German hypocrisy on debt

dttq · 31-08-2012 12:35PM #1

Ok, I'm going to go against the advice of Basil Fawlty here, but in light of recent German moral pontificating on debt in countries like Ireland and Greece, am I the only one who sees hypocrisy here given Germany's own history? This is a country that within the space of 40 years, caused the two largest wars in Europe's history, which not only caused tens of millions of deaths, but also bankrupted large parts of Europe for decades, causing as much economic destruction in the process, as the destruction of lives. At least we, even if we didn't get our economic policies right, never destroyed the economies of other countries, bankrupting some of them for decades after the end of WWII.

smash · 31-08-2012 12:36PM

Stop living in the past.

Boombastic · 31-08-2012 12:36PM

dttq wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to go against the advice of Basil Fawlty here, but in light of recent German moral pontificating on debt in countries like Ireland and Greece, am I the only one who sees hypocrisy here given Germany's own history? This is a country that within the space of 40 years, caused the two largest wars in Europe's history, which not only caused tens of millions of deaths, but also bankrupted large parts of Europe for decades, causing as much economic destruction in the process, as the destruction of lives. At least we, even if we didn't get our economic policies right, never destroyed the economies of other countries, bankrupting some of them for decades after the end of WWII.

Can I take your order?....Orders which must be obeyed

I think we got away with it!

Dr Bob · 31-08-2012 12:38PM

smash wrote: »

Stop living in the past.

Hey , I like living in the past, at least I had money back then!

dr.bollocko · 31-08-2012 12:39PM

GOD WINS ON POST 1!

OldGoat · 31-08-2012 12:42PM

Dr Bob wrote: »

Hey , I like living in the past, at least I had money back then!

That depends on how far back you go. Before we had no money we had plenty. Before we had plenty we had none. I think we blamed the British that time, or the Japanese. Anyway, it wasn't our fault.

nacimroc · 31-08-2012 12:46PM

Its the fact they think they are bailing US out that drives me insane. They give us a loan (charge huge interest), make us pay it all back to their investors who failed at their gambling but yet the whole EU thinks us Irish just got a wad of 80bn cash we don't have to pay back!

Ireland has the power to shake the **** out of the stable euro now. We should make use of it. If Enda said tomorrow we want a right down as the whole Euro is flawed and will fail within 12 months, they would do whatever it took to keep us happy! Its our only bargaining chip that we never use.

For some reason the Germans look like the good ones in this deal. Thats the bit that pisses me off most.

Shenshen · 31-08-2012 12:49PM

dttq wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to go against the advice of Basil Fawlty here, but in light of recent German moral pontificating on debt in countries like Ireland and Greece, am I the only one who sees hypocrisy here given Germany's own history? This is a country that within the space of 40 years, caused the two largest wars in Europe's history, which not only caused tens of millions of deaths, but also bankrupted large parts of Europe for decades, causing as much economic destruction in the process, as the destruction of lives. At least we, even if we didn't get our economic policies right, never destroyed the economies of other countries, bankrupting some of them for decades after the end of WWII.

Well, that must be then why Germany's been repaying war debt up until some 5 years ago, wouldn't you think?

smash · 31-08-2012 12:49PM

nacimroc wrote: »

If Enda said tomorrow we want a right down as the whole Euro is flawed and will fail within 12 months, they would do whatever it took to keep us happy!

I doubt it. And lets face it if we did that we wouldn't be pissing of the Germans, we'd piss off the whole of Europe.

Colmustard · 31-08-2012 12:54PM

"German hypocrisy on Debt"

Does the OP suggest we don't pay our debts on the grounds Germany started a war 73 years ago. To me the OP doesn't seem that bright.

davet82 · 31-08-2012 12:55PM

dttq wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to go against the advice of Basil Fawlty here, but in light of recent German moral pontificating on debt in countries like Ireland and Greece, am I the only one who sees hypocrisy here given Germany's own history? This is a country that within the space of 40 years, caused the two largest wars in Europe's history, which not only caused tens of millions of deaths, but also bankrupted large parts of Europe for decades, causing as much economic destruction in the process, as the destruction of lives. At least we, even if we didn't get our economic policies right, never destroyed the economies of other countries, bankrupting some of them for decades after the end of WWII.

ok the germans are hypocrites but we still owe the money so is that the point of the thread?

