This is about Scottish football but I take a while to get there. And I don’t think you’re going to like it, but something has been bothering me with all this news about Greece, there’s been a little dissonance.
Greece has come through seven years of devastating poverty and economic turmoil, the like of which has not been seen anywhere else in Europe, and within weeks it could get a lot worse.
Many Greeks with economically portable skills emigrated. Those left, the old, the infirm, the unskilled, and those who don’t want to abandon their family or country, have been left to deal with the consequences of a debt which dwarves their earning capacity.
Greece joined the euro and overnight were able to borrow money at cheaper rates than ever before. They borrowed and invested, but poor governments and lax taxation systems left them vulnerable. When the crash came, Greece was hopelessly unable to pay its debts, largely owned to German and French banks.
Back in 2008 the world’s banking system was on the verge of collapse. It is not an exaggeration to say that our economies, jobs, welfare systems, public services and more, were in jeopardy. Governments took steps to keep the banks afloat, but Greece owned money beyond their borders.
If they still had the capacity to issue their own currency, they would have defaulted, offered their creditors 10 lepta to the drachma, and quickly moved on. Prices would have skyrocketed overnight, many people would have been priced out of the basics, but tourists would have flooded in, as would new employers, to take advantage of the newly cheap Greek labour.
But since 2002 Greece has been using the euro. They could not print euros after the crash so had to come to a deal with their creditors, and that meant paying all their debts, in particular to the German banks who loaned them money, at an appropriate interest rate, years earlier.
It was appalling. Greece was not blameless, no European governments – or ultimately their electorates – were, but they were boxed into a corner and forced into a deal. Foreign banks, who were well-placed to weigh-up the commercial risk of their Greek loans, were beneficiaries of the squeeze put on some of Europe’s poorest people.
In January this year Greece elected a radical government. Syriza were voted in on a ticket to renegotiate the terms of what the world calls the ‘bailout’.
The bailout is an affront to the European Union, the IMF and the European Central Bank. The world’s governments needed to protect their banks to prevent complete collapse, but the deal imposed on Greek citizens is pernicious and disproportionate.
A game of brinksmanship is going on between Greece and their lenders, the Troika. Syriza are mandated for one thing and one thing only, renegotiate the current deal. I admire their resolve and hope the Troika accommodate their request for change, but the consequence of a failure to find an agreement is enormous, the like of which we have never seen in a modern economy. Those sitting at the Syriza side of the table know they may be marching their citizens off the edge of a cliff.
What’s this got to do with Scottish football?
For the Troika, read Mike Ashley, he was the lender of last resort, he was also the beneficiary of the loans. In fact, he loaned Newco money he’d already made from them. Those loans came with pernicious conditions. The profits he’ll earn from seven years merchandise rights are spectacular – and they will come from what I could argue is the most impoverished football club in Europe. Mike is the ugly face of capitalism (and there are pretty faces).
The analogy is not perfect. Rangers spectacularly defaulted. Newco’s early years have been more painful than they necessarily could have been, largely as a consequence of an organised group of Real Rangers Men who were determined to grab control of Newco’s assets for as cheap a price as possible. But if you are an unskilled Greek living on handouts, or an easily-led Rangers fan, who just wanted to watch his team, you were not the architect of your own misery.
Alexis Tsipras is no Dave King, he is an engaging leader and is not a criminal, but if he leads Greece into an abyss, he will be guilty of one of the classic failures of leadership – telling people what they want to hear in order to gain power, without any way of delivering on the promises made.
King may be doing the same. He strikes me as a man intent on recreating Jonestown in Govan. Unlike Tsipras, who appears to be making progress with his creditors, King has inspired division and boycott. I can’t picture him now without scenes from Jonestown flashing through my mind.
While I know I’m stretching the analogy between Greece and Rangers, there are many who have lost their livelihood, or football club, through the fault of more powerful men, who were paid to look out for their interests.
Mike Ashley is a figure of fun for us but be sure, he is not our ally. Our enemy’s enemy is not our friend. He’s just another in a long line of naked opportunists we were wise enough to avoid.
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P67
Interesting stuff to write about.
However I fear you are only telling half the story.
Greece has many faults mainly based around the fact that it is a very immature democracy with very few people having a horizon beyond the here and now and a narrow understanding if their own self interest.
However they are being bullied into making concessions that no sovereign state should be forced into — they are being offered the Treaty of Versailles without actually losing a war.
