Back Story
The Cupcake:
The crisis. There was only one cupcake left.
The Solution: One cuts, the other chooses.
My Dad, a smart man but short of Solomon, came up with that "plan".
My sister was too young to make an even cut. She knew this. The cutting was left to me.
I was so scrupulous in cutting the cupcake into two even pieces, that my sister could not determine which piece was larger. My sister was gripped with the fear that she would choose the smaller piece.
My Dad handed each of us half a cupcake and never tried that method again. Therein lies my Dad's Brilliance! My Dad never tried that method again.
The EuroUnion
Diplomacy: A system of such scrupulous adherence to protocol and good manners that everone believes he received the smallest piece of cake.
My sister and I were four and seven respectively. There is no excuse for what is going on among the EuroCrats.
Bon appetit.
Slim
PS.
"If people were more concerned about being respectable and dignified, they could worry less about being treated with dignity and respect."
"Don't bother asking me, you don't want to hear my opinion, you want to hear your opinion."
From The Quotations of Slim Fairview. Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Showing posts with label commentary on EuroCrisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label commentary on EuroCrisis. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Alors! EuroCrats: Man Up or Move On!
The EuroCrats have finally sunk to a new low. Even for the EuroCrats.
They have a new plan.
Sell the old plan like a sales manager at a pep rally for brush salesmen.
Then:
Did you do it before?
Yes.
Did it work?
No.
Don't do that!
Now:
Did you do it before?
Hip, hip hooray.
Did it work?
Hip, hip hooray.
Don't do that?
The reason why it didn't work is because we didn't have enthusiasm. We didn't have momentum. We were not excited about the product.
The WSJ: Reports from the EuroZone
The new plan is built on three central elements:
A new bailout for Greece,
An effort to shore up the banks affected by Greek losses - and potential future losses from other troubled euro zone countries
Additional firepower for the bloc's bailout fund, to provide a reassuring backstop.
That is the same plan. What changed? The enthusiasm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From the New York Times Headline News
G-20 Seeks Broader Solution for Europe Debt Crisis
François Baroin, the French finance minister, said after talks on Friday that officials had “already come to some agreements that will be very important,” but he did not elaborate.
Other quotes included enthusiasm and momentum.
At this point in time, the EuroCrats look like monkeys chasing their own tails and chattering with delight when they catch them.
There is nothing new but the flavour of a brush salesmen pep rally.
The EuroCrats are wallowing in their own academic lethargy, indolence, and sloth. Despite the fact that they are all intelligent, educated, and experienced, they are still clutching retentively to their ideology like a two year old with his hands down his diaper.
The EuroCrats will not solve the problem with a multi-national dog & pony show; an empowerment & dignity festival; or a Smörgåsbord.
Since you refuse to take a great , bi, fat, hint and a half, I will take the initiative for you.
I will be posting a Greek Economic Development Project very shortly.
If you don't like it, IGNORE IT.
If you don't like it, TWEAK IT.
However, don't waste your time arguing with me. You had a dozen chances. You kept doing the same thing time and time again.
Did things get more high, good, better?
No?
Did things get more low, bad, worse?
Yes?
Don't do that stuff, anymore.
As I said before, "Put me in charge. I can do just as bad a job, but I can come up with much better excuses. The dog ate my economic development report."
Bon chance.
Slim
ps. Did a French bank suffer a rating downgrade? Did I not tell you that would happen?
slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
They have a new plan.
Sell the old plan like a sales manager at a pep rally for brush salesmen.
Then:
Did you do it before?
Yes.
Did it work?
No.
Don't do that!
Now:
Did you do it before?
Hip, hip hooray.
Did it work?
Hip, hip hooray.
Don't do that?
The reason why it didn't work is because we didn't have enthusiasm. We didn't have momentum. We were not excited about the product.
The WSJ: Reports from the EuroZone
The new plan is built on three central elements:
A new bailout for Greece,
An effort to shore up the banks affected by Greek losses - and potential future losses from other troubled euro zone countries
Additional firepower for the bloc's bailout fund, to provide a reassuring backstop.
