Europe reportedly in talks for new Greece deal

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http://www.marketwatch.com/story/europe-reportedly-in-talks-for-new-greece-deal-2011-05-29

SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- European leaders are trying to negotiate a new bailout deal for Greece that would mean wider outside intervention in the country's finances, the Financial Times newspaper reported late Sunday, citing people involved in the talks. The deal under discussion would include international involvement in tax collection, as well as in the privatization of state assets, while a fresh round of austerity measures would also be part of a deal, according to the report.



me: dude, when are going to stop taking this beat down?
tell them to fuck themselves.

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1. Greece set for new bailout loans in return for ‘severe conditions’ – report

http://businessetc.thejournal.ie/greece-set-for-new-bailout-loans-in-return-for-severe-conditions-report-145897-May2011/

GREECE WILL RECEIVE extra funding from the Eurozone and the International Monetary Fund in return for unprecedented international involvement in the country’s economy.

The Financial Times is reporting that European leaders are negotiating a deal that would see international involvement in tax collection and the privatisation of state assets.

In return, Greece would receive new bailout loans amounting to between €30-35 billion which would be on top of the €110 billion already promised under the bailout programme agreed last year.

Officials hope that as much of half of the €60-70 billion that Greece needs until the end of 2013 could be financed through the sale of state assets and the change in repayment terms for private debtholders.

[JDPriestly]

2. Greece: Birthplace of democracy. Graveyard of democracy.

Outside regulation of a nation's economy and trade are incompatible with self-government.

Our "free trade" agreements reduce our ability to make decisions as a people. What is more important to us? Cheap stuff from China? Cheap services from India? Or self-government.

"Free trade" is not compatible with our Constitution's grant to the Congress of the authority to regulate commerce and to control our money supply.

US Constitution -- Article I, Section 8

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;

To borrow money on the credit of the United States;

To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;

http://www.usconstitution.net/const.html#A1Sec1

People argue that Congress thus has the authority to enter into trade agreements, and that is true.

But, with authority goes responsibility.

Congress may have the authority to abdicate its responsibility for regulating our trade and commerce. But does it have the right to abandon the legitimate interests of our democracy and national sovereignty under the cover of the Commerce clause?

I think that if Congress exercises its authority under the Commerce clause in a manner that threatens other provisions of the Constitution -- such as Congress's power to control the money supply of our country, to determine taxes, duties and imports -- then Congress's actions are unconstitutional.

Of course, we are not Greece -- not yet. But the fate of Greece will be ours if we continue to participate in our current "free trade" agreements.

Read the Shock Doctrine.

[NobodyInParticular]

3. The Strauss-Kahn--Greece connection

Strauss-Kahn, the socialist at the IMF, was known for a policy of going easy on Greece. But just before he could put on the brakes, he got stopped by a sex scandal in which he was accused, tried and convicted by the corporate media. And the public (including a lot of DUers) cheered the media verdict. What did anyone hear in his defense? Next to nothing. So he might have been guilty of sexual harrassment (a civil offense), but a 62-year-old r a p i n g a 32 year-old taller than he? Or does the presumption of innocence in criminal matters not apply to Frenchmen, let alone IMF officers?

Well, the whole thing has the ring of Spitzer getting busted the day before he was going to move against Wall Street.

http://prospect.org/cs/articles?article=strausskahn_greeces_man

In the long months of negotiations aimed at managing Greece's debt and avoiding a default that would have sent Lehman-like shockwaves throughout the world, Strauss-Kahn emerged as a towering figure. A socialist and former French finance minister with strong European connections, Strauss-Kahn pushed and prodded the Greek government to keep on with painful reforms, all the while cajoling European governments -- especially Germany -- to not turn their backs on Athens. His contribution was thought vital in hammering out a new $50 billion to $60 billion bailout for Greece in return for new cuts, widespread privatization, and other structural reforms. It will be a hard sell both for the Greek public and for northern European governments unwilling to bail out the bailout. Now, with the managing director of the IMF awaiting trial in Manhattan on sexual-assault charges, the fate of the new bailout seems even less clear.