Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2011/07/19
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]First of all, Greece has by far the highest debt, 160% of GDP or so, about twice as much as the US. Secondly, the economy is backwards, dysfunctional (basically, only public sector employees pay taxes, the rest cheat and get away with it, at least until now). Spain has some world-class companies, like Zara, Santander (yes, I know it is a bank, but banks are still needed), Telefonica, bits of Airbus, high-speed train expertise, good medical research etc. Greece has none of those things, just some ruins and ouzo. In the old days it could compete on costs by devaluing its currency, the drachma, from time to time, but that option is not open to it inside the Euro zone. Finally, Greek politicians are simply crooks. They actually falsified national accounts--think Enron on a country scale. Aside from its geographic location, I have a hard time thinking of Greece as a proper European country. They had their glory days, but that was about 2500 years ago. Cheers, Nathan Nathan Wajsman Alicante, Spain http://www.frozenlight.eu http://www.greatpix.eu http://www.nathanfoto.com PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog YNWA On Jul 19, 2011, at 8:44 AM, Chris Crawford wrote: > Why is it not possible for Greece? Id the country just too poor in > comparison to the other EU countries? I know that Spain is poorer than the > richest EU countries, like Germany and France, but it seems wealthier than > Greece. > > > -- > Chris Crawford > Fine Art Photography > Fort Wayne, Indiana > 260-486-2581 > > http://www.chriscrawfordphoto.com My portfolio > > http://blog.chriscrawfordphoto.com My latest work! > > http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christopher-Crawford/48229272798 > Become a fan on Facebook > > > > On 7/19/11 1:50 AM, "Nathan Wajsman" <photo at frozenlight.eu> wrote: > >> Hi Jayanand, >> >> I second your high opinion of Lluis's book. I will just address the >> economic >> issue you raise. The protests were not a political movement in the >> traditional >> strength which was at the time seen as a strength but it is now clear that >> without a coherent political programme, providing answers to questions >> such as >> the ones you raise, the movement is in the process of fizzling out. As >> Lluis >> himself noted, towards the end of the sit-ins there were increasingly just >> various bums and hoodlums rather than the idealists of the early days. If >> you >> asked, you would get many different answers. >> >> Also, I must say that the fundamental problem in Spain is not the debt >> (much >> lower as % of GDP than Italy or Greece) but anemic growth. So what is >> needed >> more than anything else are reforms of the economy to make it more >> competitive, allowing the country to grow its way out of trouble. In the >> case >> of Spain it is possible. Difficult, but possible. In the case of Greece >> it is >> not. >> >> Cheers, >> Nathan >> >> Nathan Wajsman >> Alicante, Spain >> http://www.frozenlight.eu >> http://www.greatpix.eu >> http://www.nathanfoto.com >> PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws >> Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog >> >> YNWA >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> On Jul 19, 2011, at 4:47 AM, Jayanand Govindaraj wrote: >> >>> Sorry - by mistake I posted this on the forum yesterday - it is about two >>> books... >>> >>> I received two books at the same time yesterday - Luis' 'Indignats' and >>> Steve McCurry's 'The Iconic Photographs'. Both are exceptional and highly >>> recommended, and have a common thread close to my heart - in both the >>> books >>> the central subject is human beings. >>> >>> Luis' has really brought a book of street photographs - though I have >>> seen >>> many of them before, their impact, taken as a whole, is considerable. >>> Beautifully and coherently done. It really brings his talent in capturing >>> human beings to the fore. Blurb seems to have improved its B&W printing >>> as >>> well, it looks quite neutral to my eyes. >>> >>> I just want to ask a question of Luis: >>> >>> If, as I think is the case, Spain's long term bondage to French and >>> German >>> Banks can only be solved by defaulting and leaving the Eurozone, because >>> for >>> obvious reasons neither France or Germany are going to do anything to >>> constructively help Spain ahead of their own banks, what would the >>> protesters do in that case - would they want the Eurozone subsidies to >>> continue, and exist in that bondage for a generation or two, or go >>> through a >>> period of severe transition for a possibly better life for their >>> children? >>> It is all very well to protest, but I want to know what they are >>> protesting >>> against. >>> >>> On to the second book - a very apt name - iconic photographs indeed, >>> printed >>> beautifully and LARGE, in a limited edition of 3000 copies. This >>> magnificent >>> book is all of 20"x15" and weighs 16.2 lbs! I actually just strained my >>> shoulder trying to manhandle it onto a bookshelf! I love McCurry's work, >>> probably because it is very easy for me to culturally identify myself >>> with >>> his work, as most of it is in our neighborhood. I bought this book >>> because >>> it has a free signed print! When I wanted to buy one of his originals, he >>> wanted US$1500 for a 16x20 print. This book includes a free print of >>> 18"x12" >>> size of 'Flower Seller, Dal Lake, Kashmir, 1996'. I think, despite the >>> high >>> price of GBP160 that I paid for it, (luckily Amazon UK has free shipping >>> to >>> India at present), the sheer quality of the printing and the original >>> signed >>> print that you get with it, makes this book a bargain in my eyes. >>> >>> http://www.amazon.com/Steve-McCurry-Iconic-Photographs/dp/0714856339/ref=sr_1 >>> _1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310995138&sr=8-1 >>> >>> >>> >>> Cheers >>> Jayanand >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >