Should I work on this storyline for a Forbes blog? About over the top German penalties, including FTT. Trying to weaken the German game plan and attack their credibility on FTT. Any suggestions, changes etc?
In times of crisis, why do German leaders want to penalize everyone? To use a stick to beat people into submission to their desired behavior. Yes, some PIIGS lied about their budget deficits to enter the euro, and without keeping the pressure on, they may not rein in their corrupt government practices. But, German demands for penalties, and holding ECB bailouts hostage is a US-type-game of playing chicken but with worldwide implications. Can the world risk turning Tuetonic at this juncture? No.
Germans want to quickly simulate an emergency EU fiscal-union by enacting new EU-assessed penalties, oversight and controls over budgets of EZ countries using "it's" euro. They are also sending mixed signals about ECB bailouts after winning a fiscal-penalties union. Germans insist that PIIGS and other weak EZ countries pass crippling austerity measures, or the German-led EU will penalize them making them even weaker. Is the euro currency a monetary union or monetary prison?
Germans also want to penalties bankers and traders too. They are pushing a FTT in the EU or EZ against the will of the UK, Sweden and several EZ countries. Germans want to intimidate banks, traders and speculators from short-selling PIIGS debt and EU stocks, including banks. But, that would stop speculators from buying the debt too. German leaders want to penalize the UK with the FTT - where 80% of transactions occur - for not being in the Euro and helping out more, in their muddied view. FTT penalties fall mostly on investors and pension funds, so it misfires._
How about some good productive ideas from German leadership, instead of mostly punishment and penalties? Lead by example, and take some pain yourself. Why make everyone else endure pain, just to keep your own cherished German bund interest rates at rock bottom levels?_
German exports flourished with a EZ euro currency and EU trade union. Plus, it buttessed German exports to China and emerging markets. Germans are like the 1% who got most of the benefits and now they want to penalize the 99%, rather than help out more themselves. Why demand the IMF, with the U.S. having a 17% U.S. share, plus require the U.S. Federal Reserve and other non-EU central banks help bailout the Euro and EZ? The major countries of the EU in total are just 18% of the IMF. This all seems like greed to me. Vote no to the German agenda for the EU and world.