This so-called crisis is being run by and for banks. They were burned by the credit crunch, by their own reckless lending to a housing bubble and to spendthrift governments. Declaring themselves too big to fail, they demanded policies whose sole virtue was to see their loans secured, at whatever cost to the European economy. They do not want a collapse of even a part of the euro, as that would jeopardise their balance sheets.

Like established power down the ages, political leaders are imprisoned in fighting old wars with dodgy allies. European policy is still spooked by the ghost of 1970s inflation, a ghost the euro under German leadership was supposed to exorcise. As it is, politicians dare not stimulate demand, boost consumption or expand employment. They dare not inject real liquidity into the real economy. They take advice from banks, but that advice is to bail out banks, directly or indirectly. They behave as if they alone hold the golden key to Europe's recovery, but they don't.

European leaders are in thrall to the profession of high finance. They are ruling a continent now in a recession whose depth and longevity does not seem to concern them. They are devastating an entire generation of Europeans and for no good reason. People may love circuses, but soon or later they will demand bread.

This is the second article by Jenkins on this theme in the last month and, by george I think he's getting it. Which is surprising cos even 6 months ago he was pouring out the ritual neolib kool aid

keep to the Fen Causeway

Campaigner asks two tourists to sign a petition against illegal drugs. Reply: "But we like illegal drugs"....

A diary on dKos is asking seriously, "Does Romney have early stage Alzheimers?", using examples of his behaviour, to question if there's more than just campaign amnesia going on.

keep to the Fen Causeway

The Eiffel Tower will start making its own electricity and hot water by the end of 2013 in an attempt to reduce the "Iron Lady's" carbon footprint.

A €25 million (£19.7m) renovation of the Paris landmark is expected to improve the tower's energy performance by 30 per cent.

Solar panels and small, vertical wind and hydraulically-powered turbines will be installed on the tower's first platform 187 feet above the ground.

The new power generators will not be visible from the ground, or change the tower's famous silhouette.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

Dylan's mention of Shakespeare raises a question. The playwright's final work was called The Tempest, and some have already asked: Is Dylan's Tempest intended as a last work by the now 71-year-old artist? Dylan is dismissive of the suggestion. "Shakespeare's last play was called The Tempest. It wasn't called just plain Tempest. The name of my record is just plain Tempest. It's two different titles."

From Rolling Stone

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

yuck

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

So, next stop, Cologne

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