That is the same plan. What changed? The enthusiasm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From the New York Times Headline News
G-20 Seeks Broader Solution for Europe Debt Crisis
François Baroin, the French finance minister, said after talks on Friday that officials had “already come to some agreements that will be very important,” but he did not elaborate.
Other quotes included enthusiasm and momentum.
At this point in time, the EuroCrats look like monkeys chasing their own tails and chattering with delight when they catch them.
There is nothing new but the flavour of a brush salesmen pep rally.
The EuroCrats are wallowing in their own academic lethargy, indolence, and sloth. Despite the fact that they are all intelligent, educated, and experienced, they are still clutching retentively to their ideology like a two year old with his hands down his diaper.
The EuroCrats will not solve the problem with a multi-national dog & pony show; an empowerment & dignity festival; or a Smörgåsbord.
Since you refuse to take a great , bi, fat, hint and a half, I will take the initiative for you.
I will be posting a Greek Economic Development Project very shortly.
If you don't like it, IGNORE IT.
If you don't like it, TWEAK IT.
However, don't waste your time arguing with me. You had a dozen chances. You kept doing the same thing time and time again.
Did things get more high, good, better?
No?
Did things get more low, bad, worse?
Yes?
Don't do that stuff, anymore.
As I said before, "Put me in charge. I can do just as bad a job, but I can come up with much better excuses. The dog ate my economic development report."
Bon chance.
Slim
ps. Did a French bank suffer a rating downgrade? Did I not tell you that would happen?
slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Monday, September 26, 2011
Greece: Problem? Solution!
Greece has been around a long time. Greece predates Europe. The Greek citizen invented the Senate. The Senate did not invent the Greek citizen.
The current state of affairs in Greece is due, in part to Government ownership--In part. The other part is the notion that when the Government owns everything, everyone owns everything. This is the failed Soviet Style of Communism. The reality is that when everyone owns everything, no one owns anything.
With the Greek Citizen—with no vested interest, there is no interest.
Do you dispute me? I shall refute you.
How hard is the Greek worker fighting for his benefits?
Very hard.
Why?
Because his benefits belong to him.
Privatisation is not a dirty word.
While every plan for Greece has involved a bailout, none has involved any capital investment or economic development.
In a recent NY Times article, “The IMF “traditionally” said cutting budget deficits is the solution to the problem. Mr. Summers said Mme Lagarde’s reversal is a welcome change in thinking, emphasizing that we should be establishing a basis for growth.” I assume Mme Lagarde and I are the only two people saying this. Or, perhaps Mme. Lagarde is the only person reading my blogs. Madame goes on to say, “…the markets realize that commitment to cut spending cannot survive a lengthy stagnation.”
The best option for Greece (I have a project not a plan.) is a major economic development project that changes the process.
Let us be honest. The EuroCrats are intelligent, educated, and experienced. Why then have they failed to solve or even mitigate the damages or ameliorate the problems? By the process of elimination, the problem is the process. That must change. In Greek: Δ
The first startling example is that what the EuroCrats are doing to the Greek People can be called “poverty programmes”. The Greek People need “Prosperity Programmes”.
As an aside, I thought that warning of a move to the “right’ would be a consequence for Greece if the problem can’t be solved soon was an overstatement. Then I remembered some American political math. It is analogous.
Dems control Congress + Jimmy Carter = Ronald Reagan.
Dems control Congress + Bill Clinton = Republican turnover in Congress.
Dems control Congress + Barack Obama + Massive GOP turnover in House of Rep.
Okay, I concede. The Greek people can fix the problem now while it is small (by comparison) or wait till there is a real disaster. But I digress.
The difference between the aforementioned Soviet Style Communism and Chinese Communism (Aside from the failure of the former and the success of the latter) is China’s Middle Class.
The divestiture of Greece’s State Owned Assets is crucial to the turnaround in Greece. A limit on foreign ownership of shares in the newly minted, publicly traded companies is also essential.
