EU: Headed Toward Superstate or Breakup?

[Gusington]

^I thought you were here to calm the rest of us down?

[Centurion40]

I've never understood why everyone just could not agree to hit a kind of fiscal "reboot" button.

My lack of understanding is no doubt connected to my ignorance of international economics.

[Gusington]

^I don't understand a lot of it either but I do understand: "GIMME BACK MY EFFING MONEY YOU CRETINS." Which is basically what Germany is saying.

[Centurion40]

Oooo.  And there really are Cretins in Greece!!

[Gusington]

Yes! Somebody translate that into German.

[son_of_montfort]

You have to remember, the socialists in Germany are still more fiscally responsible than the Conservatives of most other nations.  :)

Maybe Greece can become a World Bank protectorate. Sort of like how the bank repossesses your assets if you can't pay your bills... only this time it repossesses the entire country.

I keed, I keed.

I'm with 40 though, if history is any judge then decline and fracture are inevitable in all superstates and empires. We do have an unprecedented level of connectivity in information and online networking, but that may not stop political fracture. If we ever achieve a "one world state" I think it will have to be virtually.

[Gusington]

^That would be a great thesis.

And I would pay 5.00 to watch the Germans repossess Greece.

[son_of_montfort]

^That would be a great thesis.

And I would pay 5.00 to watch the Germans repossess Greece.

I've always thought a comparison work on America and the Roman Empire would be fun to write. I wouldn't write it as a "hard" academic text, however, it would be better as a sort of "pundit" opinion piece. Think of how it would SELL!

[Windigo]

Yes! Somebody translate that into German.

Schlippy schlippy der cheekin'

[Gusington]

^Thank you, I thought it went something like that.

SoM I know you have heard of Niall Ferguson. His Colossus is exactly what you describe above.

[Windigo]

comparing USA with Rome would not be muchly possible as the roman empire lasted for over a thousand years and well....

current trends show

** the average american citizen will weigh like 300 pounds after this next superbowl
** the level of anti-intellectualism will result in entire centers (states) of profound stupidity
** literacy levels will continue to fall but it will stop short of the populace not being able to read Pringles can opening instructions
**  the self entitlement/irresponsibility  wave will continue to grow and american debt will continue unabated - red states will continue to porkbarrel onto omnibus bills cuz that don't really count

[Gusington]

^Why so down on the US, Poo? BTW if I ever weighed even close to 200 pounds I would die.

[LongBlade]

You have to remember, the socialists in Germany are still more fiscally responsible than the Conservatives of most other nations.  :)

Yup. Bush II, we're looking at you.

[LongBlade]

^I thought you were here to calm the rest of us down?

Normally, yes.

But the US won't be able to take another few years of spending without a budget. We'll become Greece, but without the feta.

[OJsDad]

Greece could sell one of it's islands to Germany for all it's debt. That would keep the EU together. Otherwise it is probably going to be Greece, Spain, Ireland, maybe Portugal, maybe Italy out.

Would that be Lesbos Island  ::)