– Greece’s New FinMin Explains “This Is What Happens When You Humiliate A Nation & Give It No Hope” (ZeroHedge, Jan 27, 2015):
“This is not blackmail,” explains new Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, “we simply want to end this seemingly never-ending Greek Crisis.” In what must be worryingly calm and simple to comprehend words for Brussels, Varoufakis tells CNBC’s Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, “this is what happens when you humilate a nation and don’t give it any hope.” Carefully noting that membership in the Euro is not imperative, Varoufakis concludes “bankruptcy cannot be dealt with by borrowing more,” asking rhetorically, “how can I look the German and Finnish taxpayer in the eye and tell them you know I can’t really pay you the money I have already borrowed from you…” but lend me more so I can pay back the ECB?
As Varoufakis explains, he believes Europe is willing to negotiate haircuts – anything else appears a waste of time.
(our apologies for the audio quality)
I sure hope they tell the banks to go to hell, and work to rebuild as Iceland did.
Maybe other EU nations will follow suit.