How embarrassing. But you get what you vote for...
Jun 29th 2012, 5:56 am
#61
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: How embarrassing. But you get what you vote for...
Why have different currencies throughout the world; what does that actually achieve?
One of the reasons behind the Euro was precisely to stop the dominance of the US dollar - a lesson the UK should clearly have already learned when sterling plummeted in the post-WW2 period as the Empire came to an end.
Frankly the decline in the role of the US dollar is likely to be a far bigger problem for us than anything going on with the Euro.
Jun 29th 2012, 1:17 pm
#62
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: South of Calgary
Posts: 13,374
Re: How embarrassing. But you get what you vote for...
No, being originally British I would remain isolated from those jumping off the cliff, convince myself that I am superior in all ways to them, erect border controls to make it as hard as possible to interact with them, then sit there smug and xenophobic until I starved to death.
Well in reality the US dollar is the universal currency, this is something China has been trying to change lately. Also the reason why everything in the US is so inexpensive, because producers in other countries will accept US dollars and also the main reason things tend to be more expensive in Canada.
One of the reasons behind the Euro was precisely to stop the dominance of the US dollar - a lesson the UK should clearly have already learned when sterling plummeted in the post-WW2 period as the Empire came to an end.
Frankly the decline in the role of the US dollar is likely to be a far bigger problem for us than anything going on with the Euro.
One of the reasons behind the Euro was precisely to stop the dominance of the US dollar - a lesson the UK should clearly have already learned when sterling plummeted in the post-WW2 period as the Empire came to an end.
Frankly the decline in the role of the US dollar is likely to be a far bigger problem for us than anything going on with the Euro.
Why doesn't the entire world have a single currency?
Jun 29th 2012, 9:43 pm
#63
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 255
Re: How embarrassing. But you get what you vote for...
No, being originally British I would remain isolated from those jumping off the cliff, convince myself that I am superior in all ways to them, erect border controls to make it as hard as possible to interact with them, then sit there smug and xenophobic until I starved to death.
Well in reality the US dollar is the universal currency, this is something China has been trying to change lately. Also the reason why everything in the US is so inexpensive, because producers in other countries will accept US dollars and also the main reason things tend to be more expensive in Canada.
One of the reasons behind the Euro was precisely to stop the dominance of the US dollar - a lesson the UK should clearly have already learned when sterling plummeted in the post-WW2 period as the Empire came to an end.
Frankly the decline in the role of the US dollar is likely to be a far bigger problem for us than anything going on with the Euro.
Well in reality the US dollar is the universal currency, this is something China has been trying to change lately. Also the reason why everything in the US is so inexpensive, because producers in other countries will accept US dollars and also the main reason things tend to be more expensive in Canada.
One of the reasons behind the Euro was precisely to stop the dominance of the US dollar - a lesson the UK should clearly have already learned when sterling plummeted in the post-WW2 period as the Empire came to an end.
Frankly the decline in the role of the US dollar is likely to be a far bigger problem for us than anything going on with the Euro.
'Ding, Ding'. Round 2.
Interesting points all round.
Re: US $ in "Europe" - I am streching this definition to fall in line with "Euro Vision"; I can confirm that I have used US $ in Monrovia to purchase i) a decent night sleep with Breaky ii) Farming Diesel iii) Russian Beer (awful).
I am sure you would rebut with a sensible definition of "Europe"
FROTSUK
Last edited by FirstRatofftheShipUK; Jun 29th 2012 at 9:46 pm.
Jun 29th 2012, 9:58 pm
#64
Born again atheist
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: How embarrassing. But you get what you vote for...
So please tell me, when was the last time you paid for something anywhere in Europe with USD in cash, and had it accepted by the person you offered it to?
Why doesn't the entire world have a single currency?
I can't see a downside (given the above) to finishing the job, especially as it would destroy the ability of speculators and hedge funds to drive a currency down at a whim.
Jun 29th 2012, 11:33 pm
#65
BE Troll
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Upper Atmosphere
Posts: 1,708
Re: How embarrassing. But you get what you vote for...
In the case of Greece, yes, profligacy and a corrupt political system, in the case of Ireland and Spain, and to a lesser extent so far, the UK and Portugal, a consequence of their following the Thatcher/Reagan model of unfettered capitalism and the lunatic econometric teachings of David Li (a Canadian citizen). And greed.
To resolve the situation in the long term, fuller political union and centralized fiscal policy.
My fees are reasonable.
To resolve the situation in the long term, fuller political union and centralized fiscal policy.
My fees are reasonable.
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/30/bu...ng.html?src=pm
Jun 30th 2012, 12:13 am
#66
Born again atheist
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Europe (to be specified).
Posts: 30,259
Re: How embarrassing. But you get what you vote for...
this was an article from 1999
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/30/bu...ng.html?src=pm
http://www.nytimes.com/1999/09/30/bu...ng.html?src=pm
Edit: I'm sorry LV, I didn't read which of my posts you were quoting. Do you need a link to an article explaining the role of David Li?