Gee Bag · 31-08-2012 12:56PM

OSI wrote: »

Not really fair to blame the Germans entirely for both WW's.

They were part of a much bigger picture that caused WW1, and after being shafted with the blame and responsibility for WW1 at the end of it, spiralled pretty steeply eventually leading to the Nazis gaining power and WW2. You can lay a large portion of blame on the rise of the Nazis on the Allies trying to humiliate Germany after WW1.

True enough, OP was a bit unfair on ze Germans. Causes of WWI are explained quite well here.......

later12 · 31-08-2012 12:58PM

http://irrev-black.com/wp-content/uploads/black//01-Tu-Quoque.jpg

irishgrover · 31-08-2012 01:02PM

Personally I think it's in very bad taste to blame Germany for the sins of it's fathers or grandfathers.
Regardless of one's view on the current economic situation I don't think it's particularly related to the fact that "your grandad was a Nazi fascist......"

Sykk · 31-08-2012 01:03PM

So, you're saying Germany shouldn't be repaid to billions that they've loaned other countries to solve their problems, because of what people who no longer exist done over 70 years ago?

OP for president!

bbam · 31-08-2012 01:07PM

I bet they're sending us this ****e weather too.
Obviously the solution is to go onto the Internet moaning about the fact that the people who lent us money actually expect us to pay it back. The cheek!

And they once caused a war so they must be bad people so it's ok if we renage on our debts.

Op is a political and economic genius, well in their own mind anyway.

Colmustard · 31-08-2012 01:07PM

I blame the French for WW2 if Clemenceau went with Wilson and Lloyd George and hadn't crippled Germany with the massive reparations at the Versailles treaty you wouldn't had got the social instability in Germany and then you would not have got a Hitler.

davet82 · 31-08-2012 01:07PM

so now we've established the germans are hypocrites and started two world wars and killed millions and wrecked other countries economies and beat lots of teams at football it now means that Ireland shouldnt have to pay pack all the money that was borrowed from them... somebody call Enda and let him know this, well done OP :rolleyes:

davet82 · 31-08-2012 01:11PM

Colmustard wrote: »

I blame the French for WW2 if Clemenceau went with Wilson and Lloyd George and hadn't crippled Germany with the massive reparations at the Versailles treaty you wouldn't had got the social instability in Germany and then you would not have got a Hitler.

cool we dont have to pay anything to the french now either... who else do we owe money to and what can we blame the for so we stiff them for money

Mr Benevolent · 31-08-2012 01:12PM

dttq wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to go against the advice of Basil Fawlty here, but in light of recent German moral pontificating on debt in countries like Ireland and Greece, am I the only one who sees hypocrisy here given Germany's own history? This is a country that within the space of 40 years, caused the two largest wars in Europe's history,

Germany didn't cause WW1.

At least we, even if we didn't get our economic policies right, never destroyed the economies of other countries, bankrupting some of them for decades after the end of WWII.

Expect this thread to appear in the Indo tomorrow as an argument against paying our debts. Pathetic.

Grayson · 31-08-2012 01:12PM

Gee Bag wrote: »

True enough, OP was a bit unfair on ze Germans. Causes of WWI are explained quite well here.......

Yeah, I mean everyone kinda wanted that war. If it was today, they'd be organising it in facebook.

Attending: Germany, France, Brittan.....
Not attending: Switzerland
maybe attending: United States.

dttq · 31-08-2012 01:14PM

Eh, I was just pointing out the hypocrisy of German pontificating on debt and how other countries handle it, given their own history of bankrupting a whole continent, and not just their own back yard which is what we and the Greeks merely did. Nothing there about debt forgiveness because of what the Germans did 70 years ago. People reading into things which aren't even there, yet I'm been called the idiot :rolleyes:

ejmaztec · 31-08-2012 01:15PM

irishgrover wrote: »

Personally I think it's in very bad taste to blame Germany for the sins of it's fathers or grandfathers.
Regardless of one's view on the current economic situation I don't think it's particularly related to the fact that "your grandad was a Nazi fascist......"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAgsubC0zaE

Gee Bag · 31-08-2012 01:16PM

Grayson wrote: »

Yeah, I mean everyone kinda wanted that war. If it was today, they'd be organising it in facebook.

Attending: Germany, France, Brittan.....
Not attending: Switzerland
maybe attending: United States.

