Situation in Europe at present

[BC]

Government in Italy is like a pizza.  You can put whatever you want on it and if you don't like it order something else.  Nothing earth-shattering will happen. Folks go on with their lives as normal.

Anything that piqued your interest with doom and gloom?

[Trenchcoat]

Government in Italy is like a pizza.  You can put whatever you want on it and if you don't like it order something else.  Nothing earth-shattering will happen. Folks go on with their lives as normal.

Anything that piqued your interest with doom and gloom?

Don't be so sure BC, when the fascists start busting down your door remember to scream out, 'I put money in the collection box yeer... Americanka!'

Apparently Italy's economy is in dire straights our there, way too much debt that it can't repay and can't devalue it's currency or print more as it's using the Euro, Itexit anyone?

[BC]

Trenchie,

you know very little about economics, Trenchie.  What you don't see in official tables and charts is the shadow economy which in countries like Italy and Greece is huge.  Do your research.  In a way, citizens are keeping government power in check.

Also, it's dire "straits" and not "straights," and no, it wasn't your spelling checker.

Your search for doom, gloom, and ill will to bolster your meager ego has failed yet again.

[Trenchcoat]

Trenchie,

you know very little about economics, Trenchie.  What you don't see in official tables and charts is the shadow economy which in countries like Italy and Greece is huge.  Do your research.  In a way, citizens are keeping government power in check.

Also, it's dire "straits" and not "straights," and no, it wasn't your spelling checker.

Your search for doom, gloom, and ill will to bolster your meager ego has failed yet again.

Wouldn't have figured you one for not paying your taxes BC, I thought you were a law abiding citizen.

Not thinking about getting in with the mob now are we???

[2tallbill]

Also, it's dire "straits" and not "straights," and no, it wasn't your spelling checker.

Your search for doom, gloom, and ill will to bolster your meager ego has failed yet again.

It's Money for Nothin' and Chicks for Free!

[BC]

Wouldn't have figured you one for not paying your taxes BC, I thought you were a law abiding citizen.

Not thinking about getting in with the mob now are we???

No worries Trenchie, I surely pay more taxes than you do.  What's the mob got to do with it?  Mob is corruption which is a separate issue not directly related to shadow economies.  It's about your carpenter, plumber, electrician and such working or selling for cash without an invoice and not paying tax on the income.  In the UK around 10% of GDP, here probably double that or a bit more.

[ML]

  It's about your carpenter, plumber, electrician and such working or selling for cash without an invoice and not paying tax on the income. 

Never heard of such a thing !!

[Trenchcoat]

Browsing through Google News roundup this morning came across this article that seemed worthy of passing on:

http://viborc.com/road-quality-in-europe-the-best-and-worst-roads-in-europe/

Gives a rough idea of people's thoughts on the road quality in the country they live in. No surprises for Ukraine, plenty of potholes in their roads as I realised travelling by mini bus from Odesa to Nikolaev. Probably massive potholes now with Russian artillery damage.

Moldova came out even worse in the survey so I may try and skip much road use altogether there.