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Grexit "Disaster" Looms As Greek Hospitals Run Out Of Sheets, Painkillers

Tyler Durden's picture




 

The default countdown is about to go under 10 days and it is becoming increasingly apparent that both Greece and its creditors have had enough.

Months of tense negotiations have gone nowhere and yielded exactly nothing and it now looks like PM Alexis Tsipras and FinMin Yanis Varoufakis may be willing to miss a June 5 payment to the IMF if it means proving they are serious about keeping their campaign promises and forcing the troika to the bargaining table. The implications of a missed payment aren’t entirely clear but Athens is keen to predict the worst as it tries to squeeze concessions from creditors. Bloomberg has more:

A day after Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Greek society can’t absorb any more austerity measures, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said his government has met the euro area and IMF three-quarters of the way, and that it’s up to creditors to cover the remainder.

 

“Greece has made enormous strides reaching a deal, it is now up to the institutions to do their bit,” Varoufakis said Sunday on BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “It is not in their interests as our creditors that the cow that produces the milk should be beaten into submission to the extent that the milk will not be enough for them to get their money back”...

 

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, meanwhile, signaled there isn’t much wiggle room after Tsipras’s government committed to policy changes in return for aid in a euro-area accord on Feb. 20.

 

“That is the condition for completing the current program,” Schaeuble said in a Deutschlandfunk radio interview aired Sunday. “The problems are rooted in Greece. And now Greece does have to fulfill its commitments.”

 

Some members of Tsipras’s Syriza party advocate defaulting on loans rather than backing down from the anti-austerity policies that swept it to power in January even if that leads the country out of the euro.

 

Greece doesn’t have the money, and won’t pay what it owes the IMF in June, Interior Minister Nikos Voutsis said in a Mega TV interview on Sunday. Spiegel Online on April 1 cited Voutsis as saying Greece should delay an April 9 payment to the fund, which was made.

 

“We’ve done remarkably well for an economy that doesn’t have access to the money markets to meet our obligations,” Varoufakis said. “At some point we will not be able to do it.”

 

“Once you are in a monetary union, getting out of it is catastrophic,” Varoufakis said. “It would be a disaster for everyone involved. It would be a disaster primarily for the Greek social economy but it would also be the beginning of the end of the common currency project in Europe, whatever some analysts might be saying.”

And "whatever some analysts might be saying", Greeks are now suffering mightily, as the €22 million per day hit to the economy has now bankrupted the country's hospitals which have reportedly run out of painkillers and sheets. Here's The Independent:

Greek hospitals have run out of supplies such as painkillers, scissors and sheets as budget cuts have left the health service unable to provide even basic provisions for operations and medical procedures…

Huge cuts to the healthcare budget, amid the economic turmoil which made millions unemployed, have left than 2.5m Greeks uninsured, up from 500,000 in 2008..
healthcare spending has fallen by 25 per cent since 2009, creating shortages of the most basic surgical equipment and leaving too little money to pay nurses' salaries.
Reports have surfaced of patients being turned away from hospital because there was no meter to measure their high blood pressure, while others have had to do without painkillers during medical procedures. One patient was even asked to bring their own sheets to hospital.
A trainee surgeon at KAT, a respected state hospital in Athens, said the situation was at “breaking point”.
“There is no money to repair medical equipment, no money for ambulances to use for petrol, no money to hire nurses and no money to buy modern surgical supplies."
Meanwhile, Tsipras is steadfastly refusing to compromise on the now ubiquitous "red lines" and the most outspoken austerity advocates look to be entrenching themselves even further as the following quote from German FinMin Wolfgang Schaeuble makes clear:
Greece committed itself to the fulfillment of this program on Feb. 20 and therefore we don't need to talk about alternatives.
Clearly, the end game is approaching although it's till unclear what form it will take. The idea that a developed country cannot provide basic emergency medical care because it is in poor standing with the institutions that print a fiat currency is patently absurd and simply isn't tenable meaning that one way or another, this 'situation' will resolve itself in the coming weeks, an event which will put Europe's broken bond markets to a rather difficult test.
 

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Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:14 | 6126746 Impoverished Ps...
Impoverished Psychologist's picture

BOOM! Bitchez...

 

When the bullshit hits the hard wall of reality..

Even Varoufakis is talking bollocks now, using sophistry and spin - this must mean we are VERY near the end when the arch pragmatist and realist starts using all the diplomatic wibble.

Hedge accordingly.

 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:16 | 6126752 VinceFostersGhost
VinceFostersGhost's picture

 

 

Huh, they must have "affordable" healthcare too.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:24 | 6126773 Stackers
Stackers's picture

but free health care is a basic human right ............

 

'The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.'

The Iron Lady

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:30 | 6126787 negative rates
negative rates's picture

If educated properly, it is, if not, it is the cancer of life.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:02 | 6126880 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Russian humanitarian aide convoy on the way in 3...2.....1....

And thank you fucking Troika for all the misery you caused!

Can't happen here, right??