Kaiser Willhelm II Likes This.

Biggins · 31-08-2012 01:17PM

Sadly not the first time Germany has broken EU rules (example) which surprising in some cases, it insisted upon in the first place.
I believe they alone broke a number of fiscal limits legally set (here). They being the first to do so after their introduction.

Thank gawd we have honest politicians.
We would never break rules that we have set ourselves.

Grayson · 31-08-2012 01:17PM

dttq wrote: »

Eh, I was just pointing out the hypocrisy of German pontificating on debt and how other countries handle it, given their own history of bankrupting a whole continent, and not just their own back yard which is what we and the Greeks merely did. Nothing there about debt forgiveness because of what the Germans did 70 years ago. People reading into things which aren't even there, yet I'm been called the idiot :rolleyes:

have you ever heard of the versaille agreement and the debt repayments? What we're in now is nothing compared to that amount. And the state of ireland is nothing compared to the state of germany in 1923

2ygb4cmqetsjhx · 31-08-2012 01:21PM

What happened in Germany 60 years ago is irrelevant. What happened in Germany 10 years ago is irrelevant. You have to look at the present situation. Germans on a personal level don't take 120% mortgages to buy houses. If they buy houses they'd be lucky to get 75%.

Secondly their economy was based on hard work, efficiency and producing useful products such machinery and cars. Ours was based on bull**** spoof artists and building ****holes that we don't need to buy with money we don't have.

Most importantly of all. We are more in the **** than they are. Talking about what happened in the War is irrelevant. The reality is they are doing it right now and although not perfect(Germany has it's problems) they are treading water while we are swimming in the ****. We could probably learn ALOT from Germany.

Mr Benevolent · 31-08-2012 01:26PM

dttq wrote: »

Eh, I was just pointing out the hypocrisy of German pontificating on debt and how other countries handle it, given their own history of bankrupting a whole continent, and not just their own back yard which is what we and the Greeks merely did. Nothing there about debt forgiveness because of what the Germans did 70 years ago. People reading into things which aren't even there, yet I'm been called the idiot :rolleyes:

The debt the Germans got from WW1 wasn't forgiven either. Why are you arguing that we should dodge our responsibilities? Anyone who got a cheap mortgage or a loan in the period 1999-2008 is implicated in our current mess.

ejmaztec · 31-08-2012 01:27PM

dttq wrote: »

Eh, I was just pointing out the hypocrisy of German pontificating on debt and how other countries handle it, given their own history of bankrupting a whole continent, and not just their own back yard which is what we and the Greeks merely did. Nothing there about debt forgiveness because of what the Germans did 70 years ago. People reading into things which aren't even there, yet I'm been called the idiot :rolleyes:

The Greeks, during a moment of desperation, wanted Germany to hand over the gold bullion looted by the Nazis during WW2. If anything, it proved that the Germans have a sense of humour, because they pissed themselves laughing.

Colmustard · 31-08-2012 01:31PM

dttq wrote: »

Ok, I'm going to go against the advice of Basil Fawlty here, but in light of recent German moral pontificating on debt in countries like Ireland and Greece, am I the only one who sees hypocrisy here given Germany's own history? This is a country that within the space of 40 years, caused the two largest wars in Europe's history, which not only caused tens of millions of deaths, but also bankrupted large parts of Europe for decades, causing as much economic destruction in the process, as the destruction of lives. At least we, even if we didn't get our economic policies right, never destroyed the economies of other countries, bankrupting some of them for decades after the end of WWII.

People
I was on to my bank manager and I read this to him and I said I am not paying my mortgage anymore on the grounds your organisations broke this country. He understood and he said he will not send me any pontificating letters and he will write the debt off. I am now a property owner. OP you are brilliant.

History what is the point.

Shenshen · 31-08-2012 01:33PM

dttq wrote: »

Eh, I was just pointing out the hypocrisy of German pontificating on debt and how other countries handle it, given their own history of bankrupting a whole continent, and not just their own back yard which is what we and the Greeks merely did. Nothing there about debt forgiveness because of what the Germans did 70 years ago. People reading into things which aren't even there, yet I'm been called the idiot :rolleyes:

Nobody forgave the Germans their debts, they have been paying back war debt and reparations up until very recently.
So what exactly is your point here?

German hypocrisy on debt

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