Is that not one of the main problems being tied into the same currency? I certainly don't see that it helps to get out of the mess but I suppose we will have to wait and see.

Being tied to the same currency is one thing, a country like Greece trying to act like Germany or Sweden when it comes to taxation, their economies etc is another thing.

Reductio ad absurdum

Look out, the happy banker is here...

I agree, like I say time will tell mind I fear it may take quite a while yet.

I'm do agree with the 'having something to lose meaning less likely to strike/call for change' to a certain extent. But that doesn't seem to have been necessary in Germany as there is a tradition of renting there not homeownership, so it doesn't necessarily seem that home ownership breeds compliance.

I guess it is more complicated than just one factor being involved that pushes people over the edge, maybe culture and tradition play a part as well.

I am just worried that the period of readjustment for Europe in general will take decades rather than years

aren't decades "years" then ??

I thought (for about 30secs) that the shifting of the "bad debt" that the banks had bought into (who got that money??) into "bad banks" would take the stress off the situation, that the provision of re-generation funding would enable businesses (and in turn the public who work for them) to revitalise markets and pump the kiddies top.
But No - the banks are still up to their old tricks, keeping the money, shifting it around between themselves and their friends - just like the team that keeps the ball and won't let anyone else play. Using specious reasons for not lending to businesses that need it to get more business, not lending to first time buyers - but gee, all the Buy-To-Let people can still keep borrowing to buy up more houses.

This is a time for change, a time when the old ways of rich bankers need to be pulled down from their ivory towers.
Alfredo Sáenz, 70, is departing his post as CEO of Banco Santander with a retirement package worth 88 million euros (about $115 million). He was one of Spain’s highest-paid chief executives, earning 8.2 million euros last year despite a pay cut of 29 percent.
And he also managed to use the "old boy's network" to get the previous Spanish Govt to pass a law allowing him to remain in banking despite having a criminal conviction.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...=raphaelminder
Can you imagine what any bank would say to a worker with a criminal conviction who wanted to borrow money or who wanted more time to pay off their mortgage because they were out of work ??
and after more than 40 years at work to find that a banker has "mishandled" a person's pension fund when bankers are getting an $88million pension package ??

lets have a little bit of sense out of all this.

I think there are 3 Elites out there that control everything and do what they want.... and are even outside the law at times... and as we see in this attached post - can write their own rules

The Financial/Business Elite
The Political Elite
The Religious Elite

They run the show .... we are the audience!

I'm not a Socialist so am not making any political statement here, just an observation of mine, regardless....

I'm not a Socialist either but it would do them good to realise that we are not the audience we are actually the one's funding their jaunt.
which is why I find it fitting that a UK MP can go to prison for telling a lie, that the mayor of Marbella (?) can get a prison sentence
but both have been wriggling for ages and ages

Liberty, Egality, Fraternity
Come the revolution.......................

Politicians bold try and lead the way, follow us and seize the day,
Deceit and lies and spin we’re shown, and all we ever do is moan,
Who will lead us from this mess, none I know I do confess,
Instead of statesmen strong and bold, we’ve cheats and liars who’ve gone and sold
Our gold and pensions down the drain, enough to drive a man insane…..

Fill their pockets with tax we pay, some cry ‘foul’….’not us they say’,
Employ a spouse and a child or two, put on expenses they pass through,
A Venal, shallow, narcisstic crowd, when found out they shout out loud,
‘We’re not to blame, it’s the rules you know’, yet another cruel low blow,
When will they learn that it’s an honour to sit, in the seat of government when deemed fit….

Tis a place to lead and show restrain, not thieve and steal and try to gain,
A portfolio of homes across the nation, ‘Doesn’t worry us the word inflation,
For capital tax we never pay, whilst you all suffer we make hay,
Living the highlife we’re accustomed to, there’s really nothing you can do,
Cept’ sit and fume, simmer with rage, pace like a tiger trapped and caged’.

Well take good stock all politcal scum, cos the time has arrived to get done,
What we’re waiting for has at arrived some say, day of reckoning, time to pay,
Revolution road has arrived at last, the bill is here for lies long past,
We’ll start this war that you can’t win, you can’t, you can’t, you’ve too much sin.
Other will follow and start to talk; others will follow and walk the walk,
Footsteps of giants will cross the land as your pillars of babel turn to sand.

It's getting closer everyday!!!!!