Greece Elections

Destination · 4 Jul 2015 at 01:24

That's Greek logic

Give us money so we can maintain our tax optional state please!

Stretch · 4 Jul 2015 at 03:45

Iraklis F.C. said:
hmmm

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/03/us-eurozone-greece-imf-idUSKCN0PD20120150703

Because most people recognise that what's in the report is true, and Greece will need further assistance. However, what the rest of Europe want to see first is a genuine commitment to meaningful reform, which puts the country on a long sustainable footing. Publishing the report now isn't helpful.

It's been 7 years, and whilst most other countries (including the UK) have taken their medicine, Greece still seems to be living a lie. The election of Syriza was the final straw for some.

Sankari · 4 Jul 2015 at 05:39

LOL, Greece.

darkgen · 4 Jul 2015 at 09:25

Just clocking your signature makes me wonder why we have not seen Farage or any other UKIP cronies capitalising on this ongoing Greek tragedy?

FoxEye · 4 Jul 2015 at 09:31

darkgen said:
Just clocking your signature makes me wonder why we have not seen Farage or any other UKIP cronies capitalising on this ongoing Greek tragedy?

There's no election going on right now, so all the politicians have reverted to their normal state. Which is to not really give a carp what the electorate thinks

thenewoc · 4 Jul 2015 at 09:46

Just hoping the Greeks vote yes in the referendum. Tsipras left wing ideology just speechlessly shocking this man is leading a nation into meltdown.

Thoughts are with the non rich everyday folk that there is some light in all of this soon.

Destination · 4 Jul 2015 at 09:49

Is the Greek vote today or tomorrow?

MichaelAwkward · 4 Jul 2015 at 09:57

thenewoc said:
Just hoping the Greeks vote yes in the referendum. Tsipras left wing ideology just speechlessly shocking this man is leading a nation into meltdown.

I heard him on the radio the other day and he raised a good point about the pointlessness of Greece having to beg for money from the ECB to repay debts to the IMF. He asked why they couldn't just sort it out between themselves... seems a reasonable question to me. It's also clear that the attempts at implementing austerity aren't working in Greece. Hasn't it's debt to GDP ratio increased over the time period? An alternative must be found. I also think it's quite hypocritical of people to lay the blame for it's debts entirely on the Greeks... European banks were only too happy to agree to their requests for credit in the good times.

One demand of the troika I don't agree with is the requests for privatisation of state-owned industries. That's just bare faced neoliberalism that's been shown to be a disaster in many places.

MeFox · 4 Jul 2015 at 10:00

Hikari Kisugi said:
Is the Greek vote today or tomorrow?

is due to take place on 5 July 2015

thenewoc · 4 Jul 2015 at 10:14

MichaelAwkward said:
I heard him on the radio the other day and he raised a good point about the pointlessness of Greece having to beg for money from the ECB to repay debts to the IMF. He asked why they couldn't just sort it out between themselves... seems a reasonable question to me. It's also clear that the attempts at implementing austerity aren't working in Greece. Hasn't it's debt to GDP ratio increased over the time period? An alternative must be found. I also think it's quite hypocritical of people to lay the blame for it's debts entirely on the Greeks... European banks were only too happy to agree to their requests for credit in the good times.

One demand of the troika I don't agree with is the requests for privatisation of state-owned industries. That's just bare faced neoliberalism that's been shown to be a disaster in many places.

Surely the terms of securing additional funds from the IMF is the basics for securing additional funds rather than a complete overhaul of another countries taxation system and anti corruption measures. That surely needs to be addressed locally to have a chance of closing the loopholes by those in the know.

Causing a shut down of imports and restaurants beginning to close prior to the peak tourist season and being down to your last few euro's as a country then calling a referendum is not strong leadership.

Just wonder how much more all this political posturing has cost as the last thing they need is not being able to manufacture and export.

Interesting article in the telegraph the other day...

