Yes it does. I always laugh when someone says they are skeptical of the financial numbers China puts out. As if the ones we report are 100% accurate.

but sarcasm is usually only noticed by the cleverest. it would have been good practice.

Cleaner and less sarcastic

I was particularly struck by how china responded to their financial collapse; they told the CEO's that they could not go bankrupt and told the stockholders that they could not sell their stock!
Sounds just like Atlas Shrugged to me!

Good point.

Jan

No doubt. As A.R. pointed out, the man who discovered the useful preservation of fire, was probably burnt at the stake. Those who give the most to humanity, seem to inevitably become the scapegoat.

I heard this version: Socialism works until the money runs out. It's less specific, but more universal.

Bingo! I agree. Also, the function of the moochers is to make looting possible. When the looting has reached its end, the moochers have no more value, except as you say.

Although I think that Germany is making a political statement, they will do another bailout so their politicians wont be blamed for immediate results from Grexit. They will pay for it by printing euros and making their own citizens pay through inflation of the euro. Its disgusting. Greece should be dumped unceremoniously and allowed to fail. Just like Venezuela. Amazing how these people expect to be taken care of somehow.

I am sure we will be told at some point that Capitalism crept in and crashed the Greek economy.

Like Margret Thatchers' "The problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other people's money".

Readers of Atlas have been pointing out what is happening economically to the world since the 50s. It is reality, and reality can be evaded, kicked down the road, and not dealt with, but eventually it will catch up to you and you will pay the price. The longer the evasion, the higher the price.

What a great response. No one is ever rich enough for a Democrat until all his money is in the Democrat's control.

The only thing that seems to be missing from this scenario, is where are the Ioannes Galts of Greece?

The looters will crush the moochers in my opinion. The last act of power they can commit.

Excellent article. "The perils of self-sacrifice".

Moocher vs. looter. Who do you think will win, Rich?

Funny how extracting large amounts of tax money from hard working Brits is not seen as a hardship by them. Not giving money to lazy moochers is.

Study the case of Cyprus.

Reading the article, I was laughing as I read the moocher plea for David Cameron to explain why he wanted people to suffer.
Putting myself in Cameron's shoes, the first two words that sprang into Old Dino's mind began with a "f" followed by a "y."

Watching this play out is going to be interesting. It seems a bunch of bad derivative debt was piled on to the moochers debt. It's moocher vs looter in a winner take all (thats left).

Best example of the outcome of socialism in recent history! So wonderfully match Ayn's Nostradamus--esque novel it is scary.

I have a friend that says "You aren't rich enough to be a republican", to which I respond, "We as a whole aren't rich enough for a democrat". (our discussion should properly read fiscal conservative vs socialist, but you get the point).

I have another flaming liberal democrat prior business associate (he got fired as a general manager ... shocking). His first month on the job he put up a sign in the first parking space "General Manager". His replacement, fiscal conservative, great leader took it down, and parks wherever. Beyond fiscal policy, the other difference between these guys: Leadership! I would tease the liberal guy "How is your republican parking space", or "Looks like everyone turns into a republican when they get a little power". He would smile and say nothing, until his divisions numbers came crashing down...
Just is such a wonderful example of what progressives and liberals really do. They get power, distribute wealth in accordance with some well-meaning, untested theory and they indulge lavishly, thinking "our little cream from the top is due us for what we did for the needy". What do real leaders do? They move the whole organization forward, effective and productive, and take their compensation from the improvements!

I see the ruling Greek party in the same light. They were elected on a platform of non-austerity, and they cannot allow themselves to accept (or people see) that the prior party was correct. "We can't afford it"

Boy do I wish one of the US POTUS candidates would take this platform and run with it!

At least we can watch this happen from a distance but we aren't too far behind. Who is John Galt?

This is very good.

Hey! Check your e-mail. How you guys doing?