Time for panic at the White House?

[geni]

So you don't know but you do know?

I'm aware of what is going on within parts of the company but I don't have an overal picture.

 

[geni]

Tax evasion isn't the same as "tax shelters for the rich". Duh.

The results are functionaly identical.

And their over spending, massive corruption in public and private, ever increasing union benefits, hiding the extent of their borrowing, etc. is what got them the way they are, not tax shelters for the rich and lack of manufactured good for export.

Other than massive non payment of taxes I'm not sure that greece actualy has much in the way of corruption. As for the rest if the problem were mearly the result of overpaying public sector workers then it would be fairly trivial to address.

It's the balance of payment problems that prevent a greece from defaulting and the inability to collect tax on a reasonable scale that means that greece is unable to come close to raising enough money internaly.

 

[BenBurch]

Didn't gas prices go above $4.00 under Bush?

...

Yes;

 

[Neally]

The results are functionaly identical.

The results are functionally the same when someone dies of old age or is assassinated in their prime, but are very different situations, aren't they?

Other than massive non payment of taxes I'm not sure that greece actualy has much in the way of corruption.

Then you actually don't know what you are talking about. The corruption has been well documented.

As for the rest if the problem were mearly the result of overpaying public sector workers then it would be fairly trivial to address.

Again your ignorance of the situation there is beyond obvious. The unions had such control, and workers had ever increasing expectations of higher wages, more benefits, earlier retirement, and shorter hours that anyone that dared challenge the status quo was voted out and massive strikes would be called.

It's the balance of payment problems that prevent a greece from defaulting and the inability to collect tax on a reasonable scale that means that greece is unable to come close to raising enough money internaly.

Yes tax fraud was widespread at all levels.

 

[mhaze]

The results are functionaly identical.



Other than massive non payment of taxes I'm not sure that greece actualy has much in the way of corruption. As for the rest if the problem were mearly the result of overpaying public sector workers then it would be fairly trivial to address.

It's the balance of payment problems that prevent a greece from defaulting and the inability to collect tax on a reasonable scale that means that greece is unable to come close to raising enough money internaly.

It appears that you don't understand their methods of collecting taxes and enforcing that process, or the rampant corruption.

 

[geni]

Again your ignorance of the situation there is beyond obvious. The unions had such control, and workers had ever increasing expectations of higher wages, more benefits, earlier retirement, and shorter hours that anyone that dared challenge the status quo was voted out and massive strikes would be called.

Your position has two problems. Firstly it is inconsistent with past IMF and world bank backed reajustments and secondly it would require that the existance of Margaret Thatcher be an impossibility.

 

[Neally]

Your position has two problems. Firstly it is inconsistent with past IMF and world bank backed reajustments and secondly it would require that the existance of Margaret Thatcher be an impossibility.

You continue to demonstrate that you are clueless when it comes to the situation in Greece. Leftysergent was demonstratively wrong. You are wrong. Best to step aside and let the adults discuss the issues.

 

[GlennB]

Other than massive non payment of taxes I'm not sure that greece actualy has much in the way of corruption.

It's hard to analyse this statement, as non-payment of taxes is the really big issue. Suffice to say that circumventing the tax laws (with bribes or return favours, at even quite everyday levels) is routine. The black economy here is huge, and small businesses appear to be turning black as a way to escape the austerity measures. Go figure.

In areas of life that are not strictly tax-related, though, corruption and "inside influence" are very significant. If you want a telephone line or electricity connected in a reasonable time, that is, to name but a couple.

It's the balance of payment problems that prevent a greece from defaulting and the inability to collect tax on a reasonable scale that means that greece is unable to come close to raising enough money internaly.

Long term, I'd say Greece would be better off defaulting and going through a couple of years adjusting to a devalued "New Drachma". It's vested political interests and general Eurozone paranoia of a so-called 'domino effect' that prevents this, afaics. The Greek economy is so small that it's probably a worthwhile bet for Merkel + co.