Look at the progress they have made with their deficit in contrast with the situation in the UK where tax cuts and increased welfare is on offer for the rich and the voting old while the poor and the young are made to pay for the mistakes of bankers.
Germany has been very lucky in all of this.
Asian Flu goes global in 98 and they were post unification toast.
Cheap money in the naughtiest and the world including Greece rebuilds the German car industry using their own borrowed money.
Then there is the low Euro generating never ending surpluses for Deutsch Industry Inc.
They are building nice little nest eggs out of the mouths of poor starving children in Southern Europe.
Unfortunately they are too self absorbed to see this and are being led by a political Pygmy who is too scared of her own shadow / history / press to try and become a stateswoman.
We are left with ShamCam who can do nothing and wants to do nothing.
Oh how we miss GB to give some advice to AM — cut the victimisation and offer constructive help.
How Dublin should hang its head in shame as it goads the EU / Troika not to give an inch.
Their establishment really is the lowest of the low — Tax evasion central to the US.
GlassTwo @19.27
He can’t even keep the nonsense up to speed.
A wee reminder that tomorrow night Jim Craig will be the guest on the SFM Radio show
SFM @TheSFMonitor · Jun 19
Next Wednesday’s SFM “Blether” internet radio show will include former Celtic & Scotland full back Jim Craig @Cairney2
Here is a link
http://www.sfm.scot/sfmradio/
and if you scroll down you can hear the first live trial in which I took part because I was able to turn up at short notice. I will not be on tomorrow nights show because the guest tomorrow once told me (not unreasonably ) to shut up for a minute . I said he was lucky not to have BRTH and myself to compete with. Non Stop Blether in Stereo.
Seriously should be a good show, Jim Craig is a good story teller and of course has lots of stories. Last week it began at 7.30. Same time this week (I think)
H/T Czech v Germany – zit-zit!
No worries Almore. It’s a magnificent city, definitely one of the best in the world in all honesty.
Best Celtic badge?
United Irishmen CSC Dublin – Celtic cross with Willie Maley picture at the centre.
Pure class.
Much appreciated mo chara.
HH.
Why don’t we get all these financial wizard experts on this blog to run the whole of friggin Europe. Listening to them makes you think, wit am I doin’ paying all this income tax for. Geez, gies peace.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Auldheid
The Big Pink sounds conspicuously like a former Celtic employee JC?
16 Roads: The polo shirt is quite popular too!
So it seems that Vossen will be our new Striker.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
almore
20:35 on 23 June, 2015
16 Roads: The polo shirt is quite popular too!
——————————————————–
Not a bit of wonder Almore – there is no substitute for quality!
God bless the Capital City Celts.
HH.
Auldheid
What’s your thoughts on TSFM proposed changes and are your part of the new look or is that still a secret:-) Thought it was a big and bold step.
Good luck to all those involved!
Any news that you can update us with on res12?
HH
CRC
Bournesouprecipe could’nt have put it better “Gary Hooper’s ship has sailed” Never been a fan of players going back to their old stomping ground, we are now in a new chapter look forward not backwards. Hail Hail Hebcelt
Lennybhoy
The Ole Transfer Windy is full of surprises:))
HH
I hope that you are correct Lennybhoy.
Vossen is an excellent footballer.
KTF.
With regard to Motherwell losing to Stjarnan last year, I seem to recall that Keith Lasley personally gave away 3 penalties over the two games and Motherwell lost 5-4 (I think) on aggregate.
Bhoys one of the ghuys on cqn facebook is having problems logging on again today does anyone know or has anyone else had similar problems earlier
thanks in advance
HH
hebcelt, 20:42
Except when Scotland’s greatest ever striker took his lard arse back to £1brox.
Subbed on his last game too
Check out his Wikipedia page:
According to his Wikipedia he’s our Player…note current Club ‘IRA Fitba Club’ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jelle_Vossen
It must be true…:)
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
lennybhoy….
:)))
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Now, I realise you’ll all be wondering why I typed that – apart from showing off.
Well, it’s because I can’t log in to CQN with my usual details as the letter C won’t type in the password field. I assumed I had just worn out the letter C…….but clearly not!
So, can anyone suggest WTF is going on???
evening Weefrathe Tim
Hows you? apart from worrying about the European financial situation :-)))
HH
Billy Bhoy
20:55 on
23 June, 2015
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
Now, I realise you’ll all be wondering why I typed that – apart from showing off.
Well, it’s because I can’t log in to CQN with my usual details as the letter C won’t type in the password field. I assumed I had just worn out the letter C…….but clearly not!
