View from the UK – Arrest of IMF leader
Read Time:2 Minute, 25 Second
Thank you New York. By arresting Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whether he is proved innocent or not, you have put the European Union into a turmoil, much to my delight and many other Britons. France is angry with you because French media is not allowed to talk about its politicians’ peccadilloes.
But France has always disliked America. As head of the International Monetary Fund Strauss-Kahn has been instrumental in helping the EU to try to prevent the collapse of the Euro. Whether, as a French politician, he has acted in a totally independent way in dealing with the EU is a moot point but EU politicians are clamoring for his successor to be yet another European. The Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel, has demanded it on the basis that only a European knows what to do about the Euro.
What is the Euro? It was a new currency invented in 1999, presumably to further the aim of the EU to force a federal state on its members. Seventeen member states have joined the Euro but Britain and others negotiated exemption from the requirement under the Maastricht Treaty that all EU member states should adopt the Euro upon meeting certain monetary and budgetary requirements.
But the EU being what it is, it is quite willing to ignore those requirements if it chooses, as it did for Greece. The Euro has been a disaster because it linked so many disparate economies together – there are the stronger countries like Germany and France, the weaker Mediterranean countries and the Eastern Europeans still struggling from the effects of communism. The EU is also ignoring the rule of the Maastricht Treaty which prohibits bail-outs.
The recent collapse of Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain has highlighted the fact that countries using the Euro have lost control of their economies. They cannot adjust interest rates because these are determined by the European Central Bank, whose decisions to change interest rates can adversely affect their recovery. They are also unable to devalue the currency. The result is that in these circumstances they are completely under the control of the EU. By bailing out these countries the EU is also ignoring the rule of the Maastricht Treaty which make bail-outs illegal.
The International Monetary Fund was set up to help individual countries who ran into trouble, not a whole continent. It has always been accepted that an American should head the World Bank and a European the IMF. It is time for a change.
I do not know what will happen if the Euro does collapse. International banks have invested heavily in the Euro countries and it is now the world’s second reserve currency. Presumably the EU did not realise it was opening Pandora’s Box when it created the Euro. Or did it let the genie out of the bottle which it cannot put back?
Eurozone Europe in yellow
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I do not think France or the French dislike America, I think there a French fear of American culture, Rock and Roll, Hollywood, and fast food. There was a movement in France some years back, to ban the words “Le Weekend”, “Le Sandwich” and “Le Big Mac” also they discouraged youngsters named Michelle to stop calling themselves “Mick”. They were worried their culture was being overrun by Americanisms and their fragile self-worth was under attack. France is also one of a handful of countries never to have fought a war against the USA, Russia and China also come to mind. Without French help the American Revolution would have failed, but ultimately would have succeeded after a long drawn out struggle. Any American who knows anything about history, especially American history, would have a deep respect for France. The French Revolution was inspired by the Colonial Americans success so I think there is some mutual respect.
‘Any American who knows anything about history, especially American history, would have a deep respect for France’
I can only assume this is one reason why you chose American citizenship…any Englishman openly sharing this view would be justifiably shot.
Wake up and sniff the coffee Holty…France capitulated in 1939 and they have never forgiven Britain for bailing them out.
De Gaulle only ‘shared the glory’ because we…the Brits…are magnanimous by nature.
If there was ever a national referendum in GB we would drop the European Union like a shot.
You know it, I know it and British politicians know it.
That’s why there won’t be a referendum.
Democratic politicians can’t afford democracy…the very thought that we..the ordinary people…will actually rule is anathema.
Coffee?…Sniff?…
Oddly in a way…the vast majority of Brits would rather be connected to the USA than Europe.
We rather like Americans – you should know as you’ve become one – but we don’t like ‘foreigners’ interfering in OUR world.
It’s bad enough we have ‘mass immigration’…we also have bloody europeans telling us how to live our lives.
I’m not conceited enough to suggest I speak for the majority of Britain…but I do. I know I do and so do you if you’re honest enough to sniff the coffee.
Fuck right off Europe.
Fuck right off and leave Britain alone.
We do better on our own.
Always have and always will.
…I was at this gig as it goes….A dream?…Maybe..but some would die for a dream.
Great post Danny!!!!
Thanks Jihad. Nice to know there are some true Brits around.
Holte, you are wrong about the French. Their help in the American War of Independence was not to help you but to hinder the British, who had previously forced them out of Canada and beaten them in many battles before Independence.I quote from Napoleon after the Louisiana Purchase.”This accession of territory affirms forever the power of the United States, and I have given England a maritime rival who sooner or later will humble her pride.” He was subsequently defeated by Britain at the end of the Napoleonic Wars.
The dislike continued after WW2 because de Gaulle was not included in the planning of D Day. He also withdrew from NATO in 1966 because he claimed it would destroy France’s sovereignty.
I don’t feel wrong Daniel, the French did hinder the British in North America, by doing so they were a help of mammoth proportions to the Colonists. Tell the people of Quebec that the French were beaten out of Canada.
Holte. My last response to you seems to have gone missing. In it I said that Quebec had merely moved from French to British colonialism. I also said that de Gaulle, on his presidential visit to Canada, publicly urged Quebec to secede from Canada. He didn’t like anything to do with Britain. In the meantime see the link for reactions in France. 🙂
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/dominique-strauss-kahn/8528512/Dominique-Strauss-Kahn-why-French-women-put-up-with-it.html
I think you sent your comment to Mike in the form of an email, I will try and track it down.
Anyway Daniel, I have a lot of respect for your opinion, it is well considered and articulate, I think I will agree to disagree with you on this subject.
French used to be the diplomatic language, now it is English. They have not been able to handle the fall of their language to a minority tongue. There are a basketful of languages ahead of them internationally. I think their gripe is about the influence that is missing. They used to be a major power (like Britain) and it’s hard for them to adjust. De Gaulle feared American influence entering Europe through the backdoor, namely the UK. Too late.
Yes I did. Here it is again.
I do not doubt that France did help you enormously but I am still convinced that it was to spite the British. Why else would they help you, apart from the fact that they were still occupying the Louisiana Purchase area?
As far as Quebec is concerned it became a colony of Britain rather than France. On a visit to Quebec de Gaulle, as President of France, publicly encouraged Quebec to separate from Canada, which was somewhat of a slight to his hosts. But de Gaulle was a pastmaster at insulting people. I believe that there are still groups in Quebec pressing for separation – a bit like Scotland from England.
I love learning about what our friends and allies do and that is a great picture….