GREECE VOTES TO HELP GERMAN EXPORTS ?

Greek people can be incredibly kind.  The recent vote of 29.5% in favour of staying in the Eurozone is evidence of their kindness.  Well its evidence of the kindness of 29.5% of the 60% who took the trouble to vote.  I never imagined they would be prepared to preserve the low value of the German Euro ( aka Deutsche Mark) and so enable magnificent Germany to live in the certainty of a continuing healthy export performance.  In effect Greece and the other struggling European countries are subsidising Germany and definitely not vice versa. Without the poor relations in the Eurozone the Euro's value would soar stacking up no end of trouble for  Europe's stronger economies. 

Many commentators ( especially those down at the dear old BBC ) warn of immediate perils if countries leave the Eurozone.  Immediate perils to whom ?  Certainly not the countries leaving the Eurozone.  And few commentators look at the longer term.  I have blogged before to say how much better Greece, Italy, Portugal, Ireland and even Spain might be if only they had the courage to revert to their original currencies, proud once more to stand on their own feet making their own decisions in the best interests of their country.  True the drachma, for example,  would assume a unit value less than the current unit worth of the Euro. But therein is the advantage.  The relative trading position of Greece would improve immediately and with it the opportunity to strengthen its trading position in geographical Europe and worldwide.  Likewise German exports would slow down as progressively they became more expensive. Somehow the German economy would need to adjust to the changed characteristics of the playing field !

The Eurozone with Greece as a participant is probably finished.  A vote to stay in the Eurozone by 18% of those allowed to vote does not solve anything.  By tomorrow a new Greek government may be cobbled together.  However, it will have to be a rather special type of government to take the Greek people where they don't want to go.  I reckon the chance of success is zero.  But then, going forward,  (and hopefully civil unrest is avoided) the Greek people can think and vote yet again.  Perhaps to vote in huge numbers to revert to their own currency, and move on by setting a splendid example to the other struggling Eurozone economies. 

LIBERAL PARTY AND LOYALTY

I've blogged before about the Liberals apparent lack of understanding of things like Cabinet responsibility, loyalty and so on. Their philosophy of never seeming to make a decision unless everyone has "bought in" to a particular viewpoint is typical Liberal behaviour.  Great approach if you run a company's Human Resource Department, but hopeless if you run the company. Futile if you run a country.

Shame really because we might have had an effective Coalition if all parties to the Coalition had been prepared to make courageous decisions, to show absolute loyalty to the Coalition, and to upset more than a few people here and there along the way.  Ever met a Liberal who could do even one of those things?

The mass Liberal abstention this week will probably cause their party no end of trouble. Had they really thought through the consequences? Even the Opposition were moved, but delighted of course, by such treachery.  Could this be the beginning of the end for the Liberal Party? It's getting to the point where the damage caused by such behaviour (I've even heard it called childish behaviour) may take them beyond the point of no political return.  

So what can the Liberals do to stop the rot? It's a tough one.  But for sure there's no point in trying to put lipstick on a pig. And perhaps that says it all.  Let's face it Liberals are just jolly nice people. Far too nice to get involved in government.  Think +Vince Cable.  Bless him.

CABINET LEAKS AND THE LIBERAL DEMOCRATS

A few days ago I commented on the leaks coming out of the Cabinet.  Now leaks from committee-participating-"also ran"-parliamentarians are one thing; leaks from the Cabinet quite another.

I get the definite impression that our Liberal representatives are getting far too big for their tiny  boots. Cast your minds back to the recent budget.  How many leaks ?  It doesn't take long to deduce that leaks came from Liberal, not Conservative sources.  Any suggestion that such leaks emanated from the Civil Service are preposterous of course. No it looks as if it was someone of Liberal persuasion.

The Liberal character came out again this morning as I listened to a Liberal fellow interviewed by the lefty BBC.  Words to the effect that you can't blame the Liberals for preventing the Conservatives achieving  Conservative manifesto pledges.  Well of course you can't.! But what was the point in saying that?  The Conservative manifesto, and the liberal manifesto, have nothing to do with what's going on just now.  What should matter is in the coalition agreement.  But this particular Liberal fellow was still hung up on political differences between the parties.

Well maybe that's understandable.  But let's get back to the Cabinet and leaks.  When honour  certainly meant something in politics Cabinet discussions, decisions, responsibility, confidentiality and above all loyalty, were things absolutely respected by the participants. Labour and Conservative governments understood what loyalty was required for the benefit of good governance and to benefit of the country overall.  Maybe Liberals, bless them, have been out of  any serious loop for so long they don't really get what Cabinet responsibility is all about; it's as if they have no real idea how to behave.   Or maybe Liberal Cabinet members feel their overall responsibility is still to their party and not to the coalition government?   If so, like the school snitch, it means  they are not to be trusted. 

Watch out David Cameron!! If my furtive imagination is correct you need to sideline such fellows.  At the very least invite them for a discussion in the headmaster's study;  maybe give them a bloody good caning.  If you don't they will drag you down and perhaps even destroy your party.  It's not worth taking such risks.  

COLLAPSE OF THE EURO AND THE EUROZONE

I can't help thinking this is the calm before the storm.  Have you noticed there is almost a news blackout on the struggling European countries and their economies? It's almost as though Greece, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and Spain no longer have any financial problems !! Ponder this for a moment.  Is it all too good to be true?

True there are some parts of Europe where confidence is returning.  But therein lies the problem. Now is the time the stronger countries of the Eurozone could contemplate "pulling up the ladder."  They will see a way forward for themselves but not for their weaker Eurozone partners.  How strong Eurozone loyalty when really put to the test ?

No this is the calm before the storm.  What form of storm might well be the issue.  Watch this space.