You might remember that, a few days before the independence referendum, Betfair produced a picture of David Cameron standing in front of a Union Jack, and declared the No campaign - which a jingoistic Cameron was apparently the living embodiment of - the winner. They even paid out on 'No' bets early. That was an extraordinary thing to do given how close the race was at the time, but they insisted that they were never wrong about these things. Now, you could argue that they were ultimately vindicated (albeit only after an almighty late scare), but then they'd have had a 50/50 chance of being "proved right" about the outcome of a coin toss. Too many stunts of that sort during close contests, and they're bound to eventually come a cropper.
That hasn't happened to Betfair yet (it will), but amusingly it looks like it might be about to happen to Paddy Power. They paid out on a Yes victory in the Greek referendum four days ago, which was a barmy thing to do at a time when some polls were actually showing No in the lead! Today, the betting exchanges have swung very suddenly and dramatically towards No, seemingly on the basis of leaked exit poll results. At the time of writing, No are overwhelming 2/11 favourites on Betfair, and Yes are 4/1. Quite some turnaround, and if there isn't another twist in the tale to come, Paddy Power are going to be left with copious amounts of egg on their faces tonight.
Doubtless our old friend Mr Lovatt will still attempt to claim without any trace of irony that the betting exchanges once again "correctly predicted the outcome". Which is quite true - if at some point or another you predict both outcomes in a two-horse race, you can't really go astray.
Here's hoping the Greeks vote No.
ReplyDeleteHow much has been bet on the outcome? When bookies pay out they do it for the publicity, don't they? A few thousand pounds is nothing to Paddy Power, but might well secure a lot of newspaper and internet coverage.
"Here's hoping the Greeks vote No."
DeleteAre you mad? Strength! Security! Jobs! Better Together!
Yep, Better Together. The European Union has to be an organisation that looks after all its members and redistributes wealth from its richest parts to its poorest, or it is nothing at all. That's what solidarity is about. If the Greeks vote Yes and accept diktat from bankers and Brussels bureaucrats, then the idea of the EU as a democratic body focused on ensuring the well-being of all its citizens will be finished.
DeleteGreece is not Scotland, the UK is not the EU. Thank God. But how any supporter of independence can look at the current situation and continue to advocate a foreign country setting monetary policy for Scotland - as would happen in a Sterling zone - is beyond me, I know that you will never explain this to me, James, but maybe someone else could help.
I'll tell you one thing, Simon, you're fighting the wrong referendum here, mate. Nobody has a clue what the currency proposal will be in the next independence referendum, least of all you.
DeleteYes, James, I understand that you are not interested in discussing this issue; but maybe someone who is less dogmatic than you might be able to offer an explanation of why foreign control of an independent Scotland's monetary policy would be a good idea.
Delete"Greece is not Scotland, the UK is not the EU. Thank God. But"
DeleteHahahahahahahahaa!!
100% pure comedy gold Simon old bean. :-D
Instead of spamming low IQ tory tabloid shite on here you could always piss off back to Stormfront Lite PB. Since, amusingly, you only seem to appear straight after me or James mock the bigots and racists on there.
What part of "we don't know what the currency proposal will be next time" did you fail to understand, Si? It's a bit much to ask people to defend a proposal you'd like them to make, rather than one they actually are making.
DeleteSay James, you think this might just be that tory twit Flockers from Stormfront Lite attempting (with the usual hilarious tory twit incompetence) to disguise himself?
DeleteCertainly sounds like him with all the precise same dimwitted CCHQ/Daily Mail talking points.
No, I don't think Flockers could bear to pretend to be a left-winger. Simon, on the other hand, would do just about anything.
DeleteFair enough, it looks like you may well have begun to understand that a currency union will not work. It will certainly be interesting to see what the SNP come up with next time. Presumably the Euro is out, which does leave a standalone currency. That will have some fascinating implications for Scottish exports to the rUK, especially those relating to financial services.
Delete"Fair enough, it looks like you may well have begun to understand that a currency union will not work."
DeleteSorry, where are you getting that from?
From the fact that you do not wish to defend a currency union.
DeleteI'm not going to defend a proposal I'm not making. Are you going to defend the costs to the Scottish taxpayer of a hypothetical bridge between Southampton and the Isle of Wight?