Don't bet on it.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:14 | 6126914 knukles
knukles's picture

The Greek Saga in One Act

 

Ok, drop your pants.
What??I said drop your pants I gotta check your nuts.?Whatta you talkin’ about?.  You crazy?
Listen Greek, before we’re gonna lend you any more money we gotta know if everything’s OK.
Are you sure of this I mean, check my nuts?
Just drop ‘em.
Jesus…..   Ouch!  Stop!  That hurts!?Listen, just gonna stick my finger up here and I want you to cough.?Why?  You like this shit?
Ouch!?Cough.?What are you doing??A little more, I’m just up one knuckle.?What the fuck are…. That’s not my nuts!?Two knuckles.?Stop!?I feel your prostate!  It’s swollen much more than you told us.?Ouwwwwww.  ;)  Rub it some more it feels good!
What??Rub it some more.
It’s too swollen, it’ll never heal.
So rub it.  Feels great.
No, I’m pulling my finger …. Hey lemme go!
Nope  Nu uh.?Lemme go!
Nope you gotta rub me more.?I’m not rubbin’ you any more. (Popping sound on withdrawal.)?OK.  See if I’ll pay anything. Go fuck yourself.?Wait you can’t do that to me, I was rubbing your prostate and you said you’d pay me.
Well, I’m tired of being abused.  Fuck off.
But what are we gonna do if you don’t pay us??Go rub your own prostate.

Fin
(Curtain on Euro and EU)

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:49 | 6126996 Wolferl
Wolferl's picture

Throw those pathetic Greeks out of Europe already. It´s just a worthless third world country.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:02 | 6127155 elvy
elvy's picture

Throw this pathetic Wolferl out of Zerohedge already. It's (not a typo/grammar error) a worthless excuse for a human being / badly coded bot.

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 00:06 | 6128543 Kirk2NCC1701
Kirk2NCC1701's picture

You're overlooking the fact that the 'Greece investment' package was put together and sold to EU banks by...

Goldman Sachs (GS).

Aside from said EU banks looking foolish and pissed, are you beginning to see the bigger JPG?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 15:26 | 6127369 Perfecthedge
Perfecthedge's picture

Scheiß Nazi! VERPISS DICH.

Germany you will lose AGAIN, like the last two wars.  Nobody is going to put up with your shit.  Other people have a strong will to resist.  We are ready.  Don't even dare to squash other countries as you will go down, like the last time. FUCK NAZIS. FUCK BANKSTERS. 

Greece: throw the wrench into the moving gears. Let's get the shit show started...

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:40 | 6127533 Grumbleduke
Grumbleduke's picture

Du Arschloch verstehst nichtmal, daß Europa ein Kontinent ist. Wird etwas "schwierig", Griechenland da herauszulösen.

Verpiss dich einfach.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 17:01 | 6127592 Perfecthedge
Perfecthedge's picture

Amen Bruder Grumbleduke!  Wir sitzen alle im selben Boot.

We are all in the same boat.  This is not about "Germans vs Greeks".  This is about: the 99%-slaves vs. 1%-Bankster-Elite-Scum.

I wish you all good luck.  You will need it.  And Gold.  And Ammunition.  And a good handbook about gardening.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 21:05 | 6128162 johngaltfla
johngaltfla's picture

The "Grexit" is about to be the least of their problems. It seems the "people" have dared to tell herr Merkel and Brussels to go screw themselves today:

05.24 BREAKING NEWS: Spanish Municipal/Regional Elections Reflect Growing Anti-EU Socialist Movement

05.24 BREAKING NEWS: Poland’s Anti-EU Party Candidate Andrzej Duda wins Presidency in Shock Election Result

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:50 | 6127000 Squid Viscous
Squid Viscous's picture

as long as they don't run out of anal lube and gyros they can survive anything...

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:55 | 6127005 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Welcome to the third world.  You go to the hospital, you bring your own sheets and your family buys the painkillers with cash at the hospital pharmacy and brings them up to your nurse.  Then they also give some cash to the doc to supplement his low wages and maybe they bring him a few live chickens or a goat so the hospital staff has something to eat.

While the banker scum jet off to private hospitals in Switzerland.

Speaking of pain killers, the Greeks should just grow some poppy seed flowers and make some natural painkillers in their backyards.

They should then ship opium to Switzerland and Germany and get them addicted as payback.  Nothing better than banker family scum addicted to heroin.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:32 | 6127226 Latina Lover
Latina Lover's picture

+100   Having spend time in various third world countries, you are correct. During a medical emergency in an asian country, I had to buy all needles, bandages and drugs from the private pharmacy and pay the doctors before they would proceed.  The same also occurs in many parts of Latin America.  The Greeks should just default , take the pain and begin import substitution.  Even if the banksters extend further credit, delaying the end game will eventually hurt the Greeks more.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:36 | 6127503 macholatte
macholatte's picture

 

 

.. Greeks should just grow some poppy seed flowers and make some natural painkillers in their backyards.

 

Brilliant!

The US would then have to invade Greece to protect the poppy growers and preserve the economy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNqIrDKnNE8

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 15:33 | 6127387 Perfecthedge
Perfecthedge's picture

I spent 6 years in Central America and it is exactly as you've said. 

