Euro Prediction Thread

[retired_member26]

I am wondering what is the unit price of best quality strawberry (organic - small pink ones not the big red hormonized ones) and cherry (big ones same size like peaches) in London. The reason why I am asking is those were solely exported from Konya and Salihli to London.

The answer includes the basic solution to your dilemma.

 

[bensd]

I am wondering what is the unit price of best quality strawberry (organic - small pink ones not the big red hormonized ones) and cherry (big ones same size like peaches) in London. The reason why I am asking is those were solely exported from Konya and Salihli to London.

The answer includes the basic solution to your dilemma.

I thought it was only Julian that posted riddles ;-)

 

[Aegean]

As someone who lives in Greece, I generally agree with almost everything JMOT said, but I don't believe Greece will leave the Euro. In almost every poll of Greek citizens, over 80% want to stay in the Euro. In my day to day life in Greece it drives me potty that they blame everyone else. They spent the money, its as simple as that, but I've heard every thing here from "its the germans, theyre trying to take over Greece again" to "its the yanks, they're after the oil in the Aegean Sea". They spent the money. Its their fault. But if they leave the Euro this country will collapse.

However, l would say that the UK is no different. Corruption, large scale contract corruption and government illegalities are rife in the UK. Not only that, but the Brits would never tolorate the austerity measures they expect the Greeks to tolerate. Here in Greece they have just endured a 30% cut in the minimum wage, from 800E to 500E a month (thats £400), they've shut lots of schools and hospitals and slashed the pensions of older folk. The price of electricity has doubled, a new property tax at an average of 1000E per annum has been introduced, and still the Germans, Brits and every other western European nation tell them to cut more. They would never put up with this in the UK.

Lastly, I'd like to mention or remind those of who who are old enough that during the 1970's, the UK was almost on its knees, and if it wasn't for Arab money the country would have collapsed. The great British unions absolutely screwed the whole country, thinking they owned the companies they worked for. Thats why the UK has such a terrible reputation amongst large corporate businesses. Its not that different from Greece really, its just a bigger country.

 

[Aegean]

Is that a month? If it's a week then keep taking cuts because you would earn nearly 25% less than that in the UK for full-time minimum wage. The thing is most employers that pay minimum wage won't employ people full-time because of legislation, instead they have two or three part-time employees working part-time.

Yes, its per month, I edited my post to reflect that.

 

[Aegean]

because surely at £100 per week equivalent, you can't afford to eat let alone pay rent etc..

Thats right, and thats why in the last month alone I have had 2 old women begging at my door and 2 local chaps practically begging me for work, any work. You can't live from £100 per week here unless you are living with parents or such.

 

[retired_member26]

You can't live from £100 per week here unless you are living with parents or such.

Depends on your life style.

The official minimum wage here is 634,64 TL(net) for month for +16, which makes £226 per month! Millions are living with that money and millions are willing to live with that money if they can find a job.

As said young people are living with the support of family. You should have no extra expenditure and I also add that every step you take has tax on it.

 

[binny]

The only thing I often wonder is where has all the money gone. Yes there's been lots of losers but for every loser, there has to be a winner and the World is aflow with money, we've even printed more than we actually have (I hope that makes sense) so where is it?

Chinese cash reserves were $3.2 trillion at the end of 2011. I doubt the usual suspects including the Rothschild and Rockefeller trusts are short just now either.

 

[Bailey]

However, l would say that the UK is no different. Corruption, large scale contract corruption and government illegalities are rife in the UK. Not only that, but the Brits would never tolorate the austerity measures they expect the Greeks to tolerate. Here in Greece they have just endured a 30% cut in the minimum wage, from 800E to 500E a month (thats £400), they've shut lots of schools and hospitals and slashed the pensions of older folk. The price of electricity has doubled, a new property tax at an average of 1000E per annum has been introduced, and still the Germans, Brits and every other western European nation tell them to cut more. They would never put up with this in the UK.

.

Just to pick-up on two of your points there Aegean.

I do think your wrong about the levels of "Well lets say - Backhanders" in Greece a lot of what goes on in Greece not seen as 'Corruption' at-all. Where as here in the UK - penalties are 'Stiff' - you'd want a pretty good reason to turn a Blind-Eye to just about anything illegal (backhander-wise) that you may have some connection with

Greece - i'm not sure that's the case ?

On your other point about the Greeks 'Hurting' - Thank-you for bringing that home . I must admit I wasn't quite so conscious of the measures that are being felt there, before reading your post

 

[Aegean]

I dont disagree with you Bailey, and its true to say corruption in the UK was far more prevelant in the 70's. I also know from my own experience in the UK oil industry that knowing the right government ministers goes a long way to securing contracts, same as in Greece. The problem I have with the Greece situation is the ordinary Greeks that are suffering.

Its heartbreaking, I had a chap at my door who lives with and looks after his old mum (in her late '80s). He lost his job and so lost the only source of income. You have to pay into the unemployment insurance to get it here, and a lot of Greeks don't, plus a lot of Greek companies are supposed to pay it for their employees but don't. Anyway he was at my door, in tears, begging me for work because he knows I do something with computers. I couldn't help him work-wise, there was nothing he could do to help my work, so all I could do was give him a couple of hundred Euros (all I could afford) for food.