Delete"I'm not going to defend a proposal I'm not making"
DeleteAs I say, you are clearly moving away from the idea of an independent Scotland having its monetary policy set by a foreign government.
But what has changed in under a year to make that happen?
"As I say, you are clearly moving away from the idea of an independent Scotland having its monetary policy set by a foreign government."
DeleteYes, you say that, but I don't. And as it's my opinion we're talking about here, that poses something of a problem for your argument. Where are you getting this stuff from, Simon?
My identity, your opinion.
DeleteYou either believe in a currency union but won't say why, or you do not believe in one and will not say why. I guess we will just have to wait until the SNP to explain their view before you will go public with yours; though you do believe in ending the Barnett formula and having Westminster control Scottish fiscal policy for as long as Scotland is not independent. But you won't say why you think that is a good idea, either.
"My identity, your opinion."
DeleteWell, it cuts both ways, doesn't it, Si? If you get to decide what my opinion is, you can't really object to me deciding what your identity is.
"You either believe in a currency union but won't say why, or you do not believe in one and will not say why"
No, there's a third option : there is no currency proposal at this stage. You evidently don't want to hear that, any more than you want to hear any other form of dissent against your all-seeing wisdom, but there it is. It's a fact.
That is true - there may be no currency proposal from the SNP at the moment because they realise what a mistake they made the last time and they are now going to develop a new one. And when they do, James, you will be able to have an opinion again.
DeleteSo, to summarise: you do not know what you think about the currency issue. I know who I am.
"there may be no currency proposal from the SNP at the moment because they realise what a mistake they made the last time"
DeleteOr, alternatively, there may be no currency proposal at the moment because a debate still needs to be had over whether the sterling zone was the right decision or not. You don't get to decide the reason, I'm afraid, Simon, or indeed the outcome of that debate. But I do understand how frustrating that is for you.
"I know who I am."
So do I, Simon. I only wish you felt able to be as honest about it as I am.
Poor effort, James. We both know you called it wrong on me and Simon. Still, it's not a huge problem if you want to pretend you think I am him. There are more important things to worry about; in fact, I can't think of many things less significant.
DeleteLack of clarity from the SNP on its currency position is very frustrating, that is certainly true. It makes it seem as if they do not have any serious convictions on this fundamental issue and will just say whatever they thin will sound most reassuring to the voters. Anyway, I look forward to you defending whatever line they next decide to take :-)
"Poor effort, James. We both know you called it wrong on me and Simon. Still, it's not a huge problem if you want to pretend you think I am him. There are more important things to worry about; in fact, I can't think of many things less significant."
DeleteWell, I've heard some pomposity in my time from you guys, but that takes the biscuit. You've been squealing about me pointing out that you're Simon for days, as if "Simon" was just about the worst term of abuse known to man. But do you care? Of course not! Perish the thought! You're far too high-minded for that.
Stop bleating about it then, you silly sausage.
"Lack of clarity from the SNP on its currency position is very frustrating"
I know it is, Simon. Try and be patient, for pity's sake. You're like a puppy made to wait three seconds for his dinner.
Until we know the monetary policy James, it's not possible to make any kind of projection about the state of an independent Scotland's finances, its ability to borrow and its freedom to spend. Thus, waiting to see applies to all those predicting Scotland would be better off independent as well. That leaves us with FFA. So, just how would ending Barnett and leaving monetary policy in the hands of Westminster make things better in Scotland?
Delete"Until we know the monetary policy James, it's not possible to make any kind of projection about the state of an independent Scotland's finances, its ability to borrow and its freedom to spend."
DeleteCertainty is bad! Uncertainty is bad! Everything is bad except for Tory rule from Westminster - which you think is redistributive. I'll just say that again - you think TORY RULE FROM WESTMINSTER is redistributive.
Takes all sorts, I suppose.
I think Barnett is better than FFA and independence, absolutely.
DeleteYou think the Scottish government having less money to spend and no control over monetary policy will end austerity. It takes all sorts I suppose.
"You think the Scottish government having less money to spend...will end austerity."
