Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

Margaret Thatcher was indomitably outspoken against submerging all the European nationalities into a single superstate some 21 years ago when I interviewed her for a Forbes magazine article entitled “It just won’t do. It’s not big enough minded.” The Iron Lady had a grander scheme in mind; a free trade area between and among North America and the European Community. What did we just elect our own Parliament for, she insisted sardonically; “ Just to be a talking show?”

On this score she was indomitable, ferociously scathing at the willingness of independent European nations giving up their autonomy to a bunch of bureaucrats in Brussels. She did not exactly predict the descent of the Euro, the financial crisis in Cyprus or the meltdown in most European sovereign securities or the need to bailout the banks of Italy, Spain and France.


But, in a scathing tone, Lady Thatcher insisted to me that a single currency was impossible. It would never work. “Every single fixed exchange rate has cracked in the end. We’re all at different levels of development of our economies. Some countries simply couldn’t live up to a single currency… We should each of us be proud to be separate countries cooperating together.”

The turmoil in European currency markets that fall of 1992 was proof for Thatcher that a united Europe was meant to crumble. And indeed her prophecy 21 years ago has been borne out lately. The grand experiment of a single monetary system, a single economic policy, working towards a common defense policy, even a common foreign policy meant to her that “80% of Britain’s economic decisions will be made in Brussels.” Actually, it has been more the need of the European Central Bank and Germany to prop up the staggering debt-laden economies of Greece, Spain, Italy, France and try to devise stability for Cyprus. Imagine having banks in Cyprus become an Achilles heel for Europe. Thatcher would have been furious.


And she doesn’t exactly look wrong in her worry over the prospect of German domination of Europe– though “domination” today means the helping hand of the giant strong economy of Europe. Thatcher was going to be damned if she made Britain subservient to Germany.

Forbes magazine

What does your car say about your politics?



Audi drivers are more likely to vote Labour in the upcoming General Election, says new research - while Suzuki owners more often lean towards UKIP.

The study, which asked 1,000 drivers who they would vote for in this year's election, revealed that Jaguar drivers are most likely to vote for the Conservatives while those behind the wheels of Fiats prefer the Green Party.

Almost half (46%) of Audi drivers say they will vote Labour, the survey concludes, as well as 40.8% of Citroen drivers and 36.7% of those in Nissans.

An impressive 44.6% of Jaguar owners will choose the Tories at the election, while 40.1% of Hyundai drivers and 37.3% of Renault owners will also vote blue.

However, a Suzuki is more likely to contain a UKIP voter, says the data. As many as 31.4% pledged their support for the separatist anti-EU membership party.

'Unexpected results'

The Lib Dems can rely on more support from Peugeot drivers than from owners of any other marque, as 17.2% prepare to back Nick Clegg with their vote.

NFDA Trusted Dealers, which carried out the research, highlights the unexpected results. Neil Addley, director of the franchised dealer-owned used car website, said: "Whilst in some areas of this survey we can see party support reflected along traditional lines, there are some real surprises.

"One surprising find is the popularity of Audi amongst Labour supporters, demonstrating the wide appeal and growth of the brand in the UK over the last few years.

"The survey also shows how close political allegiance runs and this should be a real message to politicians to remember the importance of drivers as voters and take note of what motorists want from the next government."

Sorry Fred yours was not covered. :-))

The UNITED STATES'S DOLLAR has been around over 200 years.

The USA has a population of about 300millions..


Maggie Thatcher lived too long.

The EU was born out of the "ECU" and will probably be around in 50 years time, similarly to the Euro.

To many countries outside the EU use it as a substitute for their own currency or the USA dollar.

So H/S you have tried to deflect from the news below, what have you to say about it?

UKIP suspect infects the "Con" party: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30967633

I have no idea whether this guy is a good guy or not at the moment. I am sure UKIP are trying to smear him for daring to leave. He may turn out to be as bad as UKIP say. I dare say that time will tell.

I have never thought that people moving party tells you much about the parties in question. It is generally a personal thing.

He is a perfect choice for Cameron.

Sorry in place of Cameron.

Shit hits fan in €l Grecoland


http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jan/25/greek-election-syriza-confident-of-victory-live-updates

Question - Would much have been said on here if he indeed joined the Labour party?

:-))

not sure if i have missed anything but the usual drivel during the day but prob not .....

anyway, the greeks looked to have voted in the anti-austerity mob, which is no great surprise
what that means for € and eu in general, i really have no idea, but i cannot imagine that it will be greeted with cheers by the markets in the morning

Napoleon,

Why does a man of your obvious omniscience read any postings, other than your own, but still seem to return more and more often to this thread?

Interesting addiction and plea.

"I can't help it my lord."

==========


But having said that.

Population of Greece approx 11 million population of Euro-zone 335 million

GDP of Greece as percentage of Eur-ozone GDP about 2%.

Economically, I guess little effect.

Politically, may be a wake up call.

I would have thought a slight wobble, but tightened my SBs stops and widened share stops on Thursday.

Again will be up early to-morrow.
--------

because fred, every so often there is something worth reading here, like your latest

greece of itself may not be important for it is a small entity, but if it decides to abandon eu or eu decides to abandon greece, then the ripple effects will probably be serious, though confess i am not sure in what direction .....
i guess a couple of banks may be pretty "embarrassed", but i think it will be more far-reaching than that .....
a domino effect maybe?

I think Greece's massive interest payments that are scheduled in the second half of the year are going to cause a few headaches, especially if they default.

Ma Merkel won't give toss about Greece, but will sure as hell care about the other sunset countries.

The Geeks are dreaming if they expect the EU to forgive some of their debt. The precedent would bring serious problems. There is an obvious list of other EU countries that would want the same treatment. The same applies if the terms of their debt was altered. In an ideal world, they would devalue their currency and as a result boost their exports as well has having tourists flocking there for the cheaper holidays. In reality they are stuck with having to have an over valued currency from their point of view and no wiggle room. Their interest rates are set by the ECB and so is the exchange rate.

I think the European Union and the International Monetary Fund will have to swing for some of the debt. The country is never going to recover. The interest payments are not going to be met.

So the King of Saudi Arabia dies and we put a few flags at half mast. (eg. at Buckingham Palace, etc.). Then Prince Charles and David Cameron and Barack Obama and a few more top people call in and pay their respects. The next thing is that we get reminded about how Saudi Arabia are cruel to prisoners (they beat them) and cruel to women (they won't let them drive) and how they also ban the Holy Bible.

How terrible. "Ah! But there's more!" I'm sure you'll say.

Hmmm?

Please take a bit of time out to compare how things are in the USA. Worse than Saudi Arabia or better? You decide.

saudi arabia is certainly held under a repressive and fundamentalist (wahabi) religious regime ....
more importantly, the saudi monarchy is nothing like as stable and revered as so many like to believe

however, there is no question that saudi has been a very good ally of the west - and of course the major supplier of oil

whatever the rights and wrongs, it would have been the most extreme political harakiri to have done other than at least go through the motions of respect and mourning for the late king

hard cheese all you bleeding hearts, but you need to learn the hard lessons of living in the real world and thus the necessity of political prudence and lip service or even expediency from time to time

Dreamcatcher - post 55758, I drive an Audi and there is absolutely no chance that I will vote for Labour in the GE !: :-)

moi aussi!