Live data from Hacker News

Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

bbc.co.uk

1–10 of 107 posts

Re: Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

#2
tl;dr ECB has leaked to BBC they will cut off emergency lending that covers the panic withdrawals. This will kill the deal and force a grexit, even before 5 July referendum. However French PM does not think they have enough independence to do that.

So we have a democratic nation potentially forced to leave Euro, after democratically deciding it no longer wants the austerity imposed, being forced to leave by non democratic ECB while the democracies that appoint the ECB think it is going too far.

What's that quote from Hunt For Red October - "with all these planes in the sky, it's only a matter of time [before we start a war]"

The lesson for democracy - force governments who are going to adjust fiscal measures past a certain point to get referendum approval

- and look how well that works in California...

Re: Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

#4
As I understand it, one of the major underlying issues this whole time (aside from the silliness of trying to integrate Greece's economy with Germany's) was the ECB's refusal to act as the lender of last resort. This seems like an affirmation of that.

If Greece exits the Euro, I wonder if that will embolden other countries to do the same.

Re: Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

#6

It's about time. Greece has been behaving like a gambling addict, asking for money to repay the old debts only to waste them in expensive restaurants, buying iPhones, and gambling even more.

Gambling addict? What an incredibly unfair and childish characterisation.

Greece is not a person, Greece is a nation state. It has implemented severe fiscal cutbacks after being forced to by its creditors. Cutbacks which have ruined the country's economy, massively increased poverty, and made it more difficult to pay back its debts.

Now its people have voted in a government that wishes to make different reforms. Ones that also keep the book balanced, but do not hurt the weakest in society as much or destroy economic productivity.

Re: Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

#7

It's about time. Greece has been behaving like a gambling addict, asking for money to repay the old debts only to waste them in expensive restaurants, buying iPhones, and gambling even more.

Not really. Most people I know have long hours and work their arses of. Taxi driver usually works 12 hours / 6 days a week for 20 euro a day net profit. Security guy takes about 500 euro a month for similar hours.

It is about pensioners and state employees.

Re: Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

#8

As I understand it, one of the major underlying issues this whole time (aside from the silliness of trying to integrate Greece's economy with Germany's) was the ECB's refusal to act as the lender of last resort. This seems like an affirmation of that. If Greece exits the Euro, I wonder if that will embolden other countries to do the same.

If they leave and manage to kick-start the economy that i doubt very much they will manage to do, yes other countries will start to wonder, the next in line is Portugal with the highest speeding in % of GDP of government debt in Europe.

Re: Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

#9

It's about time. Greece has been behaving like a gambling addict, asking for money to repay the old debts only to waste them in expensive restaurants, buying iPhones, and gambling even more.

Gambling addict? What an incredibly unfair and childish characterisation. Greece is not a person, Greece is a nation state. It has implemented severe fiscal cutbacks after being forced to by its creditors. Cutbacks which have ruined the country's economy, massively increased poverty, and made it more difficult to pay back its debts. Now its people have voted in a government that wishes to make different reforms. Ones…

So? Much poorer countries had to support greece. How come a poor slovakia should fund the lifestyle of lazy greeks? No thanks

Re: Greece debt crisis: ECB 'to end' bank emergency lending

#10

As I understand it, one of the major underlying issues this whole time (aside from the silliness of trying to integrate Greece's economy with Germany's) was the ECB's refusal to act as the lender of last resort. This seems like an affirmation of that. If Greece exits the Euro, I wonder if that will embolden other countries to do the same.

I think the ECB is actually not allowed to do that, because Europe (better: The countries of the Euro Zone) is not a debt union. If the Countries were paying for each other regardless of structural reforms, Europe would need to be constructed in a different way (with an actual central government).

To address your other point: I think the horrible situation that will arise in Greece in the following weeks/months will make other countries certainly think twice about getting out of the Euro.

Post reply on HN