Two interesting videos caught my attention this weekend. The Euro-Zone crises (plural) are deepening and spreading rapidly, threatening the American-European trans-atlantic financial system. To say that in simple words: it goes about the money we still have to buy our bread. Money from whatever source. Of course this must have our attention. Dr. John C. Hulsman, a Dutch political risk expert and consultant of political leaders, predicts that by the end of 2012 we'll know which 'political fairytale' holds true about money, economies and society. Will there still be a Euro or has Europe as such fallen apart into its original shape: a patchwork of independent nation-states with their own currencies? His opinion is, that political 'elites' have their heads in the clouds, are unaware of reality and aren't able to speak with one voice (by cultural differences). He predicts that a 'united Europe' with its €uro can't work. Do see how he explains this.
The other video (only shown here) comes from the LaRouche PAC, a 'thinktank' around Lyndon LaRouche, a former American presidential candidate and political activist known for his 'extreme' viewpoints. He even spent several years in jail, possibly to silence him. I like 'extreme' viewpoints for their way to point to the future. Some relativism is required though. 'Soup isn't eaten as hot as it is served', a Dutch saying goes. But still: his analysis about the sudden arrival of a full-blown Spanish crisis, last Friday (!), shows that Europe indeed is hovering on the precipice now. Time has run out - for Greece and Spain and for more austerity without incentives for growth. Greece due to recent irrational political choices. Spain due to its rapidly collapsing, politicized banking-system within a double-dip recession and an exploding unemployment.
The agreement between both videos is their lack to propose solutions. True, fact is there are none at present. You can't have austerity and growth at the same time. You can't have a currency when you have no state. Europe is no longer in turmoil only - it is a mess all over the place. Listen to what Dr. Hulsman has to say...

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Link: http://youtu.be/7WcOoM1c7HY

The role 'money' plays in certain minds transcends the pathological. Whether it is a government trying to "save the banks" or an airline trying to fly "as cheap as possible", the 'money-addiction' seems everywhere. It gives the 'value' of money a quite different meaning, as well as the values expressed by those who scrupulously and shameless try to grab it together.

John

Worrying developments in Europe. The world takes note. A 78-year old Dutchman, living in Greece for 18 years with his Greek wife, gets attacked by two Greek men shouting: "This is Greece". Badly wounded he escapes. German sources reporting that a car belonging to the head of the European Union task force for Greece has been destroyed in an apparent arson attack. Greece needs tourism, but they will stay away if this violent xenophobia continues.
In Spain the central government quasi nationalized Spain's 4th largest "Bankia" bank comprising 7 insolvent, smaller banks sitting upon astronomical construction-boom debts to a height nobody knows precisely still. Austerity measures hit the population. No sign of "growth" to find, only growing numbers of unemployed people. About 25% of the potential workforce sits at home for lack of employment and economic activities. Many shops and restaurants close by lack of customers.
Italy not doing that well. It still has an industrial base, but its population is getting angry: about austerity that hits them, not the culprits: state and banks. Only Germany pretends to do well. Its government raised its income some 5.7% under a cup of coffee. Employment still soars, although wages go down and down. Is that country covering things up? One wonders what the reality is? With new Greek elections about June 17th it could well be, that the Euro-Zone is breaking up soon after. The Euro was a political failure with dire consequences: for populations and politics. France got its new president. Not that it will change the course of history after all. It's too late now. Europe -as a whole- has reached the edge.
See what experts, a politician and some people have to say....

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Link: http://youtu.be/XgsCdNHqwx0

OK boys, let's pack our bags, ... or better not? I couldn't believe my ears the first 2 minutes.

John