So, can anyone suggest WTF is going on???
Not being flippant serious question
how did you get on now? one of the facebook bhoys having problems
HH
Hooper can be trusted.
Our scouts can’t be trusted with other strikers. We have signed dud after dud.
If Ronny wants him, we should take him.
Which club’s fans could Garry Owen have been speaking about on Twitter today?!
“@DR_GarryOwen: @murrayf00te @john_ayrshire I’ve detected supporters of the other Glasgow club giggling nervously as Gers drag themselves off their knees”
I had my theories…
https://theclumpany.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/nervous-giggling/
sky arts
an evening with Mark Knopfler.
Dena29
I put up earlier, I am having problems on CQN, cannot get page to refresh when on, hit refresh button and it freezes, still happening
Weefra advised to tap blog title and it refreshes, then have to go to latest page to keep up to date
So in a nutshell still issues
Hail Hail Jelle
It’s not just the Greeks who have suffered because of the banking crisis. Tens of thousands of Irish people have emigrated over the last eight years in search of work. My eldest son graduated with an honours masters in economics seven years ago but worked in dead end jobs for two years before he emigrated to Australia. After a two week visit home he’s on his way back to Melbourne where he will hopefully complete his PhD by Christmas. My next son has a masters but couldn’t get a job here so had to move to London to get suitable employment. My youngest son also has a masters but his future here is also uncertain. Even though things are allegedly improving, ordinary people are seeing little benefit.
leftclicktic
21:05 on
23 June, 2015
sky arts
an evening with Mark Knopfler.
There is bound to be a smart post there somewhere about “thems” and dire straits……….
HH
Hi Dena,
I cant get in at all!! ;-)
No, I have a 2nd log in as I used to get lots of spam on the original. This one doesn’t have a C
Now, this is weird. I’ve just tried it again and I’m in. I tried it several times earlier.
OK I’m away back to CQN1 now. Goodnight CQN2
BTW Always Billy Bhoy – no multiple posting here. I’m boring enough the first time!
Cowiebhoy
21:06 on
23 June, 2015
Dena29
I put up earlier, I am having problems on CQN, cannot get page to refresh when on, hit refresh button and it freezes, still happening
Weefra advised to tap blog title and it refreshes, then have to go to latest page to keep up to date
So in a nutshell still issues
Hail Hail Jelle
Cheers Cowiebhoy I’ll let him know
HH
Billy Bhoy
21:09 on
23 June, 2015
Hi Dena,
I cant get in at all!! ;-)
No, I have a 2nd log in as I used to get lots of spam on the original. This one doesn’t have a C
Now, this is weird. I’ve just tried it again and I’m in. I tried it several times earlier.
OK I’m away back to CQN1 now. Goodnight CQN2
BTW Always Billy Bhoy – no multiple posting here. I’m boring enough the first time!
Cheers Billy bhot I’ll let hin know its not just him
HH
bournesouprecipe
20:22 on
23 June, 2015
excath
The good ship Gary Hooper has sailed, he dreamed the dream and will forever be the last Celtic player to score against the Rangers.
The Scunthorpe Telegraph indeed, via The Sun.
NuffSaid csc
==============================
Correct,that’s the way I see it,we had the best of him.
dena29
We are all well as I hope you and the family are also. Still problems with the blog, the same as cowiebhoys. Fecking irritating. Lol. See you soon at CP kiddo. Sooooooo looking forward to it. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
Almore
Plenty of people work dead end jobs. Plenty of people stayed and got the country back on its feet . I don’t know you or your sons and I would imagine that you would prefer them to have stayed in Ireland. After all its where they don’t were born and educated to the highest standard. Too many left. But did they have too? , could they not have stayed and worked the” dead end jobs”. .
WeefratheTim
21:12 on
23 June, 2015
dena29
We are all well as I hope you and the family are also. Still problems with the blog, the same as cowiebhoys. Fecking irritating. Lol. See you soon at CP kiddo. Sooooooo looking forward to it. KTF.
Weefra HH praying to Wee Oscar.
all good here counting down the days to get back to paradise
heading to a Celtic formal on Friday ….looking forward to spending some time with good Celtic people . Glad you are all well .
HH
dena29
Why worry? – So far away (+ various other titles)!
:-)
Serious question, who would keep Gary Hooper out the team?
Dena,
sorry, i was unable to get in to google chrome – not CQN itself. OK now though.
Anyone, is it a new Teamcard for this season?