In this super cartoon by Martin Rowson from Tribune, Gordon Brown‘s attempting to repair a monument to Margaret Thatcher with plaster. The statue is beyond repair, however, and it seems a hopeless task. An inscription on the base of the monument reads “She Vanquished The Miners And Brought Freedom And Prosperity” (oh, the irony!). A dog cocks its leg and urinates on the step, whilst a chav in a hoodie smokes a joint. The meaning seems clear enough… Mrs Thatcher‘s legacy lies in ruins, despite Gordon Brown’s futile attempts to preserve it. It’s the end of Neoliberal “conservative” laissez-faire capitalism as we know it.
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Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The Gospel according to St Matthew 19.23-24
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A friend sent me a quote from an RTÉ show (no, I ‘m sorry, I don’t have a URL or video link):
According to leaks from the Royal Household Staff, more than once, The Queen and Thatcher had vociferous “discussions” on the PM‘s conservative “reform” policies. Her Majesty… who together with the Queen Mother had political memory and experience reaching back into the 19th Century… sternly argued for strong Trades Unions and social welfare benefits. The Queen Mum especially feared a return to the blight and poverty that these two movements had successfully stemmed. Both queens remembered the poverty of the pre-War time, especially that of the Welsh miners and Scottish urban dwellers. Furthermore, the Queen absolutely felt it was such poverty and exploitation that wrenched Ireland out of the UK and led so many Irish to repudiate the United Kingdom. The secession, in both queens’ opinion, would never have occurred if the necessary political and social reforms had been implemented. But Thatcher’s ideological precursors had scuttled that. And the high price was paid.
If Thatcher’s policies took hold it would be only years, maybe decades, the Queen said, before poverty and unemployment would haunt the land, virulent nationalisms would fester (including in England), and Scotland and Wales, too, would rise against the Union. She was right. Thatcher once howled, “That woman! Thank God, she isn’t allowed the vote. Why, she’d vote Socialist Labour! I just know it! Disgusting!”
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You can have rightwing punks such as Dropout Scott Walker and Miss Maggie… or you can have human beings like the Queen Mum. I’m certain that had he lived on, St Nikolai Aleksandrovich would’ve agreed with Her Highness… NOT Saggy Maggie. After all, he was a ROYAL (and a good example of the breed)… not a grubby counting-house mercantile sort (don’t forget, Saggy Maggie’s father ran a VERY modest grocery shop… it’s the source of her money-grubbing and philistine habits, to be sure). Orthodox people should know that St Aleksei Toth blessed his parishioners to join the Wobblies. So, on two grounds, all decent people should reject the godless nostrums of the Republican Party… firstly, it’s wrong to take bread from the workers and stuff it in the boodle bags of the oligarchs, as the Queen Mum observed. Secondly, it’s right to for working people to band together and fight for their rights, as St Aleksei recognised through his blessing.
God is NOT the Protector and Benefactor of the Wealthy… don’t forget, Our Lord Christ CHOSE to be incarnate in the family of a carpenter… NOT in a lawyer’s family… NOT in a priest’s family… NOT in a landowner’s family… NOT in a merchant’s family… do ponder that. I seem to remember something about a camel and an eye of a needle…
Barbara-Marie Drezhlo
Saturday 19 May 2012
Albany NY
Voices from Russia 
The Greek Crisis “Kneecapped” The Euro
Tags: Angela Merkel, Athens, EU, European Central Bank, European sovereign debt crisis, European Union, Eurozone, François Hollande, Greece, Greek economic crisis, Greek elections, Greek government, Italy, political commentary, politics, Sovereign Debt Crisis, Spain, Spanish Banks
The Euro Time Bomb
Carlos Latuff
2010
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The Eurozone’s “Zero Hour” may come in July, as the Greek crisis collapsed share prices of leading European and world companies and depressed the oil market. Analysts predict a big shock for the EU and the Eurozone. Some experts believe it to be “the point of no return” for the EU, and the gloomiest scenario, according to the more pessimistic analysts, wouldn’t just be the departure of some members of the Eurozone; it could even lead to the collapse of the EU. However, most experts still believe that the Eurozone will survive, and that the euro will keep its status as one of the world’s reserve currencies. When the international rating agency Fitch downgraded Greece‘s credit rating from “B” to “CCC”, that was only confirmation of panic in world financial markets. On 18 May, the Asian markets recorded their largest drop in value since September of last year. Trading at American, European, and Russian venues reflected this, as investors are concerned not only about political instability in Greece, but also about a growing “domino effect” throughout Europe. Moody’s lowered the ratings of 16 Spanish banks, and prior to that, some 26 Italian financial institutions received the same “stigma”.