DeleteNot at all, Si - I want OUT of the Union. Try listening to what I say, for heaven's sake.
You want out of the Union without knowing who will control monetary policy. You just *believe*. But within the Union, you want an end to Barnett combined with Westminster control of monetary policy and somehow you think this will be better for Scotland and leave the country's government better placed to end austerity. As I say, it takes all sorts
DeleteYou want to stay in the Union even though you know that means Tory rule and austerity. You just don't *care*.
DeleteYou won't get Si, he's stickin' with the Union
You won't get Si, he's stickin' with the Union
You won't get Si, he's stickin' with the Union
Till the day he dies! Till the day he dies!
Tory austerity good - Devo Max bad.
DeleteIncisive stuff from our right-wing tabloid chum Simon.
Completely out of touch with what the scottish public thinks of course but then he wouldn't be so funny if he wasn't so utterly delusional.
LOL
...and we've moved into injury time here in the birthplace of democracy... EU authorities are seen desperately stuffing ballots into postal votes (not unlike Westminster lovers had done in the Scottish referendum of last year) but we think it might be too little too late... I'm calling it a win for the Greek people Archie, a definite No vote to austerity on ''the EU's'' terms.
DeleteWhile the tory twit Simon is busy impotently spamming the thread with the same low IQ tory tabloid pish, here's some of the latest from the Greek media.
ReplyDeleteRuairi Casey @Ruairi_Casey 2 minutes ago
All Greek media polls show No ahead:
Star TV: 51.5 - 49.5;
Alpha TV: 49-54 - 45-50
Metron: 49 - 46;
Skai TV: 49-54 - 46-51;
So impotent that you feel the need to refer to Simon in every post you make. He must have made a huge impression when he posted on here.
DeleteHave you been out photographing Unionists today, Mick, and shouting at their kids? LOL
Doubtless that comment will earn you a place in the McDougall Dossier of Abusive Unionists, Simon.
DeleteSimon is self-evidently just piss poor at pretending to be anything other than the right-wing bigot he so clearly is.
DeleteNo doubt this is the sort of thing he and his fellow tory twits are bursting with pride at.
https://twitter.com/WingsScotland/status/617664816803614720/photo/1
Ha, ha. I am sitting here in the sure and certain knowledge you are a fool Mick, as I know who I am. It's all very amusing, old bean - as someone who is not at all completely obsessed with whoever this Simon is might say.
DeleteWe know what Simon would say, Simon. You've just told us.
DeleteSince Simon found that news piece so 'amusing' here it is in full.
DeleteLittle Dylan Kirsopp is too ill to qualify for benefits, so his family has to suffer. WHY DO WE ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN?
HEARTLESS benefits bosses are scrapping a severely disabled boy’s financial lifeline – because he’s too poorly to qualify.
Dylan Kirsopp, seven, suffers cerebral palsy, epilepsy and a rare condition which means he cannot eat and has to be fed through a drip.
The battling youngster requires round-the-clock care from mum Mandy, 35, and 37-year-old dad John.
But now the family are braced for a devastating blow as Dylan’s disability benefits are set to be axed.
The family are even losing their special wheelchair-adapted car – because Dylan is in hospital and not at home.
Speaking from her son’s bedside, Mandy said: “It feels like we’re being punished because Dylan is too ill.”
http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views/uk/little-dylan-kirsopp-is-too-ill-to-qualify-for-benefits-so-his-family-has-to-suffer-why-do-we-allow-this-to-happen-1.888171
I have no idea what Simon thinks, but I believe it is a disgrace. But then I wonder how the lad would get care in a Scotland, under FFA or independence, that has no ability to meet its present spending requirements, and I am further convinced that the best hope for other Dylan's in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK is a different government with different priorities.
DeleteI understand that you will now abuse me Mick and I accept that as coming with the territory, but again I throw it out there for some of the more rational and intelligent readers of SGP to ponder.
"I am further convinced that the best hope for other Dylan's in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK is a different government with different priorities."
DeleteYeah, Simon, that would have been a truly great line BEFORE Westminster rule lumbered Scotland with yet another Tory government it didn't vote for until 2020 (with very little prospect of a change of government even then).