One night I went to a public hospital to visit a old lady, because her family couldn't visit her and bring some food.  One nurse that looked more like a hairy guy in boots walked me through endless overcrowded rooms (4 bed rooms had 8 beds, all squeezed in).  It was already dark (I went after visiting hours and they still let me in), as we walked between the rows of beds she tapped on one of the beds and said: "This one will not survive this night, I'm sure".  Just like that, cold blooded.

People become emotionally disconnected and accept death as part of Life.  That visit still gives me the creeps.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:28 | 6127494 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Wouldn’t that be the joke of the decade if Russia did that :)

It would be IN YOUR FACE for all of europe.

But it’s all just sad... we all call it europe but than you read stuff like that... that doesn’t reflect any unity.

Add the war in Joegoslavia to the story and it all becomes clear Europe was only setUp for economic reasons and nothing else.

Wo don’t even have an army!

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:43 | 6127543 joseJimenez
joseJimenez's picture

There is no way to make the process of taking money forcibly from productive people to give to orthers work. Collectivism is an immoral act.  No matter how you dress it up it remains an abstract idea that is not sustainable.  But forget sustainable, it is wrong!! What part of immoral do we missed? Private charities do a far better job but do not make politicians rich or powerful.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:00 | 6126882 logicalman
logicalman's picture

The trouble with Thatcher was that she was a hard hearted, greed-driven witch.

The trouble with Thatcherism was that everyone but the rich and connected were being fucked.

Under rule by people like Thatcher, everyone but the elites run out of money.

Healthcare is never free, but it should be a top priority in any developed part of the world, as should education.

IMHO, the best healthcare is very inexpensive - eat well and keep fit.

 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:24 | 6126935 Eirik Magnus Larssen
Eirik Magnus Larssen's picture

Margaret Thatcher, along with Ayn Rand, were two of the ugliest women in living memory. Both on the inside and on the outside.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:40 | 6127536 Hyjinx
Hyjinx's picture

Maybe Greece isn't as "developed" as you perceive.  Perhaps it has been punching well above its weight on the credit of others for a long time and is now finally returning to its reality.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:24 | 6126938 HenryHall
HenryHall's picture

>>> 'The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.'

>>> The Iron Lady


Apparently the Iron Mad Cow failed to grasp the concept that in Socialism there is no such thing as other people's money.

See the book The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists for an explanation.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:38 | 6127087 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

That's right.

Why shouldn't the lazy ass drunk high school dropout live in as nice a house as the local Doctor who toughed out 20 years of school.?

The "Collective" can make sure he has a Mercedes too.

Makes perfect sense to me.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 15:00 | 6127299 walküre
walküre's picture

Shelter, food, health care and education are a basic human right in a developed country.

Otherwise it's a third world country.

Don't need to go to extremes.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 15:42 | 6127405 MarketAnarchist
MarketAnarchist's picture

Shelter food and healthcare and education are not a right anywhere.

Thats bullshit.

Imagine you shipwreck with three others on a desert island.  One guy builds a shelter and starts gathering food while the other 3 are on the beach lamenting.  

Do they have a right to his shelter because its a human right?  

How about a country with only 5 doctors? If everyone has a right to healthcare, those doctors basically become slaves because they would have to work 24 hours a day to try to keep up with demand.

 

Rights are abstractions. Useless, bullshit, abstractions.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:35 | 6127514 walküre
walküre's picture

You're responsible for the hell you call your neighborhood.

Easy to nitpick on "rights" or "privileges" when you're arguing from a comfortable dwelling.

Basic shelter is not a McMansion. You like seeing people suffer under the bridges and eating out of garbage cans?

I guess you prefer the 3rd world status then.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 18:53 | 6127861 MarketAnarchist
MarketAnarchist's picture

3rd world and 1st world are irrelevent words. There are poor people in rich countries and rich people in poor countries.

 

Who said I am in a comfortable dwelling? I am below the poverty line working 70 hours a week, and yet the government takes 30% of my paycheck to pay for someone elses 'education' (if you can call government schools that).   Who said I like seeing people suffer? I help people anyway I can, but I know that funding a govenrment to allieviate these problems willl do absolutely nothing for anybody.   Furthermore, I also know that trying to help someone who is not willing to help themselves is also a waste.

 

There are no such thing as rights. That isn't nitpicking, that is just reality.  If I sit still and refuse to do anything, is someone else obliged to feed and clothe me because it is a right?

You must be on a college campus. How else could you be so ignorant to think everyone gets a shelter just by being born.

Newsflash, you have to expend effort to survive regardless of your neighbors or government system.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:35 | 6127516 Cloud9.5
Cloud9.5's picture

The basic rights of life, liberty and property seem to be pretty solid.  The difficulty comes in with the so called entitlements.  Entitlements are not rights.  They are claims made by the dictatorship of the majority against the produce of the productive.  These claims stifle and then ultimately kill the incentive of the productive and ultimately production collapses.  What follows next are five year plans and slave labor.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:38 | 6127525 walküre
walküre's picture

Cut the corporate entitlements and see what happens. The side arguing against citizen's welfare usually does not factor in the massive tax driven corporate welfare, corruption and graft.

Thatcher was a cunt. That's the premise of this dialogue. Some seem to disagree with this.