Opinions differ markedly over the need to kick Greece out of the Eurozone, not only in Greece (“the catalyst of the crisis”), but beyond it, as well. However, some analysts believe that within the first year after such a hypothetical departure, two-thirds of European banks might suffer losses. Furthermore, only further EU emergency measures to change the mechanisms of functioning of the Eurozone could keep the markets from total collapse. In addition, experts suggest that we await the outcome of new elections in Greece . David Murrin, the CEO of Emergent Asset Management, the author of Breach of History, described a rather gloomy view of prospects for the Eurozone, saying, “In general, it has no economic future, and, perhaps, none in political terms as well. I believe that the Eurozone will eventually collapse. The whole idea of ’Europe’ is simply not feasible. I base my opinion on the fact that, for countries or empires, the usual basis of the social order is broad demographics. When we contend with negative demographics, it’s a problem. If it grows unchecked, the system must ultimately collapse. Maybe, several major countries might remain in the Eurozone, but they’ll toss some others out. I think it’s too late to do something to avoid a crisis”. If you give it a little thought, Mr Murrina’s words become clear… if the one of the principal predicaments in Europe is the demographic situation, one of the current problems is uncontrolled immigration.
However, not all observers share his pessimism. French economist Jean-Marc Trûèl offered another view, saying, “The EU hasn’t yet exhausted all the means to deal with the crisis. Most likely, the Eurozone will survive. It’ll include the largest countries in the current Eurozone, along with Italy and Spain. Probably, there’ll be some problems with Greece, as technical default’s likely, but the Eurozone will survive. Until now, the emphasis was on the restoration of private bank accounts. Now, officials and politicians are aware that this wasn’t enough. In the medium term, we must stimulate growth, but in the short run, its’ necessary to introduce new financial instruments and hold them through the Central Bank. Then, the European Central Bank would itself lend to countries in need”. M Trûèl believed that the new French government could play a major role in addressing the crisis in Europe, emphasising that François Hollande, the new French President, suggested a way out to stimulate European economic growth. It became clear after Hollande’s meeting with Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel that Berlin gave some support to Paris’ new ideas.
Western experts emphasise that Russia has an interest in preserving and strengthening the Eurozone (and the euro itself). In general, they’re right. The fever that gripped the EU had a negative impact on oil prices, Russian shares prices, and the exchange rate of the rouble. Russian expert Aleksandr Laputin said, “However difficult this time may be for Russia and for Europe, it’s only temporary. I’m sure that the Eurozone will survive… even if we assume that it’ll kick Greece out. Don’t forget that when we speak of Greece, we’re only talking about two percent of the total European GDP. As matter of fact, Athens has to either declare default, zeroing out its debts, or, withdraw from the Eurozone, and quickly introduce their own currency. A fast introduction of a new currency is practically impossible. A Greek default would lead to no more money from the EU or from private investors for several years. Therefore, to kick Greece out of the Eurozone or to allow Greece to default are imprudent actions, I don’t consider this option as being very probable”.
Meanwhile, the IMF, one of the major lenders to Greece, remains calm. They’re waiting for the results of the 17 June elections, and “looking forward to contacts with the government, once it’s formed”. What’ll happen with Athens and the Eurozone… will it be a financial collapse or a slow revival? We hope that it’s the second option… in fact, the consequences of a “European meltdown” would shake up the entire global financial system. We remain optimistic.
18 May 2012
Andrei Smirnov
Pyotr Iskenderov
Voice of Russia World Service
http://rus.ruvr.ru/2012_05_18/75199390/