"But then I wonder how the lad would get care in a Scotland, under FFA or independence,"
DeleteSince you continually display complete ignorance about scottish politics Simon, let me tell you.
Under DevoMax or Independence Dylan and his family would not only receive those benefits he should be entitled to - were it not for a bunch of overprivileged tory twits who despise those on low wages and welfare - but there would be moves to strongly improve the shockingly cruel and staggeringly inept welfare 'reforms' imposed by out of touch incompetents like IDS.
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/12/iain-duncan-smith-disability-crisis-fiasco-welfare
I say this because only a complete fuckwit like yourself wouldn't know that the SNP vehemently oppose the austerity fetish and punishing of the poor, vulnerable and disabled espoused by the tories and the weak triangulating Labour frontbenchers.
Nor is it remotely credible to shriek about scotland somehow not being able to afford to do so since nobody with an ounce of common sense will believe that while the tories and Labour frontbenchers plan on spending £100 Billion on weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde while dragging us into yet more unbelievably stupid middle east quagmires and civil wars.
"There is no alternative" is simple minded Thatcherite dogma completely at odds with the reality of choices being made where to prioritise spending and how to best adjust to those priorities.
The fact that we won in 2007, then won a landslide in 2011, and are heading into Holyrood having just annihilated the unionist parties at the GE, would tend to point to you being full of shit. While the SNP are self-evidenty trusted by most scots to not only have the best policies but be able to competently carry them out when they are able to do so.
:-)
Benefits do not appear out of thin air Mick, they have to be paid for. Under FFA, Westminster would control Scotland's monetary policy and its defence spending. And Barnett would, go. leaving a financial shortfall that would mean it would not be possible for the Scottish government to spend what is currently spent in Scotland. The same deficit would exist in an independent Scotland as there is currently no spending on a new Trident upgrade, so there is no saving to incur there.
DeleteWanting to end austerity and saying you are going to do so is very different from it actually happening. It's dishonest (and cruel) to pretend otherwise.
"It's dishonest (and cruel) to pretend otherwise."
DeleteA bit like saying "you're only one Christmas away from a Labour government if you vote No"?
"Benefits do not appear out of thin air Mick"
DeleteAre you incapable of anything other than low IQ sub Daily Mail responses to the blindingly obvious fact that choices are made all the time where to prioritise spending?
You can whine and shriek all you like about scotland somehow being 'too poor' to afford to look after the poorest, most vulnerable and disabled - but I guarantee you that none of James regulars are going to believe such simplistic right-wing tabloid bullshit.
The last time I saw such an amusingly delusional approach to the facts was among calamity Clegg's ostrich faction as they headed for their hilarious and completely expected annihilation.
The reality is welfare spending is a choice. It is not predicated on cost alone, never has been and never will be. It is as much a choice as spending hundreds of Billions on weapons of mass destruction, or getting involved in costly fuckwitted middle east quagmires or inheritance tax, prioritising middle class tax cuts or a thousand other areas of spend.
So even if your asinine tabloid assertions about scotland being too poor were true (which as James and all of his scottish regulars know they most certainly fucking aren't) you wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
Burying your head in the sand and shrieking 'scotland is too poor! You can't possibly afford it!!' at the top of your lungs is, admittedly, very very funny Simon. However, it just proves you have a paper thin grasp of politics and an out of touch tory tabloid understanding of scottish politics in particular.
So toddle off back to Stormfront Lite PB as there they might entertain and indulge your crass stupidity and ignorance. :-)
I am not interested in James's regulars. They are never going to change their minds. They just *believe*.
DeleteScotland is too poor to afford its current levels of expenditure without transfers from the richer parts of the UK. There is no shame in that. It's just an economic reality. The country's population is older and more diffuse, the economy is heavily dependent on the oil price. That's just the way it is.
Well, variety is the spice of life - Simon is moving us on from "too wee, too poor, too stupid" to "too old, too poor, too stupid".
DeleteNo, I am not. Scotland could be an independent country and if you are a right winger it could be a successful one. What it can't be is a country that spends more on welfare. It does not have the money to do that.
DeleteIn the end, though, it is the independence that matters most to nationalists not its consequences, I accept that, maybe you should too.
"They just *believe*."