Some of those assets may include but are not limited to:
Transportation
Energy
Media
Communications
With the Greek Citizen owning the asset, the Greek Citizen will have a vested interest in its success. There will be a profit incentive.
Greece; Influx of Tax Revenue without increasing taxes
Relief from Debt and the crushing interest rates
Benefits of the multiplier effect
Reduction in Lenders: Increase in Investors
Increased Capitalisation of Banks
What has been the alternative so far?
The Greek Government
Raised Taxes
Slashed Pensions
Cut State Salaries
Plans to cut jobs and cut pensions again.
Greece still has problems. Why? Because The Greek Government
Raised Taxes
Slashed Pensions
Cut State Salaries.
Someone then told the Government that by lowering wages tax revenues will fall. The Government solution to this was to fire people. This caused a further decline in revenue. To address this, the Government increased property taxes on the unemployed and underpaid. And all of this is the result of Austerity measures imposed on Greece by the EuroCrats who were working to solve the problem. Call me a flawed human being, but I believe the EuroCrats have failed in their mission.
Union busting will not solve the problem.
Labour strikes will not solve the problem.
Firing people will not solve the problem.
Taxes will not solve the problem.
[No country ever taxed its way to prosperity. The mantra during the first two years of Bill Clinton’s first term as President of the United States.]
For further information, please read my blogs on the matter.
Bon Chance!
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
Economic Stimulus:
The Multiplier Effect:
the Future of the G 20 in Good Times and Bad
China: The economy and a word beginning with the letter P
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/china-economy-and-word-beginning-with.html
The current state of affairs in Greece is due, in part to Government ownership--In part. The other part is the notion that when the Government owns everything, everyone owns everything. This is the failed Soviet Style of Communism. The reality is that when everyone owns everything, no one owns anything.
With the Greek Citizen—with no vested interest, there is no interest.
Do you dispute me? I shall refute you.
How hard is the Greek worker fighting for his benefits?
Very hard.
Why?
Because his benefits belong to him.
Privatisation is not a dirty word.
While every plan for Greece has involved a bailout, none has involved any capital investment or economic development.
In a recent NY Times article, “The IMF “traditionally” said cutting budget deficits is the solution to the problem. Mr. Summers said Mme Lagarde’s reversal is a welcome change in thinking, emphasizing that we should be establishing a basis for growth.” I assume Mme Lagarde and I are the only two people saying this. Or, perhaps Mme. Lagarde is the only person reading my blogs. Madame goes on to say, “…the markets realize that commitment to cut spending cannot survive a lengthy stagnation.”
The best option for Greece (I have a project not a plan.) is a major economic development project that changes the process.
Let us be honest. The EuroCrats are intelligent, educated, and experienced. Why then have they failed to solve or even mitigate the damages or ameliorate the problems? By the process of elimination, the problem is the process. That must change. In Greek: Δ
The first startling example is that what the EuroCrats are doing to the Greek People can be called “poverty programmes”. The Greek People need “Prosperity Programmes”.
As an aside, I thought that warning of a move to the “right’ would be a consequence for Greece if the problem can’t be solved soon was an overstatement. Then I remembered some American political math. It is analogous.
Dems control Congress + Jimmy Carter = Ronald Reagan.
Dems control Congress + Bill Clinton = Republican turnover in Congress.
Dems control Congress + Barack Obama + Massive GOP turnover in House of Rep.
Okay, I concede. The Greek people can fix the problem now while it is small (by comparison) or wait till there is a real disaster. But I digress.
The difference between the aforementioned Soviet Style Communism and Chinese Communism (Aside from the failure of the former and the success of the latter) is China’s Middle Class.
The divestiture of Greece’s State Owned Assets is crucial to the turnaround in Greece. A limit on foreign ownership of shares in the newly minted, publicly traded companies is also essential.
Some of those assets may include but are not limited to:
Transportation
Energy
Media
Communications
With the Greek Citizen owning the asset, the Greek Citizen will have a vested interest in its success. There will be a profit incentive.