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 02:26 | 6128677 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Well said Walkure +100

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 05:24 | 6128795 nicxios
nicxios's picture

It's amazing you got downvoted for your previous comments.

Tatcher was lucky and found oil in the seas around GB, otherwise everybody would readily see what a cunt she was.

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 06:21 | 6128828 Know shit
Know shit's picture

A 'right' .....
In the end it is only about two things:
It is enforced with violence
It is what others grand you

Most of us are all over our rights.
But seem to forget most rights are someone else its obligation.

If one can't take care of itself, without exploring others, start with that short comming.
Don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you.

Could be a time is coming fast where we can't hide behind laws and law enforcement.
If you don't have your basics right by that time, you will be 'taken care' of.
Even with your basics right, chances will be slim, and living will be hard.

Third world ?
How about one, more human ?
(Yes, long hard way to go for sure)

Take care.
K a n s

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:46 | 6126981 flysofree
flysofree's picture

'The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.'

This sounds 'cute', but it's a FALSE statement because in a Socialist society there is no such a thing as other people money-all money belongs to the society in the first place and everyone pays taxes, so it's NOT FREE anyway. 


Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:47 | 6127121 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

The "Committee" decides what your labor is worth to the collective or does the CEO and the sweeper make the same?

How about those on the committee?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:01 | 6127153 Pure Evil
Pure Evil's picture

The problem with money in "the" collective is that it doesn't belong to other people it belongs to the state.

Or, in the case of the USSA it belongs to the Federal Reserve.

Don't believe just look at one of the scraps of paper in your wallet.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:41 | 6127255 orez65
orez65's picture

"... all money belongs to the society ..."

You really mean that all "CAPITAL" belongs to society.

Money is an accounting method for capital.

But in order to create capital a society needs to produce more than it consumes.

Therein lies the root cause of the failure of socialism.

It consumes more than it produces.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:40 | 6127534 Cloud9.5
Cloud9.5's picture

Ah yes, they pretend to pay us and we pretend to work.  Eventually everybody sits down in the dirt and the system collapses.  Socialism only works in small populations who have come together to resist real or perceived threats.  Examples are the old religious communes and the Israeli Kibbutz. 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:07 | 6127165 Antifaschistische
Antifaschistische's picture

let me guess.....medicine/pain killers and every other type of pharmacy medicine is sold in Euro's.....hmmm.   It's way to early to say let the pain begin, all this is, is early cloud formation.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:29 | 6126785 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

Obamanopolous care,

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:03 | 6127156 Pure Evil
Pure Evil's picture

I say let them sign up for Obamacare.

If its open to illegal Mexicans, illegal Central and South Americans then it should be made available to Greeks.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:59 | 6126876 indygo55
indygo55's picture

Yeah! just send Obama over there with Palosi and set up affordable care act for Greece. That way the greeks will be mandated to pay for health care that enriches the insurance companies and makes the executives multi millionares and provides shitty care for a ton of money no one can afford. Yeah! That'll do it

 

Sarc off/

 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:24 | 6126934 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

Mr Panos, familiar to most ZH'ers already, sums up the message from the Hellenic people to the EU overlords pretty well:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvl9N9GdraQ

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:53 | 6127006 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

No shortage of sheets, scissors, or painkillers at the IMF & ECB, nor at Jamie Dimon's nor Lloyd Blankfein's mansions.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:14 | 6126749 Seasmoke
Seasmoke's picture

June 5. Is still light years away. 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:42 | 6126823 XitSam
XitSam's picture

If you live on Betelgeuse.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 17:05 | 6127599 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

As long as the lights are off.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:17 | 6126753 AIIB
AIIB's picture

The bar! They took the whole fucking bar!

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:19 | 6126759 Keynesians say ...
Keynesians say the darndest things's picture

Ran out of painkillers? Send those heffers to America and our pharmaceutical companies will fix them up in a jiffy!

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:31 | 6126794 negative rates
negative rates's picture

They can get it from the doctor who won't take his own meds.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:52 | 6126858 Excursionist
Excursionist's picture

Like drug dealers, big pharma needs to be paid for dispensing oxy, etc.

Greece is the junky that's getting kicked out of the crackhouse.  Says something about the junkie when that happens..

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:20 | 6126760 Racer
Racer's picture

The banksters will eagerly still take the money from sick and dying people, they don't care as long as they get their cut

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:21 | 6126762 e_u_r_o
e_u_r_o's picture

How can a country be so broke? Its simply not possible

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:30 | 6126792 22winmag
22winmag's picture

The IMF eventually takes everything that isn't nailed down, and even some of the stuff that is.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:42 | 6126824 Oh regional Indian
Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:18 | 6126925 Handful of Dust
Handful of Dust's picture

" Yes we can! "

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:32 | 6126795 AIIB
AIIB's picture

Not enough jews... If jews were running the show there & ran out of money, they'd just print some up for themselves... Works like a charm in the USSA...