DeleteBy which you mean they are a thousand times more well informed on the subject of scottish politics than your witless tabloid screeching Simon.
I am reminded of one of the odious yellow tories in Clegg's ostrich faction over on Stormfront Lite. Being trapped in out of touch westminster bubble thinking he too never stopped insisting and asserting that the SNP only cared about Independence while being far too fucking stupid to realise we have been in power in scotland since 2007 making choices and delivering on our policies for a better scotland to the scottish public.
Let me assure you Simon, we care infinitely more about the poor, the vulnerable and the disabled than Clegg's tory poodles, Labour's Blairite fools and the nasty party ever will. We also have the election results to prove that the scottish public understands that perfectly and indeed respects it.
Someone as hilariously out of touch with scottish politics as yourself, Simon, never will 'get it'. But then, why the fuck would we care what someone who continually spouts low IQ tory tabloid horseshit thinks? (other than to have a good laugh at just how staggeringly dumb some of the pish you spout is) :-D
Clearly you dare care about me Mick. If you didn't you would not keep throwing insults at me and calling me Simon.
DeleteAnd if you cared about the poor and the vulnerable you would not support FFA.
"I am not interested in James's regulars."
Delete"Clearly you dare care about me Mick"
ROFL
You really are a pitiful odious hypocrite Simon.
You could always try telling the majority of the scottish public who support Devo Max that they don't support the poor and vulnerable. Then again you wouldn't have the balls to hang around for their response since they are hardly likely to be convinced by an out of touch wee right-wing fud like yourself. :-)
"If you didn't you would not keep throwing insults at me and calling me Simon."
DeleteBut, Simon, I thought you didn't care about being called Simon? I thought you told us yesterday that it was hard to think of anything less important than whether we called you Simon?
Why do you keep complaining about it?
So much for the austerity fetish exemplified by out of touch tory twits like Simon.
ReplyDeleteBusinessforScotland @BizforScotland 2h
66% of the UK’s leading economists believe that austerity has actually harmed the economy http://ow.ly/P8s55
The "impotent" Simon gets another mention.
ReplyDeleteThe economists are right.
Can't wait to see the fop's reaction to the unfolding EU crisis since, as we know from Stormfront Lite's hilarious tory twits, regardless of whether it's Yes or No it is DEFINITELY a triumph for the Cameroons.
ReplyDeleteQuite how that squares with the reality of an EU crisis adding fuel to the flames of the already rampant Euroscepticism in the tory party is anyone's guess. However, since that is the official CCHQ spin, it clearly has to be true.
*chortle*
Yes, I wonder if David Herdson is quite so sure right now that Syriza "signed their own death warrant" by calling the referendum.
DeleteGo away Jiff. Please just go away. You're a bore.
ReplyDeleteYou can fight a Project Fear if you have a 'patriotic' media.
ReplyDeleteThe old media are becoming increasingly irrelevant Juteman.
ReplyDeleteThe press are a joke as all their impotent BritNat whining and screaming did was to ensure we won 56 out of 59 MPs.
The likes of the BBC State broadcaster and the other networks I thought were going to be more problematic. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the streaming revolution is making them about as relevant as a Betamax tape as time goes on. The BBC's response to mass non-payment of thier TV tax is precisely what you would expect from a corporation run by an elite of westmisnter establishment 'worthies'.
They simply don't get it.
If the consumer can easily find far better, cheaper and more convenient alternatives then they will unquestionably go for them instead of being a slave to outdated concepts like TV schedules, endless repeats and the TV Tax.
In the U.S. and elsewhere there is a fundamental rethink going on about how to pay for content, produce content and deliver content to the customer when it comes to what used to be the sole province of TV Networks. That pace of change is not stopping and if anything it is growing in speed as improving infrastructure allows for far more choice in not just how you pay for TV but how and where you watch it.
With that background it would be sheer follly for unionists to count on being 'saved' by a compliant and propagandist State broadcaster or the press in the years to come. Nor does the plummeting trust in those institutions bode remotely well for them either in the wake of lies like THE VOW and Cameron's EVEL omnishambles.
Wow, No is killing it. Looks like Greek pollsters are even less accurate than ours.
