World is Falling Apart Thread (Locked forever)

[Ack]

http://news.sky.com/story/1515242/teen- ... on-network

So those guys who took down the PlayStation Network around Christmas? Only one gets a conviction, a two-year suspended sentence, and he is ordered to fight cybercrime for his rehabilitation, despite being convicted on 50,700 offenses.

[Pulsar_t]

I'm fairly certain there are thousands upon thousands of ultra-rich fucks in Greece who would rather see the country be sold in pieces than pony up their selfish privileges.

[Pulsar_t]

Time and again, the little people end up paying the price.

[Erik_Twice]

I'm fairly certain there are thousands upon thousands of ultra-rich fucks in Greece who would rather see the country be sold in pieces than pony up their selfish privileges.

It's not really about "ultra-rich fucks", but simply overpaid employees in the public sector.

[Pulsar_t]

I'm not saying the whole fiasco is squarely blamed upon them, but can you imagine the bigger EU nations with the same amount of tax-dodging wealth holders?

[ZeroAX]

I'm not saying the whole fiasco is squarely blamed upon them, but can you imagine the bigger EU nations with the same amount of tax-dodging wealth holders?

Actually Greece just uses the global standard to tax ship owners as all other countries, based on number of containers shipped I think. In fact I read somewhere that we actually invented it. I don't see it as a good idea to tax people who can VERY EASILLY move their business to another country, and have the country lose even more tax revenue.

Also I've had it up to here. I spent 2 weeks fighting my government, but now it's the turn for the Germans/Fins/etc. Seriously, fuck their governments. These proposals are fiscal waterboarding. If the debt load is not reduced Greece will turn into a failed state with neo-nazis in parliament. It will greatly hurt their economies too, but these people are clearly lacking the pragmatism of Aglosaxon or even French economics.

You can't use morality in economics, and even if you could, my country's sin is that they voted in for so many decades bad politcians. Ok, we paid such a high price for that sin. For how much longer? And if we deserve all this suffering just for BORROWING to much, what should have happened to the nations that killed 50 million people, that colonized the world and became rich through stealing poorer countries and slavery? Is it unrelated? From a pragmatic point yes, but if they start talking morality, then who are they to talk? Seriously, at this point fuck it all.

I still want to believe in the European project but I just can't believe in these politicians, Greek or foreign. Unfortunately they are ALL a bunch of Neville Chamberlains, too weak, too useless and too "career politicians" to be able to take a single brave decision to save Europe and achieve prosperity for all their nations and people. I just wish that they live long enough to see their names writtern in history books in a shameful manner. The people who brought back misery and nationalism to Europe.

[Erik_Twice]

So there's finally a deal. I'm not happy with it, it's undeniably harsh and there's very little political will for better conditions down the line. I feel the tragedy is that ugly radicalization, the "damn Nazis" and "lazy Greeks" rethoric that has been pushed by both sides and that represents the worst of the current political climate could have been avoided with even just a very small dose of wit.

I still want to believe in the European project but I just can't believe in these politicians, Greek or foreign. Unfortunately they are ALL a bunch of Neville Chamberlains, too weak, too useless and too "career politicians" to be able to take a single brave decision to save Europe and achieve prosperity for all their nations and people

I do agree that the European political clash right now is terrible, we are stuck with the likes of Rajoy and Hollande on one side and Cameron and the new Finish guys on the other. We really need a generation of great leaders, with a vision for their country and Europe that goes beyond the next four years. Or, at least, that aren't stuck in pre-internet understanding of the world.

[Ack]

I still want to believe in the European project but I just can't believe in these politicians, Greek or foreign. Unfortunately they are ALL a bunch of Neville Chamberlains, too weak, too useless and too "career politicians" to be able to take a single brave decision to save Europe and achieve prosperity for all their nations and people

I do agree that the European political clash right now is terrible, we are stuck with the likes of Rajoy and Hollande on one side and Cameron and the new Finish guys on the other. We really need a generation of great leaders, with a vision for their country and Europe that goes beyond the next four years. Or, at least, that aren't stuck in pre-internet understanding of the world.

As an American, believe me, I feel your pain.

[ZeroAX]

Humiliated, insulted, and finally punished in a way I can only call sadistic. More broken high tax austerity, a debt to GDP ratio that will go above 200%, and they most miraculous of all managed to unite an entire nation that was split into one. Fuck the €, we should quit and default. Enough is enough, we have voted bad corrupt politicians but this is neither a solution, nor morally acceptable.

And next year I am immigratting to the UK, or maybe even Canada or Australia. European politicians and probably most northerern citizes are shortsighted and stupid. I can see now that the days of the Eurozone are numbered numbered to a few more years. I know what my country's responsibility has been in this, but it still doesn't deserve outright punishment. Fuck this entire situation and the economic depression it will bring to the entirity of Europe.

[Ack]

I'm reading through this, or at least what the US and UK media is reporting on the bailout. I'm not entirely sure I follow what is considered good/bad about this.

Greece stays in the European Union and continues to use the Euro, I get that. But what is happening to the pension fund? I know austerity is continuing, but I've alternately read that pensions will continue to be cut versus the pension fund being "streamlined." Higher taxes, sure, but has anyone given specifics on how those taxes will be distributed? Also, government assets must be sold off and certain services must be privatized, but to what extent? And what does "extend shop opening hours" mean?

This is what the BBC is reporting:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-33504487