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:58 | 6127017 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Guess the effendi dont like you revealing their scam.  Its an organized crime clique and you are not in it.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:43 | 6127544 Cloud9.5
Cloud9.5's picture

Have you ever been there?   Too many people to make a middle class living off of pistachios and olive oil.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:21 | 6126763 Smegley Wanxalot
Smegley Wanxalot's picture

Butt they still have toilet paper, yes?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:33 | 6127511 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

Don’t you think that if they had dollars, they would have used those to pay their bills?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:23 | 6126768 FrankDieter
FrankDieter's picture

They need free healthcare along with pensions, retire at age 48, free education and free housing. Also, 4 weeks off in the summertime. Thanks Euroboys you guys are swell.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:52 | 6126859 Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill's picture

If its good enough for the French, why not ?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:01 | 6127021 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

Retire at 48 hey that sounds like the cops and fire fighters in my city drawing full pension benefits.

They get better pay and healthcare than the Euros by far.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:25 | 6127067 Herodotus
Herodotus's picture

Fortunately or unfortunately, they won't be getting it much longer.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:02 | 6126883 logicalman
logicalman's picture

So, I take it you are in favour of being worked to death for minimum wage with no healthcare or vacation.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:55 | 6127131 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

I guess the market would determine if that's all your skills are worth.

Nobody would pay $3000 for a $250 shitbox car.

Shitbox skills mean shitbox wages.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:24 | 6126774 Squid Viscous
Squid Viscous's picture

Bullish! what time can I start buying Dax and FTSE futures?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:25 | 6126779 q99x2
q99x2's picture

It only hurts until you stop communicating with banksters. Go Iceland. Issue arrest warrents for Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 15:07 | 6127317 walküre
walküre's picture

Greeks should start with the 2000 names on the list of Greek tax avoiding multi millionaires before they're going after the TBTJ untouchables in the US

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:52 | 6126789 crackpuff
crackpuff's picture

It's all bluster and posturing. No way the ECB is going to abandon Greece. On the other hand, it would make for a good excuse in the event of a major turd explosion

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:30 | 6126790 blabam
blabam's picture

Time to legalize MJ! 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:32 | 6126800 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Time to pay the consequences for not doing it a long, long, time ago.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:31 | 6126791 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

This is the kind of looting Germany did to Greece in WW2.  At least no one has starved to death yet, that I know of.  All over what?  Pieces of paper that the bankers print for themselves at the rate of 60 billion Euros a month.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 15:15 | 6127344 walküre
walküre's picture

The Greeks want to have their cake and eat it too. If they were serious about getting out and starting anew, they should do it. Nobody is forcing them to stay and nobody is telling them to protect their own biggest tax avoiders and looters.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:31 | 6126793 me or you
me or you's picture

Every day Haiti looks more better off than Greece.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:32 | 6126797 GeorgeHayduke
GeorgeHayduke's picture

Greece is learning the hard way what happens when you sign on with bankers. Eventually they own you and everything around you.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:32 | 6126799 VWAndy
VWAndy's picture

If you dont like getting kicked when you are down. Maybe you should stand back up? Just sayin.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:37 | 6126807 saldulilem
saldulilem's picture

C'mon, exit already! I'm ready to buy some drachmas for my next vacation.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:45 | 6126832 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

In 2012 or 2013 or thereabout, Varoufakis stated that it would take ~8 months to roll out the Drachma and ditch the Euro.  He also said that the switch would be extremely painful.  I'm just waiting to see if the Greeks are stalling for this, or if they are being little bitchez.  If the Greeks can keep it together, wait until sometime between  August and November to see if Syriza is full of shit.  They're still socialists, which is a non starter, but this isn't over yet.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:56 | 6126870 VWAndy
VWAndy's picture

As much as I would like to believe in these guys actions are all that matter. The lack of house cleaning is telling.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:09 | 6126904 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Again, they're socalists, so I don't expect them to actually fix anything, but if you wanted to bide ~8 months of time, how would you go about it?  No matter how it plays out, we get to sit, wait and watch.  We live in interesting times.  Most of these things are going to be big nothing burgers, but eventually, one will come along that will rock the world.  Which one will it be?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:27 | 6126945 VWAndy
VWAndy's picture

Perp walks and a few nice legal hangings would do that trick. The truth is a powerfull thing.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:42 | 6126976 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Yes, hangings and guillotines would solve a lot of problems.  IMO, they, or some other form of strife, are inevitable at this point, but they don't count as biding time.  But don't ever forget that there would be  a lot of unintended consequences.  If I am right, and they are inevitable, you had better be planning for those unintended consequences too.  There are no nice ways out of the mess we're in, only ugly ways.  I only look forward to the other side, but getting there is something to be feared.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:06 | 6127036 VWAndy
VWAndy's picture

If you find yourself in a fight? Hit back hard.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:00 | 6127151 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Someone has to print those Drachmas.

How will they be paid? In Drachmas? Euros? Gold?

They are socialists so they'll expect it for nothing.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:07 | 6127167 MS7
MS7's picture

If they are stalling in order to introduce the drachma, that would mean they put the interests of their country above holding on to their seat in Parliament and "coasting" through their term in office.  However, since they are politicians, there is about a 0% chance that they would put the country's interests above their own.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:50 | 6127280 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

I'd wait until the very instant before you plan on spending them.

