Is it time to empty Euro bank accounts?

[funkylyn]

Maybe in the future we will be able to be payed in krugerrands or get one salary payed into some off-shore account or go back to a bartering system, and exclude the banking system completely, sounds good to me

Yes, if only we could get back to bartering and get rid of banks, unfortunately they seem to have got us well and truly by the proverbials.....how did that happen ?....when ? ......where did all their power come from? ... insidiously trapping us and becoming mega powerful seemingly almost overnight, at least it feels like that.......no point in Krugerrands or off shore accounts.....they would soon go the same way

A Mattress (for the money !), and a necessary skill to barter with, sounds good at the moment....even if it isnt really feasible

Lynda

 

[anniegirl]

Yes Lynda, I agree with you that we should perhaps go back to using a mattress to store all our dosh. Maybe a biscuit tin or the freezer are another couple of good alternatives?

 

[Scimitar]

I don't think I'd like to be a Cypriot government member right now and especially not one with responsibility for the decision.
There are some very nasty Russians behind some of that money, who will not take kindly to some of it being stolen.

 

[funkylyn]

I don't think I'd like to be a Cypriot government member right now and especially not one with responsibility for the decision.
There are some very nasty Russians behind some of that money, who will not take kindly to some of it being stolen.

Now thats a very good point, and could be very interesting.

A couple of years ago it was estimated that there were upwards of 50,000 Russian mafia actually living on the Costa del Sol alone......so lets hope the Spanish govt arent reduced to doing the same.

Having seen some of their first proposed ridiculous knee jerk reactions to EU legislation, ( you MUST reduce carbon emissions.....ok we will ban all cars over 10yrs old from Madrid ) they really do get some crazy ideas (you Must try to improve your road accident rate......ok, we will ban all left hand drive cars from Spain )

Whilst they argue, demonstrate and waffle on the Russians would have a field day.......I would imagine they will already be withdrawing their ill gotten gains from the banks, and if so......thats not good news for the financial situation in Spain, and it really is grim there, we are having it easy here compared to Spain and the others that are in even worse dire straits than us.

You think Politicians are bad/mad here ?
Believe me, we should thank our lucky stars really........

Meanwhile, back to Cyprus, I think and hope that commonsense will prevail and that they won't tax people with under a certain amount in their accounts....which of course ....still leaves those angry Russians .....still, if they only take their anger out on the bankers lets just call it 'rough justice' lol

Lynda

 

[AlMel]

Although not much reported in the press, many EU countries are actually doing reasonably well: Germany of course, but also the Czechs, Austria, the Scandinavians as usual, the Baltic states and others. They have their own problems but of the kind Osborne wouldn’t mind swapping his for. Most of these nations are in the Euro but some are not. So what have they got in common?

At the turn of the century they restructured their economies.
They brought in greater employee flexibility, more efficiency in the provision of healthcare and education and they reduced their social benefits.

Yet in all of these areas, provision remains far better than in the States.
In God’s own country most employees can be fired on a whim at 2 weeks’ notice and redundancy pay doesn’t exist. Being fired of course is the likely outcome of refusing to work the hours demanded of your employer.
Even ‘ObamaCare’ will not provide healthcare to the level of those EU nations and of the NHS.
American parents, as soon as their income permits, pull their kids out of state schools most of which are run down and grossly under staffed.
If you’re disabled or need a helping hand you’d better have had a good insurance policy and hope it doesn’t run out; otherwise with a few localised exceptions you can only seek charity.

So why is Britain in its particular mess? Remember how ten or so years ago the Chancellor was proclaiming over and over that he’d put an end to boom and bust? The government proudly told the world it had found a “third way”. One funded as it turned out, on private borrowing. The entire economy grew on private borrowing and consumption. The banks fell over themselves to fuel grotesque property speculation. People felt rich because of the imagined future value of their property, on which they borrowed and spent. The ensuing boom filled the government’s coffers. So instead of restructuring the economy whilst the going was good, everyone spent like there was no tomorrow till… tomorrow came.

So it’s really irrelevant to blame current ills on Europe or even on the Euro. Blame lies much closer to Britain’s borders. Indeed I would suggest it lies within.

 

[funkylyn]

Absolutely, we need to clean our own act up first and that has to start with a reform of the benefits system, number one priority in my mind.......closely followed by a reform......and I mean a real reform, not lip service, of the banking system, then followed by..........................noooo....its too early and I dont want to blight my day today with depressing thoughts

Lynda

 

[jerrysimon]

Absolutely, we need to clean our own act up first and that has to start with a reform of the benefits system

As someone who has been closely involved in securing benefit/disability living allowance for a member of my family, I have been astounded at just how hard it is to get it approved and its about to get worse. As such I am amazed at the numerous reports of abuse. My gut feeling is that the press reports of cheating are largely exaggerated/focusing on the few obscene ones. As usual those in need and the weak are easy targets when the country is looking for someone to blame.

