General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Germany is in the wrong, very wrong, in Europe, and must be corrected. Further information: [View all]sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)I am for nationalizing all the corrupt banks, refusing, as Iceland did, to bail them out, start investigations and prosecutions, retrieve whatever money that can be retrieved and throw out (and prosecute, again as Iceland did) any politicians who facilitated the corruption that led to the meltdown.
Then tax the wealthy and make sure they pay, no more hiding their money in offshore accounts while using the benefits of their respective countries.
Why should any of the people, German or otherwise, have to pay the debts racked up by Wall Street gamblers? Because that is what Austerity means, make the people pay the gambling debts of Wall Street Gamblers, both by cutting their salaries, eliminating their social service programs, and sending jobs to third world countries where virtual slave labor ensures even bigger profits for the greedy corporations.
Then pass laws that any Corp based in any country, doing business in third world countries, must abide by the labor laws, including paying a livable wage to workers, of their countries of origin. Eliminate tax breaks for Corps who utilize child labor etc.
Mostly, as quickly as possible, reinstate regulations that will prevent this from happening again.
It will be tough for a while, as it was in Iceland, but theirs is the only economy now on the rebound. That should tell us something. But to continue to make the people of Spain, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Italy and yes, Germany, pay the debts of crooked gamblers was an insane idea from the beginning, and the results are in. As predicted, it only made things worse. Jobs must be the first priority of any government now, without jobs, with only 'Austerity', if it is bad now, it is going to get way, way worse.