Greece; Influx of Tax Revenue without increasing taxes
Relief from Debt and the crushing interest rates
Benefits of the multiplier effect
Reduction in Lenders: Increase in Investors
Increased Capitalisation of Banks
What has been the alternative so far?
The Greek Government
Raised Taxes
Slashed Pensions
Cut State Salaries
Plans to cut jobs and cut pensions again.
Greece still has problems. Why? Because The Greek Government
Raised Taxes
Slashed Pensions
Cut State Salaries.
Someone then told the Government that by lowering wages tax revenues will fall. The Government solution to this was to fire people. This caused a further decline in revenue. To address this, the Government increased property taxes on the unemployed and underpaid. And all of this is the result of Austerity measures imposed on Greece by the EuroCrats who were working to solve the problem. Call me a flawed human being, but I believe the EuroCrats have failed in their mission.
Union busting will not solve the problem.
Labour strikes will not solve the problem.
Firing people will not solve the problem.
Taxes will not solve the problem.
[No country ever taxed its way to prosperity. The mantra during the first two years of Bill Clinton’s first term as President of the United States.]
For further information, please read my blogs on the matter.
Bon Chance!
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
Economic Stimulus:
The Multiplier Effect:
the Future of the G 20 in Good Times and Bad
China: The economy and a word beginning with the letter P
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/06/china-economy-and-word-beginning-with.html
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Can Leadership be Learned? See: The EuroCrisis
Let's not say learned. Let's say aquired or developed.
I have been called upon a few times to fill a leadership role. Usually, ex-officio. However, as I posted in another discussion, I am a lone wolf style person.
This does not always mean work alone, however. I have worked with people. And it is nice. But I don't aspire to leadership.
A few things are necessary.
1. knowledge--know what to do on the job.
2. delegate authority--authority is defined as permission--to others to do a job.
3. be ready with real help. ("The fact that we have to do something is no justification to do something stupid." The Quotations of Slim Fairview
Witness the EuroCrisis.
The "leaders" are educated.
Experienced.
Even reasonably intelligent.
Yet, they cannot solve the EuroCrisis.
Why not? Who will "follow" a leader who does not know what to do?
Europe: Analysis
Is everything "more high, good, better"? NO
Is everything "More low, bad, worse"? YES
Why can't they solve the problem? Who will follow their lead?
Did you ever hear an employee say, "I'm not listening to him. He doesn't know what he's doing." ?
Now you know why the EuroCrisis exists.
Can leadership be learned? Well, ask yourself this: Can leadership be taught? NO
Leadership skills can be developed, not learned.
You can learn the tenets of the "position" (Of Leadership) but you cannot learn to be a leader.
From: Slim Fairview
I am interested in working as a paid blogger, a columnist, a commentator. (This in addition to finding someone interested in publishing my novel or producing my screenplay.)
If any of what I've written has been helpful to large corporations or powerful nations, I encourage them to send me a tricked out laptop and to tuck their respective currency into the envelope along with the thank you note.
I don't want to be paid for what I do.
I don't want to be paid for what I know.
I don't want to be paid for what I think.
I want to be paid for the way I think.
Slim
ps. If I have been truly helpful to the powerful, the less fortunate will have benefited from the advice in the monographs I've posted.
Slim
I have been called upon a few times to fill a leadership role. Usually, ex-officio. However, as I posted in another discussion, I am a lone wolf style person.
This does not always mean work alone, however. I have worked with people. And it is nice. But I don't aspire to leadership.
A few things are necessary.
1. knowledge--know what to do on the job.
2. delegate authority--authority is defined as permission--to others to do a job.
3. be ready with real help. ("The fact that we have to do something is no justification to do something stupid." The Quotations of Slim Fairview
Witness the EuroCrisis.
The "leaders" are educated.
Experienced.
Even reasonably intelligent.
Yet, they cannot solve the EuroCrisis.
Why not? Who will "follow" a leader who does not know what to do?
Europe: Analysis
Is everything "more high, good, better"? NO
Is everything "More low, bad, worse"? YES
Why can't they solve the problem? Who will follow their lead?
