On 19 May 2012 at 7:54am Sceptic wrote:
Come on Prince Phillip, go back to your home country take control and sort it out. I am sure you would be the ideal man for the job. If they go down it would have a knock on effect for the uk. I am sure your misses has suggested it.
On 19 May 2012 at 8:36am bastian wrote:
Something to do with a zip dress I heard, plonker
Greece has ben hedge funded into the ground, someone has made a mint out of their misery.
On 19 May 2012 at 8:41am Clifford wrote:
I thought this reflection on the 'lazy' Greeks was interesting: 'OECD data show that in 2008, Greeks worked on average 2120 hours a year. That is 690 hours more than the average German and 467 more than the average Brit. Only Koreans work longer hours. The paid leave entitlement in Greece is on average 23 days, lower than the UKâ??s minimum 28 and Germanyâ??s whopping 30.'
On 19 May 2012 at 8:46am Cliffe Hanger wrote:
Nothing to do with hedge funds. When they joined the euro, they could suddenly borrow long term at 5% instead of 10%. The Greeks let out a collective 'whoopee' and borrowed vast amounts of money from German banks who were only too willing to lend. Rather than invest it wisely, they spent it on consumption, both public and private. Since they did not bother to increase their productive potential, they are now unable to pay it back. It is as much a fault of the German banks as it is of the Greeks.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be ...
On 19 May 2012 at 3:20pm Annette Curtin-Twitcher wrote:
What went wrong for Ireland, Italy, Spain and Portugal then?
On 19 May 2012 at 5:31pm Clifford wrote:
Very naughty question Annette - you know we've got to blame the Greek people for everything. Until it's the turn of the Spaniards, then the Italians...
On 19 May 2012 at 8:33pm Deelite wrote:
The whole lot can't come tumbling down soon enough. A good dose of reality check is required for western snivilization.
On 19 May 2012 at 9:40pm septic wrote:
The eurocrats can't let them leave the Euro zone or when they begin to recover in 6-9 months time there will be a stampede to leave. And average working hours don't mean much if you don't actually produce much in that time. The US is more productive than ever ,it just needs fewer and fewer workers to achieve it,hence more unemployment.
The Euro zone may become geographically similar to the territory under German control in early 1941. That's an achievement!
On 21 May 2012 at 9:25am RX wrote:
First thing need to tackle in Greece is the Greek peoples attitude towards paying tax. Many Greek people believe that it is their right to not pay tax. Let them leave the euro and recover and let others follow.
On 21 May 2012 at 9:43am Corfu Colin wrote:
Indeed, income tax was optional in Greece. Though if the Government are reluctant to collect it, then you can't really blame the population for not paying it.
This whole sorry mess is a lesson for what happens when Mickey Mouse economies are linked with the likes of Germany.
On 22 May 2012 at 1:43pm Taff wrote:
If all these details are now being made public you have to ask where, if at all was the EU scrutiny in permitting Greece to join in the first place.