Or just take Euros. The black market bid rate will be astronomical.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:40 | 6126814 skepsis101
skepsis101's picture

Sometimes I absolutely f-----g hate the german blood in my veins.  The hell to come from this abomination of the Euro will blowback all the way to Frankfurt (my mother's birthplace) in a maelstrom of financial chaos, all because of the insufferable sense of 'do as your told' the 'rules are the rules' mentality.  This fourth Reich will have its own end.  But the Germans have another plan, a new Hanseatic League of the north.  So the rest of latin Europe better take heed fast and prepare accordingly.  

And the Greeks, for better or worse, will eat s--t for a good 20 years as they suffer a necessary 50% contraction, and another US instigated military dictatorship.  Ah, hell. I much preferred the old Greece anyway.  I suppose there is a certain romantic beauty to humility.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:51 | 6126834 Infinite QE
Infinite QE's picture

It's not the Germans, it's the zios in Berlin that are running the circus.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:03 | 6127028 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

The Zios controlling the USSA and all its occupation bases in Europe.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:40 | 6126815 Catalonia
Catalonia's picture

Only disaster going to happen is the IMF not getting paid.

 

Their hospitals are just fine. Greece doesn't even have a primary deficit.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:41 | 6126817 two hoots
two hoots's picture

So what makes a society successful/enduring? Greece is a lesson for all.   The results of pure capitalism, pure socialism, theocracy are becoming clearer every day and each spins around the control by the few.  Only when a society is nourished and healthy, well and somewhat equally educated, having the freedom to pursue individual and collective desires, a trained and expected work ethic, share a national pride backed by a responsible and connected government, have a feeling of ownership via a fair and equal tax system,  etc. etc.  (Most have jumped the shark and can't go back and fix this)

Or is it proven, by the nature of mankind, that the above is just a dream, societies being a failed experiment held together by a declining religious base,  and being replaced by technology/machines which require no retirement, healthcare, food, vacation/family days etc. etc.

Intereting times, in my mind at least.

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 07:37 | 6128880 Nimby
Nimby's picture

You're a fucking moron.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:44 | 6126831 Infinite QE
Infinite QE's picture

But how can this help Israel? Surely there must be more that can be chiseled out of Greece and sent to Israel to benefit the poor-n-starving there? Does no one have a care anymore?

/sarc

 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:45 | 6126835 CHX
CHX's picture

Everybody knows Greece is banGRupt, and has been for years. It will be interesting to see how they will handle it this time round. Greece should simply default on all debt and start anew. If they do that the whole house of fiat cards would likely come down. So will they let em? Will they paper it over once again? Will Russia (and China) bail Greece out last minute? Will they pull a full scale bail-in a la Cyprus? I guess we will find out soon enough. 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:49 | 6126851 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

Over a trillion euros in QE so why not just give them free money?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:24 | 6126937 HungryPorkChop
HungryPorkChop's picture

My guess is they get moar' money at the last stroke of midnight.  After all it's just monopoly money created out of thin air.  This fairy tale is even better than Rumpelstiltskin that could weave straw into gold.  These people don't even need straw to create massive amounts of money out of thin air.  It puts Rumpelstiltskin to shame..

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:49 | 6126836 XitSam
XitSam's picture

"Reports have surfaced of patients being turned away from hospital because there was no meter to measure their high blood pressure, ..."

I'm calling bullshit on this. A sphygmomanometer is not a single use device. If the hospital was working in prior years, they will have many of these basic diagnostic devices all over. They rarely wear out. They might as well say they don't have stethoscopes. 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:03 | 6126885 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Doesn't Greece have pharmacies equipped with blood pressure measuring equipment? I.e Similar to CVS here in the States. 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:09 | 6126902 autofixer
autofixer's picture

Yes but you would have to pay for that with your own Euros.  Why pay when it is "free"?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 21:21 | 6128201 asfffasfff
asfffasfff's picture

they sold them

 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:45 | 6126839 Atomizer
Atomizer's picture

Did they run out of washing machines and dryers to clean the linens? Scissors is blatant office theft, and drugs are most likely being stolen for black market quick cash. 

Fuck off Eurotrash. 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:48 | 6126840 Die Weiße Rose
Die Weiße Rose's picture

Varoufakis is soon going to run out of Bullshit.

Meanwhile, this weeks Eurovision finals was much more interesting to watch than any other of the msm "infomercials".

Sweden came first, with an amazing visual production, Russia second and Italy third.

Australia snapped up some votes that would otherwise have gone to Russia or Sweden , me thinks.

Tuning out of all this other boring crap is very healthy, I find.

WR;)

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:48 | 6126844 DeliciousSteak
DeliciousSteak's picture

Seems like 6 million Greeks are about to perish and, you guessed it, Germany is responsible. How can the world allow this to happen? It is time to rid this world of the German menace once and for all. The German wants to take over the world, it's in his blood. He will not stop unless stopped. Two world wars and the great powers still allowed unification, now look at the mess it lead to.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:20 | 6126931 Squid Viscous
Squid Viscous's picture

Well said except switch German for ___ (rhymes with Mooo)

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:51 | 6127003 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Nonsense! The Greeks did this to themselves. Your reasoning sounds like a crack addict blaming the dealer for their addiction, or an alcoholic blaming the beer brewery for making the beer that has ruined their life.

