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I'm glad to see other countries demonstrating against the Bankers just going back to "business as usual" ...but this time using the Public's money for their gambling stakes and outrageous personal bonuses.
Why on Earth would they want to lend out medium amounts of money to small business who want to expand and employ people, at maybe only a 6 or 7% return, when they could gamble with $2billion bets a time on futures markets and possibly double their money in a year if they get it right?
If they get it wrong, then the CEO accepts full responsibiliy and apologises and leaves with a $30million severance package in his back pocket and leaves everyone to sort it out.
This is what I meant about the ordinary Joe getting sick to the back teeth with it all in my first post in the "Egypt Riots".
I truly believe that the current economic crisis has precipitated all of this.
That, and the fact of the Internet.
All this could never have happened without the Internet, where "ordinary Joes and Janes" can speak together worldwide IMO.
I'm sick of hearing on TV how these greedy bankers try to justify their huge bonus payouts by claiming that only they have the talent and we need them to be paid lots of money.....but my old mother used to say that the graveyard is full of indispensible people.
For this backwoods American, that sure was a confusing way to protest. That would be like Americans protesting by doing line dancing. But, dancing is worlds better than senseless violence, that much we can all be sure of.
This is what I meant in my original post... So long as the population is pretty well-fed and got somewhere to live and maybe even a little bit saved up....then trouble will be at a minimum and the ruling and elite classes can do whatever they want to as far as the general public is concerned.
A term I heard when I worked offshore (on a ship) was... "A grumbling sailor is a happy sailor".
But once policies eat into the basic standard of living, while those affected watch the fat cats grab obscene amounts of money and live outrageously wealthy lifestyles...well, then something has to give IMO...
Like the French Revolution, that struck fear into the hearts of monarchs everywhere in Europe.
But once policies eat into the basic standard of living, while those affected watch the fat cats grab obscene amounts of money and live outrageously wealthy lifestyles...well, then something has to give IMO...
(all only IMO, of course )
cheers,
Ron
Maybe thirty years ago I was in Guadalajara, Mexico. The ruling party had just stolen an election in a particularly outrageous manner. There were rumblings of revolt. I asked a cab driver what he thought.
"Si la gente sienten hambre, el país levantará," he replied.
"If the people feel hunger, the country will rise."
I dont think there needs to be outstanding poverty to change a system. The principles that constitute politics and economy are enough reason to change it. Besides, poverty or crisis dont rise the chances of revolts. There are too many examples that proof this theory wrong. Its all about what political groups are there and how they position themselves with their goals. IMO.
I'm sick of hearing on TV how these greedy bankers try to justify their huge bonus payouts by claiming that only they have the talent and we need them to be paid lots of money.
Ronzy,
There was one of them on the main Radio news yesterday saying... "London has some of the very best bankers in the World. Surely they should get the same rate of pay as their counterparts in Hong Kong or Switzerland? These guys bring in billions of pounds to the UK economy. Why would you want to deny them the fair going rate?
What we are asking for is only the same pay as our counterparts receive in other countries and not a penny more. Is THAT being unfair or greedy? "
Aye...THAT is the problem IMO..
We need COUNTRIES to get together to block off any haven they can go to, in order to carry out their profit money movement schemes.
There is no Oxford Univeristy Degree in Banking... It's not an activity that requires an Einsteinian brain...
It's just being pretty smart and getting invited into the Club. That's all.
Making a profit from moving money about is NOT sustainable as a human development activity.....that's just a fantasy world.
It's actually MAKING things that count IMO.
At one time the West Midlands was a hive of small specialist car manufacturers and engineers, employing lots of workers.
The U.S was the same, only a thousandfold.
Where is it all now?
China?
Kids leaving school these days don't want a job where they have to hold anything in their hand heavier than a ball-point pen.
Engineering departments are getting cut, or are closing down.
All for "pushing money around"....i.e....."gambling"
Sure, INDIVIDUALS can do that sort of stuff.
But you CAN'T run a World Economy on it.
That's just a huge Worldwide "Ponzi Scheme" and doomed to fail in the long run IMO.
And here they are again: Even though Santander's profits are down, their directors' salaries and bonuses are up!
So 6 persons (bank's executive) shared the cake of 40 millions euros. Lets say something like 6 millions per person. So these guys received more than 500 000 euros per month just in bonuses. Not that bad! They deserve some kickass zapateo compas more...
How many fine handmade luthier guitar he could by with his extra-cash ? No it's better to buy a collector violin
_____________________________
"The most important part of Flamenco is not in knowing how to interpret it. The higher art is in knowing how to listen." (Luis Agujetas)
Making a profit from moving money about is NOT sustainable as a human development activity.....that's just a fantasy world.
It's actually MAKING things that count IMO.
At one time the West Midlands was a hive of small specialist car manufacturers and engineers, employing lots of workers.
The U.S was the same, only a thousandfold.
Where is it all now?
China?
Kids leaving school these days don't want a job where they have to hold anything in their hand heavier than a ball-point pen.
Engineering departments are getting cut, or are closing down.
All for "pushing money around"....i.e....."gambling"
Sure, INDIVIDUALS can do that sort of stuff.
But you CAN'T run a World Economy on it.
That's just a huge Worldwide "Ponzi Scheme" and doomed to fail in the long run IMO.
Ron - you said it exactly.
It has always amazed me the way that "The Stock Markets" are reported on the TV news as if they meant anything to the average person; it's just part of the barrage of **** aimed at making people complacent about the notion that "pushing money around"....i.e....."gambling" really is a valid way to run a world economy.
You always put things in a far more eloquent way than I can.....I'ts good to be back in circulation again now that I have had my eyes fixed and I can see again...am I on the right forum?....this is the grumpy old mens form?... I love it here.
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puto bankero 
) 
But, dancing is worlds better than senseless violence, that much we can all be sure of. 
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