tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post5803415826275546102..comments2024-03-22T05:20:44.167-07:00Comments on The Disaffected Lib: Beware of Greeks Bearing GiftsThe Mound of Soundhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-44114315367353522782015-07-18T07:46:46.746-07:002015-07-18T07:46:46.746-07:00"It sounds more like something you've rea..."It sounds more like something you've read in a newspaper and like to repeat" or some Wiki entry you pulled out of your ass after having to Google "structural change." Don't keep embarrassing yourself and wasting my time. This is not a discussion worth having, not with you.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-88434639805169294582015-07-18T05:53:51.567-07:002015-07-18T05:53:51.567-07:00https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_changehttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_changeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-22633360074357373332015-07-17T21:29:46.959-07:002015-07-17T21:29:46.959-07:00I'm at a loss to understand your concept of &#...I'm at a loss to understand your concept of 'structurally changing' an economy. In the context in which you keep insisting on using it, it's hopelessly vague to the point of being almost meaningless. It sounds more like something you've read in a newspaper and like to repeat.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-55901110700689338142015-07-17T18:01:49.314-07:002015-07-17T18:01:49.314-07:00Nothing you wrote changes the obvious fact that th...Nothing you wrote changes the obvious fact that this government is loathed to make the structural changes to the economy that are required, even if they reluctantly (understatement) accepted to do them. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-76690322613081502072015-07-17T17:44:30.008-07:002015-07-17T17:44:30.008-07:00What do you know of the reforms Syriza accepted in...What do you know of the reforms Syriza accepted in its latest proposal, Anon? Are your criticisms current or based on some understanding of what happened in the past?The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-15550946169762680122015-07-17T17:23:11.366-07:002015-07-17T17:23:11.366-07:00You seem to have missed my comment that they need ...You seem to have missed my comment that they need structural reforms to their economy. Desperately. And there's hardly anyone outside of Greece who doesn't recognize this. This government though is loathed to do it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-1259039457689742662015-07-17T09:43:09.937-07:002015-07-17T09:43:09.937-07:00I haven't heard anyone make the case that Gree...I haven't heard anyone make the case that Greece needs "structural" reform. It certainly needs to reform some of the government's policies and practices but that's a far cry from something structural to the way in which the country is governed or how the state interacts with its people. Since Syriza came to power at the end of January it has always supported policy reforms, some of which Germany has vetoed out of self-interest including the proposal to rescind orders for German submarines that Greece really can't afford.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-66655194746809202852015-07-17T09:21:57.224-07:002015-07-17T09:21:57.224-07:00And those structural reforms are to be dictated by...And those structural reforms are to be dictated by persons other than Greeks. <br /><br />If there is only one Anonymous operating here that Anonymous needs to decide which hymn book she/he's singing from.Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465953801145126160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-53477731484769382552015-07-17T07:51:09.301-07:002015-07-17T07:51:09.301-07:00*The Greek economy is in desperate need of ...*The Greek economy is in desperate need of ...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-49317297814459438602015-07-17T07:49:22.983-07:002015-07-17T07:49:22.983-07:00The Greek government is in desperate need of struc...The Greek government is in desperate need of structural reforms. They don't have to do them if they don't want to but if they want money from the EU they're going to need to make these reforms.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-82624104872443742362015-07-17T07:10:59.691-07:002015-07-17T07:10:59.691-07:00If it's inappropriate for the Eurozone to bail...If it's inappropriate for the Eurozone to bail out Greece how can it be appropriate for the Eurozone to force Greece to dismantle or sell off it's public institutions? <br /><br />The Eurozone can take away but not give?Danahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12465953801145126160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-59769987941312041462015-07-17T05:56:35.917-07:002015-07-17T05:56:35.917-07:00There's an argument to be made that where ther...There's an argument to be made that where there are flaws you find ways around them. But changing the eurozone into a fiscal union that can bail out Greece is more than fixing a flaw - it's changing the very intent of the union, and doing so without any of the institutions, policies and procedures to make it work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-59765602863569935422015-07-17T00:20:40.776-07:002015-07-17T00:20:40.776-07:00It was obviously a very flawed, incompletely thoug...It was obviously a very flawed, incompletely thought out treaty. Critics, vastly more knowledgeable than me, are wading in to show how useless this treaty is in real life conditions.<br /><br />It was buggered up at the outset. Does that mean you demand it be upheld when all its flaws come crashing down?The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-78971233154098517642015-07-16T20:46:41.867-07:002015-07-16T20:46:41.867-07:00The treaty that established the eurozone clearly s...The treaty that established the eurozone clearly spells out that eurozone countries are not responsible for the debts of other eurozone countries. It would be incorrect to suggest (not that you are) that such a fiscal union was ever envisioned to be the purpose of the eurozone as created. Therefore, debt relief is not an option unless Greece leaves the eurozone or the purpose of the eurozone is redefined. The worst thing politicians do is redefine existing rules based on current crisis. The eurozone doesn't even have the institutions to support its monetary union, let alone the fiscal union that is defacto being proposed. Despite the vilification of Germany on this matter, they