Posted on 05/19/2012 5:59:37 AM PDT by Kaslin
Greek elections are set for June 17th following the impasse of the last election where no majority government formed.
The "Destroy Greece to Save the Euro" clowns led by German Chancellor Angela Merkel are out in force hoping to turn the vote into a direct referendum on the Euro. The election is of course a direct referendum on the Euro, but Greek citizens are under three Fantasyland ideas.
Three Fantasyland Ideas
Germany’s chancellor reportedly proposed on Friday that Greece hold a referendum on its membership in the euro currency area, increasing pressure on the nation just as Group of Eight leaders are set to discuss the region’s debt crisis this weekend.
In a phone call with the Greek president on Friday, German leader Angela Merkel suggested that Greece could have a referendum on the euro when it holds national elections in June, according to media reports, citing a Greek government spokesman.
Whether she actually did make the proposal is in doubt — her spokesman denied it, but the Greek official then reiterated that Merkel made such a request. Merkel Yields on Growth Measures
As a matter of political expediency (or do I mean political suicide) Merkel-Hollande Meeting Yields Greece Growth Signal
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande said they would consider measures to spur economic growth in Greece as long as voters there committed to the austerity demanded to stay in the euro.
Requests for measures to bolster growth will be “considered” and the European Union may also “approach Greece with proposals,” Merkel said late yesterday at a joint press conference with Hollande during his first official visit to Berlin. “Greece can stay in the euro area,” and “Greek citizens will be voting on exactly that.” Is Merkel's Strategy Working?
The idea that Germany is going to consider anything for Greece but still more austerity measures is yet another Fantasyland notion. Is proof of her strategy in the polls?
The latest polls show pro-bailout conservatives leading
Greece's conservative New Democracy party, which backs the country's international bailout, has retaken the lead from the anti-bailout radical leftist SYRIZA, a poll showed on Thursday, the first published since a new election was called for June 17.
If elections were held now, New Democracy would win 26.1 percent of the vote compared with SYRIZA's 23.7 percent, according to the MARC/Alpha survey conducted on May 15-17.
Based on this result, New Democracy would win 123 seats, the pollsters said. Combined with the 41 seats projected to be won by the Socialist PASOK, Greece's two major pro-bailout parties would command a 14-seat majority in the country's 300-strong parliament.
Support for SYRIZA appears to have declined after the party refused to join a national unity government with all the other major parties, the MARC poll showed. In the previous survey by the same agency before the coalition talks collapsed, SYRIZA led with 27.7 percent, up seven points on New Democracy.Money Will Flow Along With Propaganda
For those holding the common-sense position Greece needs to leave the eurozone to recover, this may be a bit disconcerting. However, There is likely to be movement in both directions on the polls and I think this is just a temporary snap-back.
Moreover, Greece is likely to run out of money before the next elections. Then again, if the polls show the Troika-clowns have a good shot at pulling this off, the money will flow right along with the propaganda.
To understand what the battle to "save Greece" is really about, please consider Euro area official sector exposures to Greece in excess of EUR 290bn Total; EUR 84bn Germany, EUR 63bn France, EUR 55bn Italy, EUR 37bn Spain
That link shows this has nothing to do with "saving" Greece, rather it is about saving German, French, and Italian banks (further destroying Greece in the process).
The irony is every bailout attempt so far has done nothing but increase European banking losses. This attempt should it succeed in another bailout will do the same: increase losses. Three years ago total losses might have been on the neighborhood of 40 billion euros.
Look at the losses now. The increased losses were caused by arrogant Troika-clown euroxcrats with asinine positions willing to repeatedly throw good money after bad.
Bottom line: Greeks are broke - slim pickings even for vultures... Flash: trying to borrow to prosperity is a fool’s game.
The Greek politicians have the same mindset of politicians everywhere. They know EXACTLY what to do. But they know that they will have to cut deeply into government and thus, aggravate large swaths of people. So, the politicians want to kick the can down the road and blame somebody else.
When the Repubs finally get a chance to cut government here, the left and the MSM will crucify them, and they will likely cave.
The prescription is clear. When the Greek politicians decided to put austerity measures up for a vote by the people, I almost puked. They’d rather everything collapse than do the right thing, however unpopular that might be.
GimmegimmegimmegimmegimmeOpa!Opa!Opa!let’sspraygasolineonthefirebecausethatwillhelpOpa!Opa!OPa!Gimmegimmegimmegimmegimme
The USofA has the same disease. It's just not at the same stage of "development".
Every media report on Greece fails to explain why Greece has such troubles.
Most Greeks don’t pay their property taxes. There is a huge evasion of import tariffs and many other taxes.
That’s why the government is broke. Far too many Greeks believe they should get government handouts for free.
The other big problem is the overall diminished productivity and the subsequent lack of Greek competitiveness with other European businesses. Greek workers are given too much time off and work less hours than most other Europeans.
Recently a bill in the Greek legislature to take away driving privileges for tax cheats was soundly defeated.
The Greek government has an endemic and historical weakness of leadership. Now the rest of Europe has figured that out and won’t subsidize it anymore.
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