If Britain were Greece

[BMWBen]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17202274

Moving audio slideshow from the sunday times economics editor. To me it highlights just how important it is to get our national finances in order. Obviously it would take a lot for us to end up in that situation (it doesn't outline *why* all of this is necessary over there), but hopefully it will open peoples' eyes a little as to the reality of the post debt world.

[cazzer]

What a load of doom mongering ste.

How about a slideshow of "If greece had had the sort of taxation and duty levels, pension regime, retirement ages and public sector that Britain has already how much of the st would they have avoided in the first place"

[Digga]

I like the idea about the public sector cuts, as long as we can get rid of the useless, seat-shining, 5 sick days a month with a nebulous job description ones and keep the grafters.

[alock]

To be honest, I think we should be doing most of what is suggested anyway. The fact we are not Greece means we can do it in a structured and controlled way over the next 20 years instead of within the next 2 years.

[Happy82]

Digga said:

I like the idea about the public sector cuts, as long as we can get rid of the useless, seat-shining, 5 sick days a month with a nebulous job description ones and keep the grafters.

As this is Britain, we'll be left with the unemployable wretches of the public sector meaning we need to recruit more again to get some work done

[Digga]

alock said:

To be honest, I think we should be doing most of what is suggested anyway. The fact we are not Greece means we can do it in a structured and controlled way over the next 20 years instead of within the next 2 years.

My sentiments entirely.

[dandarez]

More appropriate would have been 'IF' Britain had dropped the Pound and joined the Euro at the same time as Greece in January 2001, would we be up the creek without a paddle like Greece is now?
The answer is bloody obvious: Yes!

I used to visit Greece regularly when the drachma was in force, lovely country and people and tourists spending, spending. In came the Euro, up went effin' 'everything', the conclusion was the inevitable.
We'd have been exactly the same.

In fact, today is a sad day for Greeks. The Drachma disappears completely today at the close of Bank business, the last chance for anyone with drachmas to change them into Euros. What a thought.
The Drachma and its history is now nothing more than a sentimental piece of paper.
The Pound could have been in the same position, god forbid.

The sooner we leave the EU and its failed monetary policy the better imo.

[BMWBen]

cazzer said:

What a load of doom mongering ste.

How about a slideshow of "If greece had had the sort of taxation and duty levels, pension regime, retirement ages and public sector that Britain has already how much of the st would they have avoided in the first place"

So you didn't find it moving then I take it.

I just thought it was an interesting comparison from the point of view of "if our finances where as fked as greece's are what would it mean".

[marcosgt]

What does "If Britain were Greece" actually mean?

Does it mean if we had exactly the same financial problems as Greece or does it mean, if the British Government applied the same policies (in the exact some proportions) as the Greek one has?

All seems totally meaningless without some definition of what "If Britain were Greece" - The only bit I could make sense of without that was that the weather's nicer in Greece, but that wouldn't be true if Britain WERE Greece...

About as insightful as most powerpoint presentations I see...

M

[cazzer]

For example, Greece has had a massive hike in fuel duty and vat over the past two years.
Diesel there is now £1.43 a ltr, have you seen the cost of Diesel here?

Basically that should say, if Britain had been playing it like greece for the past few years, how cheap would st have been.