1. Guess I'm not the only person who respects Germany.
  2. Well we all know Germany is the backbone of the European economy..
  3. Like the one guy in a white trash family with a decent job.
  4. Nice methaphor, though not completely true. Most countries in Northern Europe are quite safe economically. Coutnries like Finland, Luxembourg and Germany. The biggest problems are in Southern Europe, but because of the monetary union the bad countries pull the good ones down. Which why the strict regulations are necessary.
  5. Originally posted by Erikvloedgraven:Nice methaphor, though not completely true. Most countries in Northern Europe are quite safe economically. Coutnries like Finland, Luxembourg and Germany. The biggest problems are in Southern Europe, but because of the monetary union the bad countries pull the good ones down. Which why the strict regulations are necessary.

    Yeah. As the Swedish PM said in parliament yesterday... There are two economies in Europe. A good one in the north, and a bad mismanaged one in the south.


  6. This does sound a bit like a military coup. I doubt it'll succeed though. I don't think those who were able to bring down Mubarak will let this happen.
  7. South Europe needs to demolish their nations and start again, that's the only way anything there will be fixed soon. And they're dragging the rest of the developed world down with them
  8. Word.
  9. Originally posted by dylbagz:South Europe needs to demolish their nations and start again, that's the only way anything there will be fixed soon. And they're dragging the rest of the developed world down with them

    You make it sound nice, but your idea is impossible. They can't start from scratch, because of the bond with other countries. The only things these countries can do is restructure the economy and make their people pay for their mess. Taxes should be raised and the age of retirement should be higher (45 as an age of retirement is rediculous when your life expectancy is at least 70!).
    These countries can't be cut from the Euro because that would be even more expensive..
  10. All good Europeans became Americans long ago. (smokes cigar well firing tommy gun in air)
  11. Because America doesn't have a budget deficit? Because you can get decent health care? Because it's the land of hopes and dreams?
    America is just a facade behind which lies a broken country..
  12. The US is very segregated. Loads of things are still great there.

    1. Switzerland 5.74
    2. Singapore 5.63
    3. Sweden 5.61
    4. Finland 5.47
    5. United States 5.43

    That's the top of the latest World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report.