Is it Time to get out of the EU?

[Simon Pieman]

Depends if its take home (net) or gross pay innit

[Samdy Gray]

I think Lumps just wanted to wave his "I earn more than you" cock at tans.

[flammableBen]

I'd much prefer that we put up 3bn to help a neighbour get funding, than just write off a 6bn vodaphone tax bill. Oh.

[pauld]

I'd much prefer that we put up 3bn to help a neighbour get funding, than just write off a 6bn vodaphone tax bill. Oh.

We should put the money into education. Specifically, geography.

There is a difference though - as with the Irish, we're loaning Portugal the money at a profitable interest rate. We just gave Vodafone, Top Shop etc the billions they got off their tax. Maybe otanswell could take up his excessive tax bill with his employers?

[ghanimah]

We should put the money into education. Specifically, geography.

There is a difference though - as with the Irish, we're loaning Portugal the money at a profitable interest rate. We just gave Vodafone, Top Shop etc the billions they got off their tax. Maybe otanswell could take up his excessive tax bill with his employers?

Technically we're loaning the money, but in reality we're giving it to them. If there was a good chance of getting it back then the markets would have lent it to them instead. There's no way Greece, Ireland or Portugal can afford to pay it back - they're bankrupt and will eventually default.

[DMR]

I think Lumps just wanted to wave his "I earn more than you" cock at tans.

You're normally well keen on a bit of one-upmanship, is it fair to assume you're on less then?

[Samdy Gray]

Obviously I take home double and just didn't want to boast.

[leefer]

As I understand it, Portugal can't borrow the money it needs at a reasonable rate, so we and others (as agreed) borrow it at a cheaper rate and lend it back to Portugal on terms - not really worth getting angry about is it?

You dont understand it,the reason they can't borrow it is because they are broke, people and nations that are broke will not get credit the money we give them ala Ireland wont be paid back,its a bailout,call it a low cost loan if you want but thats just the official line.

[Spencer_White]

Im glad we are not in the Euro, because then we really would be held to ransom by the likes of Ireland, Portugal and Greece. Greece in particular seems completely unable to deal with debt or balance its economy.

When I went to India I had to send my passport off for 6 weeks for a VISA, then you can only get Rupees in India. Obviously it wouldnt be that bad going to France if we were not in the EU, but we do take for granted our freedom of movement in the EU. I think its great and Id do more of it if I could! When you go to Western Germany I would say it becomes clear that they have much more to lose from the EU than us.

As for immigration, I think the problem is the immigration from outside the EU. The ones from inside will integrate.

[otanswell]

Maybe otanswell could take up his excessive tax bill with his employers?

Hehe, my employer is vodafone actually !

[chalkies_shorts]

Fuck the EU. The EU needs us more than we need them. Noboody has signed up for what we've got. We signed up for a free trading zone not to be ruled by unelected corrupt fuckwits.
We totally fucked our Commonwealth partners when we joined hence the anomositry towards us from previous partners.
A totally corrupt organisation and flooding Africa with cheap agricultural produce is not helping their economies.
The political equivalane of the cunts down the A420

[pauld]

It's perfectly straightforward - we tell the Portuguese "Sure, you can have £3bn to help you out of the hole you dug for yourselves. You can have the £3bn+ Iceland owes us. Go get it off them" and roll up two bad debts into one.

[Nemo]

Indeed, Iceland aren't even in the EU and yet we seem to have bailed them out.

[pauld]

We're just lovely generous people, really aren't we? Any nation in need can simply turn up in a London subway with a suitable size hat (sombrero/viking helmet) and a cardboard sign saying "Please help - bankless and destitute, useless financial system to feed" and we'll shower them in riches we don't have.

God help us when they work out the international finance equivalent of chugging

[ghanimah]

Indeed, Iceland aren't even in the EU and yet we seem to have bailed them out.

Iceland have all the benefits of being in the EU (i.e. access to our money) but none of the copious drawbacks - can't blame 'em really.