Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

They are worth their weight in wood over there as i'm sure Eric will confirm...:rolleyes:

The Lumberjack Song - YouTube

:D

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

So you've joined the ranks of the out to lunch conspiracy theorists? The reasons for our economic strength are simple and open for anyone to see. A regulated banking system, strong financial sector, and the resources of the second largest country in the world ... and that basket case, Russia is the first. As our PM told Obama recently, concerning the US's balking at the building of a pipeline from Western Canada to the Gulf: if the US doesn't want our oil, then China and Japan will be more than willing to buy it.:alright: We will build our pipeline whatever ... if it doesn't go to the Gulf, we'll build it to Vancouver. Fact is, we are already the largest supplier of offshore oil to the US ... they like it that way because of our political and social stability ... we are also their largest supplier of uranium and potash ... and their largest customer for their Lockheed F-35 fighters. We will have some sort of recession ... people will buy less of what we have in abundance; but they can't buy none of it ... they need it. We hardly felt the last global meltdown. Obviously Europe and the US can't fix their economies ... it will hurt us some; but, as with the last mess, we will survive better than most.

Contrary to popular belief in the rest of the world, we do not kiss American ass .... we leave that up to people like Tony Blair ... Remember the joke: "What's 6 inches long and hangs down between GW's legs? Ans. Tony Blair's tie.":rolleyes: WMDs anyone?

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

I advised you to look at the people running your financial services sector and and their associations.

Entirely at random, and courtesy of Wikipedia, I looked at the Bank of Montreal (also known as BMO Financial Group). Apparently this has as it's CEO a chap called Bill Downe.
Nice chap, I'm sure, and just a tad older than me at 59.

Following the impressive tally of positions held within the Bank of Montreal there follows a list of Professional Associations

"Bill Downe is the only Canadian member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council of the Mayor of Beijing, and he is a member of the International Advisory Council of Guanghua School of Management at Peking University. He is a director of Catalyst, and a member of Catalyst’s Canadian Board of Advisors. Mr. Downe is also a member of the Economic Club of Chicago and Past President of the Federal Reserve Board’s Federal Advisory Council."

It took me less than thirty seconds to find that out.

I would argue that if you looked at the other members of the FED's Advisory Council you would find the grasping fingers of Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan et al.

That was just an example chosen at random. I bet if you went through all the Schedule I banks you would find more than a coincidental relationship to G-Sachs and JP Morgan.

What does it mean? Perhaps, nothing at all. Perhaps they are all just good friends and simply play Golf together. Perhaps. But I wouldn't bet on it.

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

Oh and another thing I only discovered recently. You spoke of Natural Resources. The sorts of things that make greedy men's eye gleam.

In the 1930's, The USA, with whom as you know we here in the UK share a 'special relationship' had put together a plan for the destruction of the British Empire. They were terribly worried at our strangle hold on international trade. They got so far with the planning that airfields and military bases were set up, in secret, next to the Canadian border in readiness for invasion.

That was in the late thirties, before America became a world power. Don't believe me? Think I'm still a conspiracy theorist/crank/nutjob? Read this...

How America planned to destroy BRITAIN in 1930 with bombing raids and chemical weapons | Mail Online

Then wonder what would happen if, just after Christmas, the brown solids really hit the fan and the US suddenly needed what Canada had.

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

You forget to mention that the present govenor of the Bank of Canada, Mark Carney, spent 13 years with Goldman Sachs ... not that it matters a hill of beans when it comes to doing the best for Canada. He has been credited with shielding Canada from the last financial crisis. He is the current chairman of the Finacial Stability Board ... another international link ... a recognition not only of his personal abilities as an economist (got his degrees at a place called Oxford, I believe), but also of the strength of Canada's financial institutions. Whichever way you look at the current international economic picture, we will survive better than most. Still, the biggest threat to the world economy is the mess that the Europeans have got themselves into ... the short term for which is "EU." Which probably means that those of you who belong to the "let's get out now" group are right, and that Cameron, Clegg, Milliband et al. ... and, yes, your own MP ... are dead wrong. In the long term, the best thing for the UK would be the disintegration of the European Union.

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

You prove my point, Eric. Now look at the 'technocrats' that have just been imposed on Greece and Italy. You will find the same track record.

Goldman Sachs has it's grubby fingers in more pies than you can imagine.

As I said before, Goldman's have not overlooked Canada and they won't be backward in calling in favours when the time comes.

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

Niall Ferguson wrote an interesting essay on a future vision of Europe, in yesterday's Sunday Times.

Handily, because you have to pay for the online version, he's also flogged it to The Wall Street Journal, where it's free.

:D

Niall Ferguson on 2021: The New Europe - WSJ.com

Thanks for the link rindy, I almost read it but 95% of me couldn't be bothered.

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

Not a bad read ... quite punny in places;)

If some on here got together, I think that they could come up with something just as good ... probably even better:alright:

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

I only liked his tale, because it had a happy ending.

Britain no longer being part of the United States of Europe.

:D

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

Me too....and the link to Article 50 of the Lisbon treaty brightened what would have otherwise been a very grey day......I know, I should get out more! :)

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

well the powers gone out in william st, is this the shape of things to come?

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

"The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time.";)

Geert Wilders has a more modern version. You can google it. Don't want to put in a link ... this is a family forum:rolleyes::D ... and it is a tad controversial, eh:dancedog:

Re: Be Careful What You Wish For
 

Don't get too cocky.

We're just about to evacuate Gracie Fields, and a whole coach load of minor royals, for safe keeping, until we once again have peace in our time in Europe.

;):D

Will the blokes that clean up the London streets after the Queens horses be cleaning up these evacuations, or will we get some Eastern European pooper scooper's coming over and doing a better job for less money?