Edit: pasted wrong link before, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...500m-in-cash-reserves-as-economy-crashes.html

Jono8 · 4 Jul 2015 at 10:57

Greek finance minister:

"I will resign on Sunday night and retreat to the backbenches. I am almost looking forward to it. I have never been on a back-bench before,"

Is this all just a game to him?

Jokester · 4 Jul 2015 at 11:00

Jono8 said:
Is this all just a game to him?

Given that he's a proponent of game theory, quite possibly!

Pudney said:
The first installment is due on 31 January, 3 months before the end of the tax year. The second installment is due in July, AFTER the tax year. The balancing payment is due on the following 31 January, 9 months AFTER the tax year. That is not "100% up front".

You know full well that those payments bear no relation to that actual tax year though, but are instead based on the previous year's tax liability. Indeed, if you ended up with no tax liability that year you would end up getting 100% of those two payments back, ergo paid upfront.

M1k3H · 4 Jul 2015 at 11:02

Diddums said:
By that logic if I murder someone it's their own fault for standing in the way.

Sorry mate, but that's a seriously flawed argument.

Flawed argument? So if I have the options of having my money in a UK bank, gaining lets say 2% interest, or in a Russian bank, gaining 15% interest and then I lose my money because the rouble has trembled down it's not my fault?

They invested money out of greed to gain on the high interest rates, they invested money because their governments were bribing officials to buy weapons from their weapons' industries and build infrastructure using their companies... the money was lent to Greece and then given back to France and Germany, a very well documented fact, with officials now in jail for accepting bribes from these companies.

Destination · 4 Jul 2015 at 11:07

Jono8 said:
Greek finance minister:

"I will resign on Sunday night and retreat to the backbenches. I am almost looking forward to it. I have never been on a back-bench before,"

Is this all just a game to him?

trolololololol

Trolling his own country and electorate.
Surely he should only resign and move to the backbenches if his party lose said vote?
They really don't care.
I wonder do many of the MPs earn more than 12K

robfosters · 4 Jul 2015 at 11:41

Just read that Greek tourist numbers have dropped due to the debt crisis.

Why would this put people off visiting?

MichaelAwkward · 4 Jul 2015 at 11:50

robfosters said:
Just read that Greek tourist numbers have dropped due to the debt crisis.

Why would this put people off visiting?

Potential unrest, inability to get cash, strikes, closed facilities and infrastructure, etc etc. All pretty obvious.

Pudney · 4 Jul 2015 at 11:54

Jokester said:
You know full well that those payments bear no relation to that actual tax year though, but are instead based on the previous year's tax liability. Indeed, if you ended up with no tax liability that year you would end up getting 100% of those two payments back, ergo paid upfront.

And I also know full well you can change your installments.

robfosters · 4 Jul 2015 at 12:22

MichaelAwkward said:
Potential unrest, inability to get cash, strikes, closed facilities and infrastructure, etc etc. All pretty obvious.

Maybe on the mainland, but not on the islands during the summer.

deusexlumina · 4 Jul 2015 at 12:29

robfosters said:
Maybe on the mainland, but not on the islands during the summer.

It's put me off going. No one really knows what will happen over there over the next few weeks. Prices may shoot up, there may be civil unrest, places may just close altogether for the time being!

Diddums · 4 Jul 2015 at 12:37

M1k3H said:
Flawed argument? So if I have the options of having my money in a UK bank, gaining lets say 2% interest, or in a Russian bank, gaining 15% interest and then I lose my money because the rouble has trembled down it's not my fault?

They invested money out of greed to gain on the high interest rates, they invested money because their governments were bribing officials to buy weapons from their weapons' industries and build infrastructure using their companies... the money was lent to Greece and then given back to France and Germany, a very well documented fact, with officials now in jail for accepting bribes from these companies.

If you spend money you don't have, regardless of where it came from, and this lands you in hardship, it's your fault. You can't blame others for this just because they lent Greece the money. They didn't spend it, Greece did.

They could've prevented this situation, sure, but they're not responsible for Greece.