WTF^^^ ALL IOUs?? IMF CAN STOP IT AT THE CLICK OF A BUTTON!? HONG FKING KONG !?!?!?
Oh dear. You need to separate the issues. EUROPE is a collection of sovereign states - they will not and CANNOT write off their debt. The IMF can help, and they are helping, but they cannot write off sovereign debt.
Also it is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO HONG KONG! That geezer brought in the same straight up free market neo-liberal market ideology that has brought Europe - and the world - to its knees. The difference isn't in market IDEOLOGY its in both market strategy and where these countries have placed their assets. Hong Kong can afford to have lower taxes, because its owned by China again. (BBC Conveniently left out China from that little ring-o-stats posted above)
Greece is in the **** IMF have given them a fair amount already, also Eurozone announced the other day that they have the means to support Greece until the end of june, tiny in fact, €1BN or so reserve. Still seems hopeless. No-one in Europe implemented the austerity measures they were all raving about. I reckon Greece will leave Europe . Contingent liability is inevitable, especially as Eurozone have recognised Greece won't be able to pay back all the bailout money they were given, so Europe will decline, and those who have invested in Europe will decline (its already happening - look at JP Morgan).
Spain is looking similarly F'd. Correctly stated above that tax has been hiked and banks given more money.
So, whats the solution? BANKING REGULATION? No - look at Dodd Frank, passed in 2010. Didn't do squat. TAXING THE CORPORATIONS? Yes but how? People complain that the wealthy get taxed at lower rates, but its all relative. Use the new UK Income Tax Salary Calculator (its flipping cool incidentally) and you will see how much millionaires pay. Effectively 60-odd % of income+NI? Thats a lot of money, and a big contributor. How do these people earn money? By successful business. So you limit the big boys, and you're basically doubling your risk.
Theres no real solution. Power and greed will always win. Thats the way it is. We've dug the hole.
Market is volatile as ****. Best places to invest? BRIC, and SME's. Really shrewd people will invest in Water...but thats long long term.
Europe is OWARI ! First rule of MERKELS BAILOUT CLUB is there ARE NO BAILOUTS!!
oh and P.S mapadale, in response to your other thread where you are raving about Computer Misuse Act and Data Protection Act and getting Prai in **** for posting your pic - it won't work. You've misinterpreted them. Your best bet is to go for 'cyber-bullying' but that won't work either, seeing as theres a lot of evidence stating the contrary.
My sources for all this is being a lawyer who works in private equity and venture capital. Later !!