ReplyDeleteThey are by a long way, though it's not particularly surprising as they only called the referendum a week ago. Our pollsters had the luxury of tweaking their methodologies over a period of years for the indyref and still were a bit off in their final polling.
DeleteUK MSM a narrow win for OKI at 60-40 yet decisive is a 55-45 morons the lot of them.
ReplyDeleteReally? Let's take a look and see.
Delete'Overwhelmingly Rejected' - BBC news main page
'Decisive Rejection ' - Guardian main page
'10 million Greeks firmly reject Europe's bailout conditions' - Telegraph main page
'TV Polls have put the No vote narrowly ahead' - ITV front page. Aha! But no, turns out they're talking about an exit poll from 4 hours ago that shows a 4% gap.
'William Kate and Curious George are all smiles at Princess Charlotte's christening' - Daily Mail (well, what did you expect?)
'No campaign races into 20% lead' - Daily Mail, waaaaay down the page.
Even the Daily Heil aren't calling it a narrow victory, for gods sake.
Yup, the media bias thing tends to be a bit like that: i.e. people complaining about things that never actually happen but sound good. See "he's British when he wins and Scottish when he loses" for a topical example - I watch Andy Murray religiously, from 250s to slams, all year round, and I can't remember ever noticing that happen once beyond people citing it as a joke.
Delete@AnonymousJuly 5, 2015 at 8:59 PM
DeleteI will admit to not venturing into those sites as I can only report what is said over the airwaves by the right wing media and if if what they write is different then someone has an agenda of misinformation.
The Andy Murray joke is obviously a caricature, but there's a grain of truth in it, in the sense that when he's winning big tournaments, his Britishness gets played up to the max by the media. I seem to remember that the BBC started their coverage of the Wimbledon final with footage of England winning the 1966 World Cup! When he isn't doing so well, that jingoism disappears, and other aspects of who he is get a look in.
DeletePlease could you increase the size of your font. Those of us with seeing difficulties have difficulties reading your excellent articles. we have to wait until a properly sighted person is available to read them to us.
ReplyDeleteHi, David, sorry to hear that you're having difficulty. I'll have a think about it, but in the meantime you might be able to use the zoom function on your own browser?
DeleteYou can easily change the font on your own browser. Goto Tools> Options> Content> Font
DeletePaddy Power Ha Ha Ha
ReplyDeleteI doubt they can ask for the money back. Very embarrassing for them.
DeleteMarketing spend. They get so much press from the odd early payout it probably feels like a bargain price.
DeleteAnd it encourages the punters to boot.
Yes, but the counter-argument is that they can't proclaim their "record of accuracy" in future. Perhaps Paddy Power don't care about that sort of thing as much as Betfair do.
DeleteI think they tend to place themselves on the 'edgy/fun' side of the betting market, so giving the punters a win won't hurt their reputation.
DeleteOne might even argue that it helps counter 'the bookies always win' argument, which would encourage more folk to have a go.
I gather that guy you argue with tends to put forward the idea that betting odds are some 'wisdom of crowds' type indicator, but I've never subscribed to that theory. Betting odds reflect the bets placed, the bookies make their money on the spread, just like market makers and share prices.
After all, why reflect the true odds when instead you can cover both sides of the betting table and take a guaranteed profit off the spread?
Hilarious to see economic illiterate SNP supporters commenting on the Euro.
ReplyDeleteLet us never forget that the SNP - like many others - were enthusiatic cheerleaders for the disastrous Euro.
When the Euro was launched Salmond said that an independent Soctland would cast off the 'milestone' of the pound sterling and would embrace the 'succesful' Euro.
Last year the same Salmond was arguing for an independent Scotland to be part of a sterling currency union.
Hold you heads in shame SNP - you, like many others, were the 'guilty men' on the great euro debacle.
Have a lie down. When the facts change you change also.
DeleteI'm no AS fan but he deserves some slack here, he said that in 1999. I can't miscry a man for changing his mind over the course of 16 years.
DeleteYeah....politicians and currency.
DeleteWhat a mix.
Remember the Tories and the ERM debacle?
Cost the UK over £3 Billion (at 1992 prices), collapsed the entire housing market and put the country into recession.
