Friday Open Thread

by afew Fri May 25th, 2012 at 11:29:48 AM EST

So what's the story?

Friday Open Thread | 23 comments (23 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Plain, no frills.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 11:30:37 AM EST

Latest Greek election poll from Kathimerini shows Syriza in the lead.

Can anyone calculate seat totals from this?

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 12:21:04 PM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

So I calculated seat preliminary seat totals.

Assuming that only the following parties make the 3% threshold, and there are no major differences between the national distribution and that in the 64 districts. A first take would look something like this out of 300 seats:

Syriza    130
ND    68
PASOK    41
ANEL    21
DIMAR    17
KKE    13
XA    11

This still seems difficult for SYRIZA to form a coalition from. First, ND and PASOK will no continence SYRIZA in government. Second, KKE is problem because they refuse to collaborate with SYRIZA or the trade union movement, as I understand it. Third, Syriza plus the Democratic Left (DIMAR) only adds up to 146-147 out of the 151 needed. Finally, XA is the local Nazi party, and ANEL is a right wing anti-Europe party, hardly natural partners for a SYRIZA government. Unless there is further movement, it looks like things are on for round three of elections.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 12:49:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

I don't think it's a fair characterization of AnEl to call them "Anti-Europe". They seem to be anti-austerity only.

The interesting question is whether Syriza can broker a Left-centre-right anti-austerity coalition with DimAr and AnEl. That would completely take the edge off accusations of their program being "unrealistic leftist".

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 Fri May 25th, 2012 at 01:13:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

I think that you've got a point. At this point though I think that in Greek politics Europe is beginning to become a byword for austerity. Hence, the label for ANEL.

As for a three party anti-austerity coalition, at the moment it's looking like the only option to avoid another election. Of course, there's always the possibility that Golden Dawn or even KKE could fall below the threshold, and that would change seat distribution.

I think that the end game involves an exit from the euro, nullifying the issue for PASOK, opening the door to much easier coalitions. And, I think that absent some plan to handle the imbalances between core and periphery, this is going to be repeated in Portugal and Spain. Which I why I think that there has to be a mechanism to devalue within the euro lest this prompt an exodus from the euro, and imperil the very idea of a European project.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 01:24:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

Haven't AnEl and ND announced an intention to form an electoral pact for the purpose of obtaining the 50 bonus seats?

- 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 Fri May 25th, 2012 at 01:33:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

No. No chance of that happening.

ND reunited with a splinter pro-austerity group that didn't pass the threshold last time.

by Euroliberal on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 02:10:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

I just watched Carry On Cabby (1963), which has been posted on YouTube in full. In comparison to The Italian Job(1969):

Nobody blows any doors off.
The chase scene finale is not as complicated, but more realistic--although still not very.
Skirt lengths and women's undergarments are pre-liberation style.
The actors seem to be left over from radio and vaudeville. They're old (leads were 50 and 41) and lack Hollywood-style appearance.
The whole film has a "classic" or "antique" feel to it. The cars are old, the acting is stilted, it's B&W...

In comparing the two, one notices the huge advances and changes in a lot of areas that took place in just a few years in the mid-1960s...

by asdf on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 12:25:52 PM EST

Wow - speechless! (4.00 / 5)

Well, my story is - I got a letter from my insurance company, with which I have most insurances for business, car, etc. Hart to believe, they inform me that, because they are in such a good and stable position they are going to pay back 15% for some of the premiums payed. Each year it will be different kinds of insurances that profit. They think it is important that the customers profit from their success too. :-D

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 12:34:35 PM EST

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 1)

You clearly must live in some sort of socialist paradise, otherwise your country's approach to insurance might have something to teach the Anglo countries.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 12:48:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 1)

No, up to now I never considered Switzerland a socialist paradise, though there is a social orientation, but more could still be done - but maybe the old idea of customer satisfaction is still alive.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 01:39:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 0)

I'd take it that your insurance company is a mutual, which is increasingly rare in the United States at least. Up until the 1980s, American health insurers where in large part mutuals, but there was a spate of de-mutualization which means that you know now have firms who see their role as making money of policies instead of serving members.

And I'll give my consent to any government that does not deny a man a living wage-Billy Bragg

by ManfromMiddletown (manfrommiddletown at lycos dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 01:55:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 0)

Yes, you are right, it is mutual. I wasn't aware of this, despite having been a customer for a long time. This is the first time this happens.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 02:11:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (4.00 / 4)

If I got a letter like that from a UK insurance company, I'd wonder what the scam was

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 01:44:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 0)

The other amazing thing is, I do not need to do anything.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 02:13:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 0)

How it's supposed to work.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Fri May 25th, 2012 at 07:13:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 0)

Simple, the are going to transfer the money back on my bank account.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sat May 26th, 2012 at 02:37:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 0)

Sentence fragment.

What I meant was "That is how it is supposed to work."

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sat May 26th, 2012 at 03:54:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Wow - speechless! (none / 1)

Yeah, nobody does that here, although in all fairness Allstate does do all of us -- even those of us who don't use them -- the public service of continuing to put out those awesome Mayhem Guy commercials.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.