Showing posts with label EU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label EU. Show all posts

Monday, June 9, 2014

The EU Central Bank Divests Itself of Its Last Few Brain Cells.

Europe's Central Bank Is Paying Negative Interest Rates. What Does That Mean?

It means the inmates are running the asylum that exists where Europe used to be. Hopefully the productive class over there will see this as the idiocy it is and, where possible, start moving assets overseas. Those who cannot afford a foreign bank account may just start keeping their money in a mattress.

This is, allegedly, being done to stop deflation but the endgame is more inflation and a weaker Euro. However, inflation cannot trigger sustained growth. At best, it can cause an economic spurt by promoting bubbles that rely on loose credit practices. When the monetary pumping slows or stops those bubble activities go under. They simply cannot continue to fund themselves without a loose monetary policy to sustain them. In reality the only way to keep the bubble pump primed is to keep inflating the currency.

Despite centuries of history on how badly inflationary practices turn out, politicians still have not figured it out. On the other hand, maybe they have. After all, those in power are well-situated to enrich themselves and for decades have been kicking the debt into the future for some other "leaders" to deal with. By then the current crop of parasites will have retired to their villas and will be better insulated from the misery they helped cause.

I'd like to say the productive class deserves better but people do not always get the government they deserve. They do, however, get the worst government they will tolerate.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Water Is Not Wet

At least not in Europe.

According to The Telegraph, water does not prevent dehydration and drink manufacturers cannot legally claim it does.

EU officials concluded that, following a three-year investigation, there was no evidence to prove the previously undisputed fact.

Producers of bottled water are now forbidden by law from making the claim and will face a two-year jail sentence if they defy the edict, which comes into force in the UK next month.

Just when I think that the nanny states have collectively plumbed the depths of human stupidity (or maybe human evil), one will bounce back and astound me once again. Maybe it is time to just toss the whole idea of the state on the dust heap of human history. I can only hope my descendants will look back on this time and see the obsession with the state as protector as just a silly an idea. Like a flat Earth or a geocentric universe.

Oh yeah. Drink Brawndo. Its got electrolytes!