Did you ever hear an employee say, "I'm not listening to him. He doesn't know what he's doing." ?
Now you know why the EuroCrisis exists.
Can leadership be learned? Well, ask yourself this: Can leadership be taught? NO
Leadership skills can be developed, not learned.
You can learn the tenets of the "position" (Of Leadership) but you cannot learn to be a leader.
From: Slim Fairview
I am interested in working as a paid blogger, a columnist, a commentator. (This in addition to finding someone interested in publishing my novel or producing my screenplay.)
If any of what I've written has been helpful to large corporations or powerful nations, I encourage them to send me a tricked out laptop and to tuck their respective currency into the envelope along with the thank you note.
I don't want to be paid for what I do.
I don't want to be paid for what I know.
I don't want to be paid for what I think.
I want to be paid for the way I think.
Slim
ps. If I have been truly helpful to the powerful, the less fortunate will have benefited from the advice in the monographs I've posted.
Slim
Slim's View
From: Slim Fairview
I am interested in working as a paid blogger, a columnist, a commentator. (This in addition to finding someone interested in publishing my novel or producing my screenplay.)
If any of what I've written has been helpful to large corporations or powerful nations, I encourage them to send me a tricked out laptop and to tuck their respective currency into the envelope along with the thank you note.
Slim
ps. If I have been truly helpful to the powerful, the less fortunate will have benefited from the advice in the monographs I've posted.
Slim
I am interested in working as a paid blogger, a columnist, a commentator. (This in addition to finding someone interested in publishing my novel or producing my screenplay.)
If any of what I've written has been helpful to large corporations or powerful nations, I encourage them to send me a tricked out laptop and to tuck their respective currency into the envelope along with the thank you note.
Slim
ps. If I have been truly helpful to the powerful, the less fortunate will have benefited from the advice in the monographs I've posted.
Slim
Thursday, July 21, 2011
European Union: Less a Fraternity more a Tontine
The problem the EuroCrats are having arises from the fact that they are dealing with problems on a propter hoc basis.
True, Greece needs help with its debt. However, while the EuroCrats have become fixated on Greece, they are ignoring the problems of Ireland, Italy, Spain, et. al.
When other countries like Ireland begin to reach the state Greece is in, the EuroFolk may try to heal Ireland's malady with Greek medication. This does not always work.
The analogy: Any woman who ever had children can tell you, when one gets sick, they all get sick. Then, they give whatever it is back to the one they caught it from in the first place.
EuroFlu is no different.
No sooner than Greece gets well, than Ireland will need help. Or Italy.
Then there are the issues of incompatible medications and competing physicians. As I've read in the news, only recently have Germany and France formed a compact. EuroBankers have contradicted EuroCrats, Analysts have argue with both and each other.
The solution must involve all the nations. The solution to one country's problems may not work for another. However, the solving of one nation's problems must not cause problems for another nor make it impossible for the other country to move forward.
The EuroCratic approach is beginning to appear less like a fraternity and more like a tontine.
Regards,
Slim
slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
True, Greece needs help with its debt. However, while the EuroCrats have become fixated on Greece, they are ignoring the problems of Ireland, Italy, Spain, et. al.
When other countries like Ireland begin to reach the state Greece is in, the EuroFolk may try to heal Ireland's malady with Greek medication. This does not always work.
The analogy: Any woman who ever had children can tell you, when one gets sick, they all get sick. Then, they give whatever it is back to the one they caught it from in the first place.
EuroFlu is no different.
No sooner than Greece gets well, than Ireland will need help. Or Italy.
Then there are the issues of incompatible medications and competing physicians. As I've read in the news, only recently have Germany and France formed a compact. EuroBankers have contradicted EuroCrats, Analysts have argue with both and each other.
The solution must involve all the nations. The solution to one country's problems may not work for another. However, the solving of one nation's problems must not cause problems for another nor make it impossible for the other country to move forward.
The EuroCratic approach is beginning to appear less like a fraternity and more like a tontine.
Regards,
Slim
slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
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