[st0p]

I can't agree with your last sentence. We've all had the profits of having banks providing liquidity (common, all that Russian money into the Cyprian economy has been great for all of Cyprus). Now that system has failed and the big guys aka the banks are just as clueless as the little guys.

Do we need to rethink how our economy works? Yes. Do we need to help Cyprus, Italy, Spain? Yes. Partially because it is in out best (Dutch) interests, but also because they are European brethren. Is it okay to ask the locals for a sacrifice themselves? Yes.

I know I'm living in one of the richest countries in the world. I don't mind helping another country. I understand that losing 6.75% of your savings hurts.

[omgyeah]

Nobody blamed you for being consistent, organized, eager to work more and getting rightfully rewarded for it.

This is the way it's supposed to be.

Also the problem is not losing 6.75 of ours savings. For most Greek people it's 0 * 6.75 anyway.

The problem is that I am poor. My country is poor. My country was born poor. My country was funded from the beginning of its existence because of being born poor. My country has always been and will always be poor.

But now somebody decided that we are not poor enough. And there is nothing that we can do about it.

And while at it, that same somebody is trying to make your life less comfortable and blame me for it.

This is a scheme over personal economics. It escalates at country level. Further above what some countries or even coalitions of countries can cope with.

And let's not get started with black market money in Swiss or wherever banks. Everything is plain pretense.

[herdrick]

    My country has always been and will always be poor.

You feel no connection to ancient Greece? Your ancestors created astonishing wealth - you don't think you can anymore?

[omgyeah]

HA!

My ancient ancestors...

They were selfish imperialists that built their legacy with wars and slaves.

Even if we could do it again in the present day, personally I wouldn't want it. But there is no other way, is there?

And let's just think about it:

We could build today a monument that it would still be there in 3,000 years. But it would take the lives of 10,000 slaves. Should we do it? Shamelessly exploit people that will die anyway some day, so that we can show off in 3,000 years?

I vote for no.

And by "my country" I refer to the modern version created in the mid 19th century. There is no continuity with the ancient times (at least in political terms). And there was no country in the ancient times to begin with. Only city-states. A few rich and many poor :)

Therefore, I think that my country is definitely poor. Forever and ever.

[bitcartel]

It's theft, plain and simple.

The Cypriot people are not being asked if they want to sacrifice their savings - it is being taken from them by force!

[vacri]

Good old libertarians - everything is about money and force.

The money isn't being taken by force. Money is a social construct, and the people in charge of taking care of that social construct are fiddling with the numbers. There are no jackbooted thugs going into people's homes and relieving them of physical property, which is what you're alluding to.

Whethere it's morally right or not (or somewhere in-between) is a wholly different question, which isn't helped by hyperbole like you're presenting here.

[omgyeah]

Well... There are 5,000-euros suited thugs sitting in their offices relieving people of fiscal property.

Which is exactly the same as jackbooted thugs going into people's homes and relieving them of physical property.

And it's morally wrong. Like putting tags on people to make fun of them.

[vacri]

Tags like 'libertarian'? Or tags like 'thugs'?

[omgyeah]

You got me there.

I mean hard working bankers that deserve their 50,000% annual bonuses for destroying people's lives.

[st0p]

They don't have anything to be asked, since they're bankrupt.

[omgyeah]

The local governments and the local banks are bankrupt.

The local people are not bankrupt.

But they are soon-to-be.

[seanmcdirmid]

Well, the euro zone doesn't have to help Cyprus put and just let them collapse. Maybe Greece could sell the other half of Cyprus to turkey to get some extra needed cash...what is a better option?

[omgyeah]

Maybe you could sell some of your parents organs and buy a new car?

What is a better option? Maybe don't buy a new car?

Let them rot. They're too far away. I can't smell the foul scent. I don't care.

[seanmcdirmid]

I'm sure the Cypriots don't want to rot, so why not take the EU bail out? Yes, they lose 6-10%, but that is much better than 100%. And the Russia mafia won't be that angry.

[omgyeah]

1: Because it's not a solution.

2: It's a temporary measure that will only lead to a worse temporary measure.

3: GOTO 2;

[seanmcdirmid]

So what was the right solution? Kick Cyprus out of the EU and let them scavenge for themselves? Letting the banks fail might attract an invasion from Russia, and then it becomes a NATO problem....such a mess.

[konstruktor]

Their elected officials accepted a deal that involved this haircut. That's hardly by force.

[omgyeah]

Exactly!

The problem is that the elected officials promised the exact opposite, in order to get elected.