The recent move to charge people for unused bedrooms in council property (bedroom tax) has been ill thought out by the bureaucrats and people completely out of touch with reality.

I myself have never had need to apply for council accommodation or draw benefit but have worked and paid tax since I was 16. I am more than happy to do that, knowing that it supports those less fortunate than myself. What I do find hard to swallow is the waste of such taxes propping up a Governments (it does not matter what party, they are all the same) that clearly have no idea what they are doing and hemorrhage tax payers money in spin, media, committees, reports, consultants, salaries and expenses of those who are suppose to be representing us all.

Jerry

 

[funkylyn]

As someone who has been closely involved in securing benefit/disability living allowance, I have been astounded at just how hard it is to get it approved, as such I am amazed at the numerous reports of abuse. My gut feeling is that the press reports of cheating are largely exaggerated/focusing on the few obscene ones. As usual those in need and the weak are easy targets when the country is looking for someone to blame.

Jerry

And the truth is, it really shouldn't be difficult to get, for all those who need it, that is what the benefit system is for, helping those in genuine need.

The reason it is getting difficult for genuine claimants is that the system is stretched and abused in several ways, paying families enough money that they "can't afford " to work, paying benefits to immigrants who havent paid into it and should be allowed to settle in the UK only if they have work or enough savings to keep themselves.....the list goes on, I don't think the claims are exaggerated, its a very complex problem that will need a strong government to sort out.....and where do we get one of those from ?

Lynda

 

[jerrysimon]

Perhaps the country should be run by this pedelec forum lmao.

Jerry

 

[Old_Dave]

The recent move to charge people for unused bedrooms in council property (bedroom tax) has been ill thought out by the bureaucrats and people completely out of touch with reality.

Its called .. 'doing a Baldrick'

A cunning plan based upon logic that could only apply in an alternative reality,

Here's a quote that shows the connection with bureaucrats and people completely out of touch with reality

Baldrick: I've been helping out with the workhouse Nativity play.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, of course. How did it go?
Baldrick: Well, not very well. At the last moment, the baby playing Jesus died!
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, dear! This high infant mortality rate's a real devil when it comes to staging quality children's theatre. What did you do?
Baldrick: Got another Jesus.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, thank goodness. And his name?
Baldrick: "Spot." There weren't any more children so we had to settle for a dog instead.
Ebenezer Blackadder: Oh, dear. I'm not convinced that Christianity would have established its firm grip over the hearts and minds of mankind, if all Jesus had ever said was "woof!"

 

[funkylyn]

Perhaps the country should be run by this pedelec forum lmao.

Jerry

LOL.....the really frightening thing is....we probably wouldnt be any worse at it......

Lynda

 

[funkylyn]

Just seen on the news that the Russians were warned before the weekend, before anyone else, and have already withdrawn over £2bn from banks in Cyprus............suppose that means its down to the masses to be taxed and made to suffer after all......what a surprise.....

Lynda

 

[jazper53]

The time is coming when we will have to decide whether we want to continue our membership of this fantasist experiment(EEC), that was always doomed to fail, and looks like the cracks that have constantly been papered over, will not be able to be hidden anymore. The Franco, German experiment for Europe is turning into a total shambles, and will end in total failure. Independence from Europe is our only solution which is becoming more evident on a daily basis

 

[jazper53]

Perhaps the country should be run by this pedelec forum lmao.

Jerry

I would like to nominate myself as Minster for Transport

 

[funkylyn]

I would like to nominate myself as Minster for Transport

OK jazper, you have my support in that.

I want to be in too, but I cant just decide yet in what capacity.........let me just have a vape and think about it.......

Lynda

 

[jazper53]

OK jazper, you have my support in that.

I want to be in too, but I cant just decide yet in what capacity.........let me just have a vape and think about it.......

Lynda

Thank you for your support. My first act will be to renationalise the railways.

 

[funkylyn]

Yep.....bf is a train driver so....Agreed......next ?

Lynda

 

[jazper53]

All new roads built or modified must have cycle lanes purpose built alongside new or modified constructions

 

[Kudoscycles]

Just seen on the news that the Russians were warned before the weekend, before anyone else, and have already withdrawn over £2bn from banks in Cyprus............suppose that means its down to the masses to be taxed and made to suffer after all......what a surprise.....

Lynda

Thats true,it was common knowledge that this was happening in Canary Wharf last week

 

[Kudoscycles]

How about this as an idea...
Scrap capital gains tax,corporation tax,inheritance tax,NI contributions and have one tax based upon turnover (revenue)......it would be so easy to calculate and nobody (Starbucks,Google etc) could avoid paying for it,you could eliminate armies of accountants,halve the HMRC staff....collect by direct debit on a monthly basis....it would also stop the casino trading of the banks because tiny profit percentages on high revenue turnover just would not be viable...what is the revenue of the country? It may only have to be 1-2% tax.
Seems obviously simple to me.
KudosDave