Category Archive: Eurozone

• Where’s Europe’s Madison?

  Michael Moran January 23rd, 2012

  Ask any European what happened in 1789, and invariably the answer will be “the French Revolution.” Many will even be able to name the day, July 14, when the Paris mob stormed the Bastille, the hated political prison of the soon-to-be headless Louis XVI – a public holiday in France to this day. But the [...]

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• Ratings Agencies: Three Little, Three Late

  Michael Moran December 7th, 2011

  “A faulty condom is worse than no condom at all,” my sex education teacher intoned before a befuddled classroom decades ago. I’m not sure that any of us sixth graders really understood what she was saying at the time. Students today, however, have a more poignant example to draw from: The three global ratings agencies. [...]

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• SchnittsKrieg in Europa!

  Michael Moran December 2nd, 2011

  Daily, at least, someone in the blogosphere or media points out the irony: having attempted twice in the last century to force its writ on its European neighbors at gunpoint, in the twenty-first century Germany has a new weapon: sovereign default. Call it Schnittskrieg: a war of cuts, deep, damaging austerity that amputates and excises and [...]

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• Europe’s Fire Sale: Begging Former Colonies for a Bailout

  Michael Moran November 24th, 2011

  Buried amid reports about unrest in Egypt and Syria, Obama’s trip to Asia and the jobs versus deficits debate in Washington was the latest evidence of a disturbing trend: a piece by the New York Times’ Adam Nossiter on Portugal begging its former colony, Angola, for a bailout. With little fanfare, Angola, once a bountiful source for [...]

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• Europe According to …

  Michael Moran October 24th, 2011

  Something to chuckle about while we wait for the Europeans to fulfill their latest promise to come up with a plan to have a plan about a plan to save the European Union. (With thanks to alphadesiner.com) .   Europe according to Greeks Europe according to Britain Europe according to Germany Europe according to France [...]

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• The Sad Case of the Germans

  Michael Moran September 19th, 2011

      The maiden Europa is engaged To the handsome genius ace Of freedom; lying down, arm in arm, They enjoy their first embrace.   The marriage is valid, though no priest Has blessed it with holy waters. Long live the bridegroom and his bride And their future sons and daughters! – Heinrich Heine, Germany, [...]

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