The rain in Spain

[Lateralthinking1]

............Bulgaria.

(It's true and I don't understand anymore)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_home_ownership_rate

(PS Happy birthday Lateralthinking1. Thanks Lateralthinking1 but I don't celebrate them now)

[Serial_Apologist]

How can the 'average bank clerk' have much influence over the Fred Goodwin's of this world? Downing computers is all very well but there would be plenty more people to fill their shoes once they were sacked. Political and trade union leadership has been weighed in the balance and found wanting throughout the Western world.

That's preciely why - wrong kind of "leadership"

[handsomefortune]

sorry, off topic a second: happy birthday lateralthinking1- good luck/good health, here's to wishing you a miracle in 2012. chin chin

[amateur51]

sorry, off topic a second: happy birthday lateralthinking1- good luck/good health, here's to wishing you a miracle in 2012. chin chin

Oh triffic - Happy Birthday, Lats!

[Lateralthinking1]

Thank you to both of you. Very, very, kind. It was yesterday and the one before the ones that start with a five.

(Bulgaria - 97% - who would have believed it?? )

[teamsaint]

belated happy Birthday LT1.

Really hope the next year brings you what you wish for.

Bulgaria may hold the answers for all of us.............who knows?

( I am also facing one of those "Big" birthdays shortly, so we all need to support each other !!)

[Lateralthinking1]

Happy early birthday teamsaint.

(Singapore is 2nd and Palestine is 7th so the world's our oyster. Wonder if estate agents are the same the world round?)

[Serial_Apologist]

Thank you to both of you. Very, very, kind. It was yesterday and the one before the ones that start with a five.

(Bulgaria - 97% - who would have believed it?? )

Aha! Too late, but I'd like to join with our friends. Time started to speed up after 49, I found...

[Mahlerei]

Having already had a few fives I can verify they ain't all bad. Belated birthday wishes, Lat.

[Lateralthinking1]

Thank you for those further greetings and Feliz Navidad everybody.

Here is the latest from Mr Rajoy. He is going to cut everything apart from pensions which will increase. So even the Spanish right has some Spanish warmth for elderly folk, believing that the country can still survive among the fittest:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/world/europe/mariano-rajoy-vows-to-get-spains-economy-back-on-track.html

[MrGongGong]

and belated Birthday greetings from me as well

[Lateralthinking1]

Thank you Mr GG.

No me he divertido tanto desde los años setenta.

[Simon]

The credit agencies, banks, and speculators really have pushed the European economies to the brink of calamity.

Notwithstanding the fact that you swallow wholesale the propaganda of Socialist Worker and/or the Mornijng Star, teamsaint, and regurgitate it so mindlessly here so often, how many times do you have to be told that, despite the unwholesome actions of some financial institutions with regard to bonuses and speculation, it is not they who are responsible for the primary mess of debt that so many countries are in.

The people responsible are the dishonest, mainly "socialist", politicians who have borrowed and borrowed and borrowed and spent and spent and spent on unsustainable projects and policies aimed primarily at bribing their electorates to keep them in power.

The sounds that we now hear so often are the sounds of chickens coming home to roost.

With regard to the UK in particular, and despite the general disapproval of the aforementioned activities of some banks, we have to be thankful that we do have such a strong and important financial centre in the City, because, its agreed faults notwithstanding, it will contribute about 50 billion pounds to the Exchequer this year.

(Which is precisely why the French and the Germans - our most remorseless enemies still - want to destroy it).

[scottycelt]

(Which is precisely why the French and the Germans - our most remorseless enemies still ..

And here's the dastardly and indisputable evidence ... though Merkel's popularity did inexplicably soar North of the Border.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fUq5MAU_cA&feature=related

I love the way Dave looks so intense while Angela obviously couldn't give a monkeys ...

[teamsaint]

Notwithstanding the fact that you swallow wholesale the propaganda of Socialist Worker and/or the Mornijng Star, teamsaint, and regurgitate it so mindlessly here so often, how many times do you have to be told that, despite the unwholesome actions of some financial institutions with regard to bonuses and speculation, it is not they who are responsible for the primary mess of debt that so many countries are in.

The people responsible are the dishonest, mainly "socialist", politicians who have borrowed and borrowed and borrowed and spent and spent and spent on unsustainable projects and policies aimed primarily at bribing their electorates to keep them in power.

The sounds that we now hear so often are the sounds of chickens coming home to roost.

With regard to the UK in particular, and despite the general disapproval of the aforementioned activities of some banks, we have to be thankful that we do have such a strong and important financial centre in the City, because, its agreed faults notwithstanding, it will contribute about 50 billion pounds to the Exchequer this year.

(Which is precisely why the French and the Germans - our most remorseless enemies still - want to destroy it).

Haven't ever read those papers , and wouldn't believe them if I did. I watch what is going on, look at outcomes, and make my own judgements.

Do you have ANY idea what agencies like S and P have actually done over the last few years ? Did you know that they triple AAA rated all those funds full of sub prime mortgages, for instance?

I am not in the business of defending governments, but the fact is that under both labour and tories, public spending deficits an debt levels were at long term " agreed" levels, (pretty much ) until the banks greed and failures blew a huge hole in the budgets.

The co called contribution of the city to our economy remains an open question in my mind. Perhaps if they invested more wisely, the rest of the economy might flourish.

The banks have us on our knees. The politicians have helped them get us there.

Simon,keep it polite. I look for ways that the world could be better, not ones to justify its parlous and unequal state. If you think that is mindless, then I can't worry about it.