What did the Industrial Revolution ever do for us?

GlynD

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Has the current crisis run its full course?

Is there risk of social instability. With those that have plenty and those that don't. Something which Hitler played on in winning public support.

My personal view, bearing in mind I'm only an interested onlooker with no financial qualifiactions, is that we'll be seeing the effects of this for at least another five years, especially here in Northern Ireland where the BBC announced the other day that 39% of Bank of Ireland mortage holders are in negative equity.

I'm sure there are those with extreme tendancies who will try to play on any kind of disparity much as Hitler did. I believe them to be an insignificant minority however and incapable of doing anything more than causing the occasional bit of local civil disturbance. Society today won't accept a particular class or community being set up as a scapegoat.

Thrugelmir

GlynD wrote: »

I'm sure there are those with extreme tendancies who will try to play on any kind of disparity much as Hitler did. I believe them to be an insignificant minority however and incapable of doing anything more than causing the occasional bit of local civil disturbance. Society today won't accept a particular class or community being set up as a scapegoat.

Not suggesting we shall the likes of the Third Reich again. However with the rise of nationalism amongst the young in Greece, 27% unemployment in Spain and record numbers of unemployed in France. Society is fragile. There must be a danger that resentment will build.

GlynD

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Not suggesting we shall the likes of the Third Reich again. However with the rise of nationalism amongst the young in Greece, 27% unemployment in Spain and record numbers of unemployed in France. Society is fragile. There must be a danger that resentment will build.

Personally I think you need to watch the left rather than the right, particularly in France. I know what you're talking about though and you have to look no further than the Balkans to see the right at work. Even closer to home where it's going to take generations before the bitterness of the last Troubles subsides.

The European countries can control their own troublemakers in my opinion and with time the monetary crisis will subside and all will be well again leaving everyone free to concentrate on the more damaging effect of radical fundamentalism. Of course for us there's also the repercussions of politics in Latin America, particularly Argentina. A lot of our economy is still centred in South America.

Thrugelmir

GlynD wrote: »

Even closer to home where it's going to take generations before the bitterness of the last Troubles subsides.

I listened to a radio programme recently about Belfast. Hard to believe that 40 foot peace walls still separate what appear to be no go estates. Yet elsewhere there's a generation who have never even heard of the Good Friday peace agreement. Shows how long it will take to dismantle the final barriers.

In some ways I wonder the same about parts of Europe. There still must be harboured dislike emanating from events decades ago.

GlynD

Thrugelmir wrote: »

I listened to a radio programme recently about Belfast. Hard to believe that 40 foot peace walls still separate what appear to be no go estates. Yet elsewhere there's a generation who have never even heard of the Good Friday peace agreement. Shows how long it will take to dismantle the final barriers.

In some ways I wonder the same about parts of Europe. There still must be harboured dislike emanating from events decades ago.

I'm old enough to remember when everyone lived together in housing estates. The Troubles polarized the Province though and now the masses live segregated. I don't know when we're going to see a change in that and without it you don't have the youth of both communities mixing. My personal view is that segregated schooling should be abolished but that would require a big leap of faith for the Roman Catholic church who are still insisting on keeping their young people in church schools. You've certainly identified the worst areas in Belfast who need to be kept apart by 40 foot walls and fences. When I see those come down I'll know Stormont has cracked it.

I lived in Germany when I was in the army and have had experience of the xenophobia of some Germans. The Jews are still a subject for discussion although most of the hate seemed to be for the Turks. They brought Turkish workers in during the rebuilding of the country and now (or then in my case) they want rid of them. I also know there were cases of zenophobia towards East Germans who resettled in the West after the Wall came down. To many Germans they were just more economic immigrants.

Thrugelmir

GlynD wrote: »

I also know there were cases of zenophobia towards East Germans who resettled in the West after the Wall came down. To many Germans they were just more economic immigrants.

I was in Dresden not long after the Wall had come down. There was open dislike towards the "rich" West Germans. Name calling and being spat on was seen openly in the streets. At ground level there are many bridges yet to be rebuilt.

GlynD

Thrugelmir wrote: »

I was in Dresden not long after the Wall had come down. There was open dislike towards the "rich" West Germans. Name calling and being spat on was seen openly in the streets. At ground level there are many bridges yet to be rebuilt.

I was in Berlin with the Berlin Brigade but I didn't see any of that going on. In retrospect however I can see that Berliners were closer to the heart fo things than many other Germans. Still lots of war damage in the East at that time ('83) and a little left in West Berlin on sites which couldn't be redeveloped because the owners couldn't be found. Of course close to the wall the vista was appalling. I've been back since and it's all very different now.

I did meet a Berlin policeman in Tenerife (on hols) who was in the East German Special Forces during the Cold War and had a very interesting conversation with him. He was so delighted to have been able to better himself after reunification.

Thrugelmir

GlynD wrote: »

I was in Berlin with the Berlin Brigade but I didn't see any of that going on.

We nicked it concrete city. The allies of course flattened it with bombs during the war. So most of the centre was then block after block of grey concrete flats. The higher ranking Russian army bods all lived outside of town. During the Cold War it was primarily a military base.

The West Germans were buying up beautiful (but derelict) property that overlooked the river plains of the Elbe. Employing Poles and Czechs as labourers as even cheaper to employ than the locals!

GlynD

Thrugelmir wrote: »

We nicked it concrete city. The allies of course flattened it with bombs during the war. So most of the centre was then block after block of grey concrete flats. The higher ranking Russian army bods all lived outside of town. During the Cold War it was primarily a military base.

The West Germans were buying up beautiful (but derelict) property that overlooked the river plains of the Elbe. Employing Poles and Czechs as labourers as even cheaper to employ than the locals!

I saw the concrete monstrosities in East Belin and in the Ukraine when I was there. Dreadful to have to live in such places. Also saw the dachas of the dignitaries. A true lesson about the real meaning of Communism if ever one was needed.

If buying labour in the east was ever any cheaper the workers would have been paying the employers. In my time with the Berlin Brigade one DM was worth 4 East Marks but the price of things was marked up in the East as the same as in the West. For example: 1 bratwurst. DM1.50, East Marks 1.50. Same sausage for a quarter of the price.

Generali

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Since the early 1800's. They have been around 200 financial crisis's. So my observation was made in the context that this without doubt is the worst. As effects so many countries.

The world's global financial markets are now so interlinked. That the outcome is far from clear.

Are you sure? That's one a year!