The European Central Bank

[mountainhiker]

Why is the European Central Bank working against the interest of Europe and the rest of the world?

ECB

The European Central Bank – which raised rates into the teeth of the crisis in July – has played a shockingly destructive role in this enveloping slump. Its growth predictions this year have been, and still are, delusional. Neglecting its global role, it has vastly complicated the fire-fighting efforts of Washington.

It could have offered “cover†to the US Federal Reserve this spring when Ben Bernanke was forced by events to slash rates to 2pc. It could at least have signalled an end to monetary tightening. That is how an ally ought to behave.

Instead, it stuck maniacally to its Gothic script, with equally unhappy consequences for both sides of the Atlantic, as well as for China, Japan, and India. The euro rocketed yet further, which it turn set off an oil shock as crude metamorphosed into an anti-dollar with leverage.

The ECB policy was self-defeating, even on its own terms. It merely drove headline inflation even higher, while deeper forces of underlying debt deflation pulled the real economies of Germany, Italy, France, and Spain into a recessionary vortex.

Far from offering reassurance, the weekend mini-summit of EU leaders served only to highlight that nobody is in charge of this runaway train. There is still no lender of last resort in euroland

[Simon]

Well, all I can say is that sometimes the lack of leadership in the EU is a downside... :cute:

But what can you expect - it is not YET a country!

[mountainhiker]

Well, all I can say is that sometimes the lack of leadership in the EU is a downside... :cute:

But what can you expect - it is not YET a country!

Ah, good point! But, they are working on it!

[Simon]

Ah, good point! But, they are working on it!

Yes, I hope they do.. And before they create that country they better kick out France and Poland! :whistle:

[only_green_no_gray]

Yes, I hope they do.. And before they create that country they better kick out France and Poland! :whistle:

I don't want that Europe becomes an huge country, i like our borders. Besides i don't want to be in the same country as Spain...

[mountainhiker]

I don't want that Europe becomes an huge country, i like our borders. Besides i don't want to be in the same country as Spain...

Spain ok, Poland, ok, whats wrong with France? :huh:

[Patrick]

I'd say the language, but that's just personally as they made me learn it in school and I always kinda sucked in it.

About Europe as a country: You guys did watch Zeitgeist right? There is in fact not that much to win by Europe becoming a country with the current countries becoming states. The lack of a general leadership however is hindering the abilities. Having more global decisions made like environmental questions made on a global platform is a good thing while declaring war as Europe in general probably isn't. This is pretty much everything which sucks in our current structure because the lack of leadership there are no punishments for countries resisting to become active in a specific topic (e.g. the Kyoto Protocol). Politics is like any other business, if there's not much profit in doing something and it coasts a lot of money people won't be doing it until they have to. Here in Germany for example they decided the Ozone pollution in cities is far to high and the set an ultimatum for cities to match the new regulations within a couple of years. As numerous cities failed however there were no punishments whatsoever, instead they just increased the allowed ozone level. It's sad how politics today is more or less not able to push stuff through or the lack of interest to to so in important topics.

[mountainhiker]

I'd say the language, but that's just personally as they made me learn it in school and I always kinda sucked in it.

About Europe as a country: You guys did watch Zeitgeist right? There is in fact not that much to win by Europe becoming a country with the current countries becoming states. The lack of a general leadership however is hindering the abilities. Having more global decisions made like environmental questions made on a global platform is a good thing while declaring war as Europe in general probably isn't. This is pretty much everything which sucks in our current structure because the lack of leadership there are no punishments for countries resisting to become active in a specific topic (e.g. the Kyoto Protocol). Politics is like any other business, if there's not much profit in doing something and it coasts a lot of money people won't be doing it until they have to. Here in Germany for example they decided the Ozone pollution in cities is far to high and the set an ultimatum for cities to match the new regulations within a couple of years. As numerous cities failed however there were no punishments whatsoever, instead they just increased the allowed ozone level. It's sad how politics today is more or less not able to push stuff through or the lack of interest to to so in important topics.

Your statement

The lack of a general leadership however is hindering the abilities.

would seem to be at the core of a lot of the problems worldwide. Leadership implies that there is someone who leads and not issues ultimatums to "drive" other people. When the "leaders" provide a method for the cities to comply with the reduction in ozone they might have some hope of hitting the goals. The reason there is no enforcement is that they know they have no valid method of achieving the goals they have set.

[Steve_Barker]

Well, all I can say is that sometimes the lack of leadership in the EU is a downside... :cute:

But what can you expect - it is not YET a country!

I see the merging of countries into superstates as a move towards greater totalitarian control. We need to cooperate on global issues, but decisions should be as local as possible A diverse approach will create problems, but it can also allow for variation to find better ways of doing things.

Yes, I hope they do.. And before they create that country they better kick out France and Poland! :whistle:

What about Brittany, I would tend to view it as a separate cultural identity, with more in common with Cornwall than France.

[Simon]

I do believe that the sooner we have one global "country" the better. And if not the forces of evil prevails hopefully it will be based on socialistic principles.

Spain ok, Poland, ok, whats wrong with France?

Spain is ok I guess. France is to right-wingish for their own good and Poland are religious lunatics. But hey! That's just what I think. :cute:

What about Brittany, I would tend to view it as a separate cultural identity, with more in common with Cornwall than France.

Cornwall I know but what is Brittany? Slang for Britain? :crazy:

[Steve_Barker]

Cornwall I know but what is Brittany? Slang for Britain? :crazy:

Brittany is a most wonderful place - it is a region of France, but only on paper since 1532, the Brettons are very much their own people.

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

I have been to Brittany many times, and would recommend it - apart from all the France holiday villas, and the large amount of traffic on the Autoroute on a Sunday evening heading back to France.

http://www.brittanytourism.com

[mountainhiker]

Brittany is a most wonderful place - it is a region of France, but only on paper since 1532, the Brettons are very much their own people.

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

I have been to Brittany many times, and would recommend it - apart from all the France holiday villas, and the large amount of traffic on the Autoroute on a Sunday evening heading back to France.

http://www.brittanytourism.com

Coast line looks outstanding!!! Clearly has to be a tourist hot spot.

[Steve_Barker]

Coast line looks outstanding!!! Clearly has to be a tourist hot spot.

The coastline is wonderful, but last time we went we spent a full week looking at Dolmen (tombs), Menhirs (standing stones) and Alignments in the Carnac area:

http://members.tripod.com/Menhirs/dolmen.html

We went in November when it is virtually tourist free. When I first went to Brittany in the 70s it was very quite, alas, the world has found it.

[mountainhiker]

The coastline is wonderful, but last time we went we spent a full week looking at Dolmen (tombs), Menhirs (standing stones) and Alignments in the Carnac area:

http://members.tripod.com/Menhirs/dolmen.html

We went in November when it is virtually tourist free. When I first went to Brittany in the 70s it was very quite, alas, the world has found it.

Sad but true of a lot of places around the world. Although the recent money problems have trimed down the number of people ranging far from home....