Problems with the economy are just starting ...

[shaunbhoy]

Agreed. Bad news all round

Yes, and we can always rely upon you to be bearer of same!

[rootsnall]

As the PIGS are in deep tulipe (unemployment in Spain is at depression levels - 20% and Greece is effectively bust), what will the Germans do as they move out of recession? Because a growing economy needs a different policy to one in the doldrums e.g. you cannot keep interest rates low.
Italy and the like used to devalue and inflate in past situations like this but cannot now - they have to make the hard decision to stick with austerity.
Its going to be interesting.
Meanwhile in the UK whatever government is elected in May will have to make swingeing cuts so expect unemployment (in the public sector) to be massively increased, house prices to fall drastically and the postponed recession to take hold.

The bizarre thing is that the stockmarket and just about everybody of note commenting publicly point to things being OK in 2010. However in private various mates who work in the City/finance are saying sell sell sell. The people who created the financial mess are still in charge and still taking us all for a ride.

[OwlHoot]

... However in private various mates who work in the City/finance are saying sell sell sell. The people who created the financial mess are still in charge and still taking us all for a ride.

Yup, been saying it for months: Speed - The 50 MPH bus ride, with the manic bus driver cum bomber still in charge, and us screaming passengers in the back.

[sasguru]

But at least we can hope that you personally will do well in this crisis and will ride the wave to success in owning a few streets full of bedsits in London?

Indeed. Opportunities to make money always exist - ain't capitalism great?

[sasguru]

Yes, and we can always rely upon you to be bearer of same!

Well in your simple and happy world I'm sure everything is just fine and dandy.

[AtW]

Indeed. Opportunities to make money always exist - ain't capitalism great?

Private profits, but losses are for the taxpayers to bear eh?

[shaunbhoy]

Well in your simple and happy world I'm sure everything is just fine and dandy.

Maybe not, but the last thing that is required is a gloomy harbinger of doom like you tediously repeating snippets that clearly pass so far over your head they cannot be glimpsed without binoculars. In short, if I want an informed opinion about the state of the economy I will ask an expert, and not put too much faith in someone of your limited ability to regurgitate what you have overheard whilst mopping the bogs.

[sasguru]

Maybe not, but the last thing that is required is a gloomy harbinger of doom like you tediously repeating snippets that clearly pass so far over your head they cannot be glimpsed without binoculars. In short, if I want an informed opinion about the state of the economy I will ask an expert, and not put too much faith in someone of your limited ability to regurgitate what you have overheard whilst mopping the bogs.

I can just imagine Christmas in your family, all the rest of them fixed in a rictus grin, while they indulge simple Uncle SB in his verbal diarrhoea.

[shaunbhoy]

I can just imagine Christmas in your family, all the rest of them fixed in a rictus grin, while they indulge simple Uncle SB in his verbal diarrhoea.

I can break the insults down for you, or do you need it in pictorial form again?

[norrahe]

It seems this thread has turned into handbags at 20 paces, leave it SB 'es not worth it.