Where did all the money go?

[Pierre Leclercq]

Oakman wrote:

Okay. We'll stop trying to bankrupt your major software companies if you'll stop trying to bankrupt ours.

hum, hum, it should not be necessary nowadays... :sigh:

You can't turn lead into gold, unless you've built yourself a nuclear plant.

[Rob Graham]

Ka?l wrote:

a growing number have no access to health care.

Really? So there are EU countries that would turn someone away at the Emergency Room Door? What happened to Universal Health Care in the EU?

[Lost User]

Dalek Dave wrote:

We speak German?,

Yes we do actually. English is a Germanic language.

Dalek Dave wrote:

drink like the Spanish

Michelob is a nice beer.

Dalek Dave wrote:

eat like the French?

Ever seen an Ebglish menu? 'en croute' 'au poivre' etc etc etc

Dalek Dave wrote:

bank like the Dutch?

You mean walking into a big building with lots of desks and giving them money to keep for you?

Dalek Dave wrote:

The only thing we have in common with the rest of Europe is that we fought them.

And the US.

Dalek Dave wrote:

You should read Winston Churchill's book

He was a pugalist.

Morality is indistinguishable from social proscription

[Lost User]

Rob Caldecott wrote:

I'm pretty sure the current rate of repossessions is nowhere near early 90s levels simply because back then interest rates were MUCH higher. As for businesses going to the wall, I'm not sure it's as bad yet either and nowhere near the early 80s recession

We will see.

Rob Caldecott wrote:

when the Friday night News at 10 had a list of all the businesses that had gone tits up that week

Yes, it was grim. Perhaps its just age. I recall the miners strikes, the garbage strikes, the ambulance strikes. I guess then to a 40 year old it looked like the UK was falling apart. I hope the situation isnt as bad as I suspect it could be. Of course I do. I have interests in the UK too. But right now, I wouldnt buy, and I wouldnt keep cash in sterling. (I did buy a pile of cheap UK stocks though last october that over 5 to 10 years should start to do OK)

Morality is indistinguishable from social proscription

[Lost User]

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

assessing their true value is troublesome at best.

Yes. It seems to be determined by how much a bank is prepared to lend. Hence the potential for a bug drop.

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

bare the pain of being sued for the difference by their finance provider

Personaly, I would declare myself bankrupt. Just walk away from it.

Morality is indistinguishable from social proscription

[KaRl]

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

EU without UK participation is unthinkable

I don't think so. On the contrary, I even believe it would boost the union by removing one of the less cooperative country, one who always blocked a greater integration, one who always have been an obstacle to every non-economic aspect of the union Because UK didn't want to integrate to the rest of Europe but wanted to keep the illusion to be in charge of Europe's equilibrium, it had to find a way not to be excluded of that movement which led ex enemies to find a way to build something new . That's why historically, UK entered the EU to block its political evolution and to make it a common market only. Getting rid of this adhesion would give opportunities to the other members to go forward.

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread Fold with us! ¤ flickr

[Lost User]

Britain under Ted Heath's premiership joined the "European Economic Community" not what the EEC transformed into. And this transformation is IMO illegitimate insofar that it has never received the British public's acceptance by national referendum. If Europe wishes to go in a particular "political" direction, then so be it but only after each and every member country has gained acceptance of such by its peoples by democratic vote. And where a country chooses to vote "NO" they are free NOT to join in. But, the remaining countries who voted "Yes" can go off on their collective selves in that relevant direction. I would have no problems accepting a two-speed EU no more than I accept the £ sterling and the Euro as currencies.

[Lost User]

fat_boy wrote:

Personaly, I would declare myself bankrupt. Just walk away from it.

Not a step to be taken lightly. It has far reaching implications.

[KaRl]

Dalek Dave wrote:

We may have our obligations to Europe, especially our obligations to save France from German domination.

:laugh: Remind me the strengh of the BEF in 1940 please?

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread Fold with us! ¤ flickr

[Dalek Dave]

Weaker than the Germans, but even so we lasted longer than the French, and we returned. FOR SALE: French Rifle, never used, only dropped once. Also for sale Box of White Flags, Military Grade, Soiled. Contact : The Vichey Government, Surrender Avenue, France.

------------------------------------ "Your manuscript is both good and original. But the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good." Dr Samuel Johnson

[KaRl]

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

If Europe wishes to go in a particular "political" direction

This political direction what at the basis of the EEC - The EEC was created to reach a political integration through an economical integration. And that since the creation of the ECSC/CECA in 1951! The goal of this Union was never to be economically only - economy was just a mean, not a goal.

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

it has never received the British public's acceptance by national referendum

Maybe 'you' are way too soft with your governments. The people can force a government to take certain decisions if it really wants too.

Richard A. Abbott wrote:

And where a country chooses to vote "NO" they are free NOT to join in

UK said 'no' to the european monetary union (Euro), no to a common place of circulation (Schengen), and it also refused the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. UK is the blacksheep of european cooperation[^]. In fact, most of the time UK just says 'no'. What positive steps originated from UK?

The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread Fold with us! ¤ flickr

[Lost User]

Ka?l wrote:

UK said 'no' to the european monetary union (Euro), no to a common place of circulation (Schengen), and it also refused the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. UK is the blacksheep of european cooperation[^]. In fact, most of the time UK just says 'no'. What positive steps originated from UK?

The British Government did but the British people have not been consulted. And consultation of the people is what I would deem as appropriate before any changes to Britain's status with the EU is done. However, if France so wishes to be dragged by the nose in whatever direction the EU so chooses, then, that's fine. But, Britain or any other country MUST be allowed to say NO and mean NO, and sometimes saying no is the correct answer. One size does not fit all like the Maarstricht Treaty would like you to believe.

[Lost User]

Many people become more conservative with age. My parents were lifelong Labour voters until 1979, when they thought the country had gone to the dogs and changed their vote. The country recovered, albeit painfully, and I don't see any difference now really (in fact there are many parallels with the 1970s), apart from the financial system, but as I said in an earlier post, governments won't let it fall and it might mean more responsible lending. So, it's going to hurt but I don't think were looking at the apocalypse just yet. :) Once property prices bottom out there are going to be some bargains to be had and the market will begin its inevitable upturn - perhaps at a slower pace this time though!

[Lost User]

Yeah, as the saying goes; 'If you arent a socialist by the time you are 19 you have no heart, and if you arent a conservative by the time you are 40 you have no head'.

Rob Caldecott wrote:

don't think were looking at the apocalypse just yet.

If enough people are as confident as you then you will be right. Ecconomic predictions are always selffulfilling.

Rob Caldecott wrote:

Once property prices bottom out there are going to be some bargains to be had and the market will begin its inevitable upturn - perhaps at a slower pace this time though!

I think, the utter stupidity of allowing lending on houses to go so far is that when you hve people paying 50% of their net on their mortgage they have les to spend elsewhere. If this had been resyricted by law to 30$, like it is in France, then it liberates cash to spend elsewhere. High debt levels on mortages actually depress the economy! And since the ONLY time you can realise the capitol in you house is by selling and buying somewhere cheaper, like abroad, which is a one way ticket, the value you build up through such hught monthly repayments us untouchable. It was utter madness.

Morality is indistinguishable from social proscription