Germany has lived with austerity since WW2; the Greeks voted communists and other socialists into office.

We now see the results of thinking you can get something for nothing.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:48 | 6126845 Latitude25
Latitude25's picture

When money is created in the trillions out of thin air how can a Greek financial crisis be anything more than a power and property grab?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:41 | 6126975 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Explain that to the electorate who vote for whichever politician will pay the most for their vote.

(and will borrow any amount in order to do it.)

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:50 | 6126853 Debugas
Debugas's picture

Austerity kills no doubt about it

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:37 | 6126964 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Wrong! Its socialism in all it's forms that has caused this mess.

Austerity or utter collapse of the economy are the only cure(s).

But my guess is it'll have to be economic collapse because no one wants to admit the real cause is unbalanced budgets leading to unsustainable debts paying for unaffordable social programs.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:51 | 6126855 Miss Expectations
Miss Expectations's picture

I feel certain that Russia will send humanitarian aid via the Orthodox Church.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:43 | 6126980 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

And, just like the money Greece got from the IMF, there'll be no strings attached.

sarc/

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:51 | 6126856 Miss Expectations
Miss Expectations's picture

.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:58 | 6126862 Die Weiße Rose
Die Weiße Rose's picture

This is how the world works:

there is no free lunch !

Austerity is healthy,

but excess, obesity and greed kills !

WR;)

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:59 | 6126879 rejected
rejected's picture

" there is no free lunch !"

Really? The central banksters and their gov f*ck buddies print up a bunch of monoploy money (or digidollars) and spend it on real goods. What is that called besides fraud?

Sounds like a free lunch for those screaming there is no free lunch!


 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:13 | 6126910 mortem-tyrannus
mortem-tyrannus's picture

Hi Rejected,

I am in the "There is no free lunch" camp for the following reason: Every lunch has to be paid for. *You* might not pick up the tab, but if you don't pay your own tab, your kids or your neighbors surely will in one form or another.

Higher inflation.

Lower overall employment.

Suppressed wage growth. 

Take your pick.

As to those cock biting bankers and their rich fuck buddies who look like they are getting away with a "Free Lunch", it isn't until they retire, having lived happily and then died peacefully that you can say they got away without paying the tab.

My guess is here pretty soon when the dollar isn't worth the sweat that can be scraped from a donkey's nutsack, they will paying in a far more valuable currency: blood.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 21:32 | 6128225 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

By the time the dollar is worth nothing they will be already moved into precious metals and real estate, and diversified in countries also.  So while you spill your blood fighting for a measly bowl of soup they will be having caviar on a Mediterranean island sitting out the bloodshed.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:54 | 6126865 rejected
rejected's picture

This is what happens when you have nothing but fiat trash for currencies. You are starved for one of the 'acceptable' currencies. Under a metals standard they could still operate albeit locally only. Also the lenders would seriously lose their ass... as it stands the money loaned to Greece was simply printed up. Can't go wrong there, can you?  Print up a billion, loan it to someone and you own them for life. By the time their default comes you already own everything of value. On to the next victim. -Sicko-

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 16:54 | 6127576 Hyjinx
Hyjinx's picture

Maybe the Greeks just shouldn't have borrowed so much fucking money in the first place?!  I know, too simple.

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 04:48 | 6128777 dreadnaught
dreadnaught's picture

Greece never borrowed anything. the defacto rulers of Greece work for the banks-they arrange 'loans', pocket the money and send the rest back to the bank. They then charge Greece for a phantom loan.

Thats the way the system works

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 11:58 | 6126874 Boondocker
Boondocker's picture

The can kicking will continue. ...this is just theater

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:03 | 6126886 Free_Spirit
Free_Spirit's picture

Question is whether Europe's working taxpayers are going to fund Greece forever with it's millions of public sector non-jobs and retiring at 50 after 5 minutes working.     Either way, neither side is giving way,  indicating that Greece is going to have to be big and make the great leap over the edge. 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:05 | 6126887 Rentier88
Rentier88's picture

blah, blah, blah same BS news.  Someone will bail them out in June or they will get  write off this next round of debt due.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:19 | 6126927 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

When the SHTF I will figure you will be watching FIght Club from the sidelines.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:06 | 6126892 Arius.
Arius.'s picture

they got the money from the hospitals to pay the IMF .... go figure

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:18 | 6127194 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

They sold the sheets, scissors, drugs and sphygmomanometers?

Politicians have to eat too!

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:09 | 6126903 Amish Hacker
Amish Hacker's picture

The one certainty is that when this farce finally ends, something that CANNOT be allowed to happen WILL happen anyway, and the people of Greece will suffer. But it's really all about not letting Greece be the first domino in a global derivative meltdown. Watch closely as the ISDA (International Swaps and Derivatives Assoc.) tries to reclassify the Greek default as something else and pretend that no trigger occurred.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:17 | 6126920 Die Weiße Rose
Die Weiße Rose's picture

some addicts go to the pay-day loan sharks to get a "quick-fix" loan to pay for their next hit !

they hock anything of value just to get their next fix...

Greece reminds me very much of some loan-junky in a downward spiral.

when will people learn to take responsibility for their own actions and their own fuck-ups ?

never mind, don't bother to answer...