Apart from losing his job, he and his mum have also been hit with the new property tax, which for them came to about 1000E. They put it on the electric bills, so if you don't pay the tax they cut off your power.

I don't think its possible for things to get any worse for these people. Its worth remembering I am on Rhodes, which is actually one of the wealthier parts of Greece. Its even worse in the big cities.

 

[JMOT]

Agree with Aegean mostly altho you have to factor in taxes collected per head. The UK does mostly pay its taxes. Generalismism yes I know, the rich always find ways of paying less. However Greece has had an almost inbuilt anti-tax/tax-avoidance culture at the heart of it.

This makes an interesting read:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/financ...-than-taxpayers-declaring-50000-euro-incomes/

 

[Aegean]

I agree with the non-taxpaying culture, I know people who used to be part of it. However, the article referenced has been shown to be widely incorrect, as confirmed by Porsche themselves via their dealer manager here in Greece:

http://skeptics.stackexchange.com/q...g-porsche-cayennes-than-paying-high-rate-tax/

A bit like the straight banana story in my opinion.

Agree with Aegean mostly altho you have to factor in taxes collected per head. The UK does mostly pay its taxes. Generalismism yes I know, the rich always find ways of paying less. However Greece has had an almost inbuilt anti-tax/tax-avoidance culture at the heart of it.

This makes an interesting read:

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/financ...-than-taxpayers-declaring-50000-euro-incomes/

 

[JMOT]

This isnt a Greek bashing thread tho. Look at the UK's own bullshitted property repo stats. The banks have been ordered to hold back on repo's and also not to release them thru the auction houses.

We are living in a realm of smoke and mirrors right now. The real state of UK finances is being covered up.

 

[scooter]

Is certainly is not a Greek bashing thread. Aegean brings home the shocking reality. It is terrible. Greece is hurting real bad. The reality is they must make more cuts and continue cutting.

Aegean, can you see your own coutry being forced to live this way for the next 20yrs?

You will leave the Euro. You cannot live this way. You will hurt short term (but you are already) and you will start to bounce back with the Drachma.

The Drachma is not the end for you guys. It is the beginning. It is the only way for growth. You cannot devalue the Euro as you are tied to it. You can with the Drachma.


Everyone is ready for it.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/news/article-2154574/Banks-step-plans-possible-break-euro.html





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[scooter]

We are living in a realm of smoke and mirrors right now. The real state of UK finances is being covered up.

Completely agree.
Edwins link to the channel 4 video is well worth a look. It brings home the shocking reality. Even the cuts the government is implementing are just a joke. It does not even scratch the surface. We are living in a little dream.



To save you searching, here it is again. Positive rep to Edwin. Everybody should watch this.
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/b...d-horror-story






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[JMOT]

TBH Spain will be the decider. The scale of the Greek problems versus the Spanish might just be the deal breaker....whilst Greece is still deciding what it wants to do Spain will probably just go POP and force everyones hand.

 

[JMOT]

Jeez. Just watched that 4OD video too. Bit long but worth it, totally. Thanks Edwin.

The cynic in me wonders if the recent calls for a 30% tax are the govt feeling out the plans to judge their impact : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18137548

If the UK did the one thing as suggested of halving its public sector size and slashing all taxes to the bone we as a nation would thrive. I'd want to stay here thats for sure and not be looking at the door.

It does make total, total sense.

However as individuals in this business we can make our own choices in where we choose to be. Life however has a habit of fucking that up and creating ties.

 

[Aegean]

Is certainly is not a Greek bashing thread. Aegean brings home the shocking reality. It is terrible. Greece is hurting real bad. The reality is they must make more cuts and continue cutting.

Aegean, can you see your own coutry being forced to live this way for the next 20yrs?

You will leave the Euro. You cannot live this way. You will hurt short term (but you are already) and you will start to bounce back with the Drachma.

The Drachma is not the end for you guys. It is the beginning. It is the only way for growth. You cannot devalue the Euro as you are tied to it. You can with the Drachma.

Well Scooter, I'm a Scottish chap living here, but the horrible truth is that I think you are probably right, Greece will leave the Euro, especially if we get the same result as last time in the Greek elections next week.

I don't think they should leave the Euro, most of the people don't want to, but I think they'll have to. For me, I'll have to go back to the UK if things get any worse, and I don't really want to do that.

 

[solaris]

TBH Spain will be the decider. The scale of the Greek problems versus the Spanish might just be the deal breaker....whilst Greece is still deciding what it wants to do Spain will probably just go POP and force everyones hand.

Yes I agree, Spain is too big to ignore and their banks are tied to a lot of speculative property development that has stalled.

 

[Edwin]

The longer the crisis drags on unresolved, the more time banks in other European countries have to divest themselves of exposure to the "problem" countries (and the citizens of those countries have to move their savings abroad). So time probably makes a grexit+ scenario more rather than less likely, as the wider fallout gradually diminishes as more and more positions are unwound.

 

[JMOT]

Edwin they are up to their eyebrows in it tho with their exposure. Its too late to get out or hedge anything to limit their losses. They lent money with borrowed money that was borrowed and borrowed again.