Subject: »NEWS AROUND THE WORLD

I agree with that too. There are horrible examples of railways and water distribution privatisations. Such choices are definately far from straightforward.

Yes, effective taxation is the crucial problem in Greece really. But I don't see why selling public assets to repay public debt would be incompatible with solving tax collection at the same time. Anyway, it is true that it depends on the assets available for sale and they plan to sell some 50 billions euros worth of real-estate which is very questionable whether they will be able to accomplish in the short-run.

That's the most stupid thing to do really. Spend like crazy, get large debt and then sell assets like crazy. If countries would plan their economy and financial statements the same way companies do, I am sure that they would act more rational. Greece would have probably gotten less debt and sold their assets sooner and more gradually.

I do not agree with Schepel on the example of the dutch "lessons learned".
The Dutch "market" is by no means free; and the privatisation of the energy market for example has made providing energy much more efficient and energy much more available and cheaper...however, the government cose, like normal in leftwing countries, to tax the hell out of their people...thus there is no playroom for competition, and the government is ruling the market like Mao's China.
So it is not a fairytale that free market is more fficient than a state-run market...it is a fact.
However people may choose ,for other reasons,maybe evne good ones, to do otherwise and go for collective government-owned industries...

100% free market stinks..
But I'll not only talk slogans. Do you know the history of the Californian electricity net?
Fase 1: in state-hands and everything went quite well
fase 2: in private hands and everything went even better, in the beginning. They used the net till the last bit of it, it depreciated quickly and due to no investments and low maintenance the net knew black-outs.
I mean: black outs in the US that is something you expect in South Africa or so..

So it is not a fairytale that free market is more fficient than a state-run market...

He didn't write that. He wrote that it's a fairytale that the market can do all things more effective than the government. You're even twisting other people's statements to try proving your extreme points. Discussion with you is non-existent.

and now for something completely different ;))


emperor-penguins-detour-new-zealand

and related: ost-emperor-penguin-recovering-operation ;)))

The first picture is just about brilliant.

Yes Sasha; all thing can be done more efficiently by the market...tha tis what is a fact!
and it is not that the likes of you can say " but I don't believe that"...

@the other who gives californian energy as an example; That will also be sorted out by the market,it still is a nice state isn't it, it still consumes more energy than anywhere else...so what is your point?

Was it state owned? tell me when en where?

:D How many here think that

"
>Greece in dire need of money
>"I know, let's stop working and burn things instead!"

Stay subhuman, Greece
"
just a yes /no post :D

I think that way, stupid strikers, they are making things worse.

I think everybody here would strike when faced with the same. Only utter fools or hypocrites would deny such. I also believe it to be a good thing. The demands from the IMF and the EU are unreasonable and mainly given in by populist foolishness. The Greek population has to draw a big, fat red line which may not be passed.

By striking and not paying your taxes you are not helping the Greek economy, in contrary.

That's way too simplistic. I hope you understand why. By much the same argument one could say a slave should not complain and work, after all, it's better for 'the economy' if he does. (The Greeks aren't slaves by any means, of course.) Fact of the matter is that 'the economy' is about inequality. There is absolutely no logical reason why those who are least affected by it in a positive sense, should be concerned about its wellbeing.

So, tell me then, how does striking help the situation?

It doesn't necessarily, although it might. My main argument is that there is not a single, undivided interest in an 'economy'. For some people, striking is perfectly sensible. If we'd be in their position, we'd strike as well.
(edited)

I wouldn't. Fact is that a lot of things are going wrong in Greece and changes have to be made, but striking makes it only worse. It basicly disrupts the country and the trust the outside world has in the recovery of Greece.

As a lendor, i would be more reluctant to 'support' Greece, because of its instability.

What is correct about Schepels opinion is that we would strike too. Look at the group who is targeted once again.
The group which has already lost more as 20% of their income is once more targeted.. The biggest shoulder should carry the most weight well so it isn't in Greece.

Didn't realize that until yesterday..