Yeah, politicians and currency - what an incompetent mess the good old Tories landed us with.
How we laughed.
And the same old Tories are in charge again.
Just how dumb are 37% of English voters?
Yep.....they are that dumb.
Same argument I made above. Blaming the current crop of Tories for 1992 is no more sensible than blaming 2015 Alex Salmond for comments he made in 1999.
DeleteThe party name may be the same, but almost all of those politicians are retired, and many of them are dead.
Also 1992 is one of the very rare occasions where the Tories actually took a leftward stance and took on the free market.
DeleteAdmittedly they did so out of nationalistic pride in the value of the pound and a complete disregard for economic reality. But they took the markets on nonetheless. And got spanked.
If only they were bankers. Paying out mistakenly on a bet could pose a systemic risk to the gambling system. I think the directors should get their bonuses, and the taxpayers should take over the losses. Are any of the directors Old Etonians?
ReplyDeleteIts only fair.
Heh well done the Greeks! Glad I was wrong! They didn't squirm! Now all the bankers will be spinning. What happens when the people lose their fear? This is a revolution.
ReplyDeleteIf anyone can turn their head away from the fawning over some 'poor' kid getting his face splashed with Jordanian water RT live.
ReplyDeleteIt's a girl. I'm about as uninterested in this as it's possible to get but even I know that.
DeleteI'm so uninterested that I don't even know what you two are talking about. Beat that.
DeleteThe problem isn't the Euro.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is how the financiers and politicians misused the money system.
If the EU wants to fulfill its mission of having a peaceful united Europe they will have to deal with that problem.
I decided not to make any predictions over what would happen in Greece, as I didn't want to make myself look like an idiot (Not that anybody would really have noticed given that I'm a nobody anyway). Looks like there are plenty of people right now who could have done wit taking the same approach. Sometimes it's better to admit that you don't have a damned clue.
ReplyDelete"Sometimes it's better to admit that you don't have a damned clue.
DeleteThe Cameroons and CCHQ don't think they have that luxury, hence the priceless comedy from them on the subject.
Fact is they are utterly terrified of anti-Europe sentiment and rhetoric taking hold in the tory party. So we get the hilarious spectacle of the Cameroons and their spinners basically shouting 'EU good - Greece bad' as they desperately try to use austerity to try to deflect tory eurosceptics away from looking too closely at the EU bureaucracy in full force.
Right now the Cameroons are yapping little poodles snarling at the Greece while desperately hoping to be thrown a few meaningless PR scraps by an amused Merkel and Brussels.
I suspect quite a few Eurosceptics will be looking at the polling on immigration as an issue of concern while thinking back to the last EU crisis and making plans right this second. So it's not as if the Cameroons shouldn't be paranoid about the Eurosceptics, just less incompetent in their dealings with them.
Something which, as we all know, is asking for the impossible from the fop and his out of touch chumocracy. ;-)
Regardless of whether or not we can agree on the independence issue, I think we can all enjoy the spectacle of the Tories tearing themselves apart on Europe.
DeleteProject Fear didn't work in Greece. I hope people in Scotland will take note. We are about to be subjected to massive Westminster austerity cuts. When Scotland has its second referendum in two or three years time I believe most people in Scotland will reject another unionist Project Fear and vote for independence. Definitely worth a punt.
ReplyDeleteGreeks skelp the austerity brigade.
ReplyDeleteCameron, bookies et al left looking like the diddies they are.
Hopefully Scots citizenry will grow a Greek backbone and repudiate "Union" status quo asap.
Am optimistic.
PS How's the schizoid troll handling this drubbing - the Jeff/Si PB bollox wallah?
ReplyDeleteEnjoying his very public spanking at the hands of Greeks in the agora of the home of principled democracy (as opposed to the rapacious sham in Westminster he or she GCHQ's for)?
Ooops, probably given the hard-wired lust for any old spanking regardless of the mits applying it.
Thus, be of good cheer, bend over again and prepare for Scottish re-independence administering your next democratic thrashing.
Erratum:" GCHQs for" as in the verb meaning to paid troll for on behalf of the British security services. A kind of dim, geeky Hamish Bond of the keyboard and typewriter and pen and pencil, etc.
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