European Salon de News, Discussion et Klatsch - 12 May | 61 comments (61 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Germany drafts recipe for EU growth, warns Greece | News | DW.DE | 11.05.2012

Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has called for a new approach to spending that boosts growth without increasing debt. He also warned that Greece can expect help from the EU, but only if it sticks to its commitments.
In a speech to Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, Westerwelle on Friday unveiled a six-point plan to boost European economic growth. It includes stricter controls on spending and putting around 80 billion euros in EU funds into increasing the bloc's competitiveness. But the liberal FDP party politician said he rejected the idea of government stimulus to boost growth.
...Germany's opposition expressed skepticism, with the Social Democrats criticizing the lack of measures to tackle high youth unemployment and the Left party calling for tax increases for the wealthy.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Fri May 11th, 2012 at 01:53:23 PM EST
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Re: Europe (none / 1)

...Greece can expect help from the EU ?????

Now that's what I call a threat

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sat May 12th, 2012 at 02:49:17 AM EST
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Re: Europe (none / 0)

How did it happen that the EU came to embody Ronald Reagan's "The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.'"?

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat May 12th, 2012 at 03:51:49 AM EST
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Re: Europe (none / 1)

When "help" is defined as destroying a country's economy and impoverishing its citizens, I have to admit Reagan was probably right

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sat May 12th, 2012 at 03:56:32 AM EST
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Re: Europe (none / 0)

I'm still boggling from this...

Mr. Papandreou says that when he asked German Chancellor Angela Merkel for gentler conditions in 2010, she replied that the aid program had to hurt. "We want to make sure nobody else will want this," Ms. Merkel told him.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat May 12th, 2012 at 04:04:12 AM EST
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Re: Europe (4.00 / 2)

Of course it has to hurt. When the Mob realizes that you won't make your payday loan, it hurts you. Pour encourages les autres.

Where's the RAF when you need it?

- Jake

If you only spend 20 minutes of the rest of your life on economics, go spend them here.

by JakeS (JangoSierra 'at' gmail 'dot' com) on Sat May 12th, 2012 at 04:36:48 AM EST
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Re: Europe (none / 1)

Nice little country you've got there. Be a shame if something happened to it...

Now where are we going and what's with the handbasket?

by budr on Sat May 12th, 2012 at 10:37:22 AM EST
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That is, when the government is Reaganesque. nt (4.00 / 2)

I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.