Germany got where they are through years of Austerity.

so fuck off, greedy collective losers !

yes you, you bum. Get a Job or do some volunteer work in a soup-kitchen..

there's plenty of work you can do!

WR;)

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:17 | 6126922 HenryHall
HenryHall's picture

Why doesn't Greece appeal to the Chinese and the Russian people for hospital supplies? They will provide on humanitarian grounds.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:12 | 6127178 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Right! Socialists always expect something for nothing.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:18 | 6126923 Soul Glow
Soul Glow's picture

These fucking politicians could have just quit the euro and gone back to the drachma but no they had to hand everything over to the IMF first.

YV and Tsiparas are thieves like the rest of them.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:02 | 6127027 Ajax_USB_Port_R...
Ajax_USB_Port_Repair_Service_'s picture

It's like paying off the enormous debt you owe your bookie and then leaving the country with 5 dollars left in your wallet.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:37 | 6126962 wmbz
wmbz's picture

"Alexis Tsipras said Greek society can’t absorb any more austerity measures"

 

Really? So what's your solution?

Borrow more...raise taxes on the "rich"? Face it douchebag your ass is broke, you will be "absorbing' a whole lot more!

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:51 | 6127001 Monty Burns
Monty Burns's picture

Maybe not allow public servants to retire at 45?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:45 | 6126987 Joebloinvestor
Joebloinvestor's picture

Can't absorb any more austerity.

Ok wait until all your lights go out and you don't have any fuel.

However, to show the EU that they can't push you around, REHIRE all public sector layoffs.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:08 | 6127171 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

And give them IOUs for paychecks.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 23:26 | 6128458 Boxed Merlot
Boxed Merlot's picture

give them IOUs for paychecks...

 

And call the IOUs currency and have the markets accept them as such. 

"What difference does it make"  tm

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 12:48 | 6126993 jtg
jtg's picture

The EU is a totally captured vassal of the US. Will the EU continue to let itself be dragged down with the US?

Will the Greek people say 'enough' and join the rising East which will start to turn Europe away from the US led path to nowhere?

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:07 | 6127166 Village-idiot
Village-idiot's picture

Europe and the USA are both slaves of the same entity, and guess who that is.

His name begins with "L" and ends with "R".

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 21:36 | 6128232 COSMOS
COSMOS's picture

That spells World Jewish Congress lol

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:15 | 6127008 Ajax_USB_Port_R...
Ajax_USB_Port_Repair_Service_'s picture

The surgical scissors are missing?   How did that happen? Who stole the scissors?  Germany? Merkel you bitch!

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:32 | 6127076 Jack Burton
Jack Burton's picture

" Months of tense negotiations have gone nowhere and yielded exactly nothing"  WHY?  Because Greece hasn't got the money to service their debts! More loans can no longer buy time! So YES, no progress CAN be made. Default is baked into the cake.

But Europe's Banks can't handle such a big default. Many EU banks are insolvent without Greek default. Imagine how screwed they are if they have to write tens of billions of Euros off as bad loans!

But wait! Why is Europe's other coming default being covered up and blacked out by western media? I speak of the Kiev Junta Ukraine! Their Parliament, the Rada, just passed a bill allowing "non-Payment of due loan service payments to western and eastern banks". Yes, it is a law!  What this means is Ukraine is already in technical default. Large payments are coming due, and Ukraine has got 40 billion due to repay, and a total reserve of less than 8 billion. Russia has now called in their 3 billion emergency loan. Kiev has demanded Russia pay Kiev 350 billion for being mean to Kiev. Russia probably will not get their 3 billion, and Ukraine may not get their gs for next winter.

But the real story is the Rada's law "Allowing Non-Payment" Europes banks would have to eat north of 40 billion Euros. And Ukraine would totally collapse. No money for anything. Kiev imports food from the EU, they can no longer even feed themselves! The western media has blacked out the Ukraine default story. To please Washington.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:15 | 6127186 Wolferl
Wolferl's picture

Europeans banks have next to none Greek debt on their books. And an aweful lot of the debt of the Ukraine is owed to Russian banks/coperations and the Russian state. Get informed.

Mon, 05/25/2015 - 05:51 | 6128817 nicxios
nicxios's picture

I love how stupid Germans like wolferl are whistling past the graveyard.

 

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:22 | 6127207 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

How do you say "FUCK YOU, MALAKA" in Ukrainian?

Those countries that depend on Russian gas traveling through Ukie pipelines will pay the bill or freeze this winter.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 13:38 | 6127090 kchrisc
kchrisc's picture

Now what is Zion going to do about their now unprofitable Greek farm?

Liberty is a demand. Tyranny is submission.

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:45 | 6127263 Lex_Luthor
Lex_Luthor's picture

This cow has been drinking much more milk than she has produced for a VERY VERY long time...

Sun, 05/24/2015 - 14:46 | 6127269 tarabel
tarabel's picture

 

 

The Administration is fond of the term "man-caused disaster", or at least it used to be.

I think the Greek situation is an actual textbook case of one unfolding right before our very eyes.

I am planning on taking careful notes and seeing what can be learned and applied to my own daily situation.

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