are right. Perhaps such a fiscal union should be a medium/long term goal of the European Union/eurozone. However, do it properly if it is to be done. Until then, if Greece wants debt relief it needs to exit the eurozone. However, the Greeks have decided it is in their best interests to forgo debt relief and stay within the eurozone. That's their choice, even though many Germans believe it is the wrong choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-29182369854476437382015-07-16T15:03:29.153-07:002015-07-16T15:03:29.153-07:00I think the Greens need to be all-inclusive, Pamel...I think the Greens need to be all-inclusive, Pamela. Theirs is primarily an environmental agenda, generously laced with repairing our democratic deficit via restored press freedom, voting reform, upholding collective bargaining, and such. Unlike the mainstream parties their policy platform is available to all online. I don't think they intend to be Left but, in contrast to what's on offer from the mainstream parties, they may seem that way. Laxer, a recognized voice of the Left, finds the Greens far more progressive than the Mulcair NDP on domestic policy. He didn't even get into their even-handed foreign policy and, of course, on the environment they leave Mulcair in the ditch.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-89616480694996838502015-07-16T14:14:09.840-07:002015-07-16T14:14:09.840-07:00Don't you think Mound that Elizabeth May could...Don't you think Mound that Elizabeth May could create the Green Party as the new left?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07842215982128591742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-59341711294143084632015-07-16T14:05:02.729-07:002015-07-16T14:05:02.729-07:00@ Kirby. I've wondered how fitfully Merkel'...@ Kirby. I've wondered how fitfully Merkel's been sleeping these past weeks. I can't believe that she's oblivious to the clumsiness of her actions.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-41093579220759052092015-07-16T13:38:05.317-07:002015-07-16T13:38:05.317-07:00That sounds eerily reminiscent of how American oil...That sounds eerily reminiscent of how American oil companies lined up for first dibs on Saddam's oil fields. Cheney and Rumsfeld had it all mapped out before the first Humvee rolled into Iraq.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-43493215099340113082015-07-16T13:37:47.117-07:002015-07-16T13:37:47.117-07:00Thanks for this. I spent years studying Habermas a...Thanks for this. I spent years studying Habermas and find him interesting for many reasons, though almost naive in his optimism of what modern society is and can do. He is right here, I think, and Germany may have inadvertently ushered in a genuine breakdown of many European nations into a new phase of nationalism and anti-German sentiment. If it turns out to be true, Merkel will win the century's prize of political irony as well as a shameful legacy. Kirbycairohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17528654183160305877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-69119420746325961692015-07-16T13:04:05.820-07:002015-07-16T13:04:05.820-07:00Up for grabs in the privatizations in Greece are 1...Up for grabs in the privatizations in Greece are 17 regional airports. A German firm is considering buying them What a coincidence!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-53681450826622187272015-07-16T12:53:32.151-07:002015-07-16T12:53:32.151-07:00What policies do I base what on, Gyor? Mulcair adm...What policies do I base what on, Gyor? Mulcair admits the party has moved to become centrist, a Latter Day Liberal movement. Do you think he's a liar? His muddled tax policies would be unrecognizable to New Democrats a decade ago. Where has he defended labour and collective bargaining against the anti-labour excesses we've endured so relentlessly from Harper. You won't hear Mulcair say that we have to leave the filthiest, highest-carbon fossil fuels, clearly including bitumen, in the ground, will you? <br /><br />I know what a liberal is, Gyor. I supported the LPC for the better part of 40-years until they abandoned the political centre to move Right. Bad as that has been, even worse has been your outfit's abandonment of the Left to shift to the centre. You've become precisely what you so loudly (and hypocritically) denounced well before I even entered the realm of Canadian politics.<br /><br />You think that because you're lurking slightly to the left of Justin's gang that you can still claim your old turf. You can't. You left it to pursue a new place with better political opportunities that, even if it wasn't of your own making, nevertheless is where neoliberalism, market fundamentalism and corporatism thrives.<br /><br />I'm not interesting in any more of your drivel, Gyor. Man up and accept what your cherished party has become. Maybe out of those ashes somebody will be able to find the makings for a new Left party, one that can redeem the lapsed moral highground that once belonged to the NDP. Canada has never needed that more than today.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-38369787063666583162015-07-16T12:18:29.230-07:002015-07-16T12:18:29.230-07:00 What policies do you base this on? What policies do you base this on?Gyorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06773307017058386989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-56700527126358542282015-07-16T11:40:05.407-07:002015-07-16T11:40:05.407-07:00Well, Toby, if Toronto has its way they certainly ...Well, Toby, if Toronto has its way they certainly will. I just happened to read something today about Tijuana/San Diego that cited a study predicting that, in decades to come, cities will simply merge like two blobs of mercury coming together. They'll form one economic entity to which borders become all but irrelevant.The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-81237502007749188812015-07-16T11:14:25.087-07:002015-07-16T11:14:25.087-07:00One wonders if future societies will be like city ...One wonders if future societies will be like city states surrounded by massive shopping malls. Tobynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32931256.post-84806904468047107922015-07-16T11:03:33.163-07:002015-07-16T11:03:33.163-07:00We seem to be heading that way, don't we Owen?...We seem to be heading that way, don't we Owen? What's the alternative, accepting some sort of neofeudalism?The Mound of Soundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09023839743772372922noreply@blogger.com