was destroyed, no infrastructure, the plac...Germany was destroyed, no infrastructure, the place were I lived, Hamburg was in ruins, as were many other Cities bombed to smithereens. The Marshall plan was tinged with anti Soviet sentiments, i.e Germany was see as the 'bulwark towards the Commies who are gonna come and eat our children'....<br />Greece under papandreou and his top echelon of non tax paying establishment shipping magnates wetre all up for joining the lucrative EU market, so were a minority of large farmers, but the vast majority understood that Greece was not ready for it.<br />Greece is not destroyed, but bust. Its rich tax evading rich have enough money sloshing around, not that anyone should mention this, to pay off the debt and still live comfortably. <br /><br />So why should Greece, Italy,Spain and Portugal be allowed to have their debts cancelled halved or postponed until never? Why is this on the back of one nation alone? when the world bank and ECB are both in it? why would one compare this to a humanitarian postwar situation which was tainted by cold war considerations? just asking <br />ingonoreply@blogger.com