Thanks for visiting this blog, created in July 2012 out of great concern for the fate of the €uro currency area, once again on the verge of collapse due to the economically ill-advised and heartless austerity policies imposed on Greece, Spain and other heavily-indebted €uro area countries by a christian democratic German chancellor impressed with the budgeting skills of Schwabian housewives. Meant to reduce the public debt and put the countries back on a path to economic growth, these macro-economically idiotic policies are doing anything but cause "pointless misery" as Paul Krugman so aptly describes it (Bloomberg, July 23-29, 2012).

Instead of reducing public debt, the austerity measures set in motion a vicious cycle of economic contraction, rising unemployment and poverty, lower tax revenues, private capital flight, and rising public debt shares as the economy declines faster than the public debt. What’s more, the austerity-driven ‘blood, sweat and tears’ policies recommended to the European periphery derive from the same economic doctrine that brought us to the brink of disaster in 2008. These policies are not only misanthropic and counterproductive to economic growth and debt reduction in Europe, but will prove explosive for the €uro currency area unless a drastic change of course takes place - and soon.

While I do not pretend to have ‘the’ solution for the €uro crisis, I would like to offer alternative economic perspectives and views on current events, and hope to chart a more humane path toward a balanced, socially fair, and sustainable economic future for the €uro area.

On the origins of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis:
“90+% of traders are men, and they bet all of our bank deposits on liar loans which froze credit leading to 40% average losses passed on to ordinary taxpayers; then begged for trillion-dollar bailouts upon which they paid themselves 50% higher boni.”


Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day Dedication


When god created my mother an angel appeared and asked: "why are you spending so much time with this creation?" God answered, "Have you taken a look at the data sheet for her ? She must be completely washable but not be made of plastic, she must have over 200 movable, replacable parts and her body must still be able to function even when she subsists only on diet coke and small snacks. She must have a lap big enough for four children to sit on and a kiss that can heal everything, from a scratched knee to a broken heart - and she must be able to perform all kinds of tasks with only two hands."

The angel was amazed about all these requirements: "That is too much work for one day. Wait 'til tomorrow to complete her." God protested: "I will not do that. I am too close to complete this creature that has grown so dear to my heart. She can already heal herself AND work 18 hours a day." The angel came closer and touched the creature. "But you made her so soft, God." God agreed, "She is soft, but I also made her strong. You have no idea what she can bear."

"Will she be able to think?" asked the angel. God answered, "She will not only be able to think but she will also be able to argue, reason and negotiate....better than a man."

The angel noticed something, reached out and touched the creature's cheek. "Oops, looks like there is a leakage in your model. I told you this is too much work for one day."  "That is no leakage", corrected God. "That is a tear." "What is the tear for ?" asked the angel. God answered: "The tear can express her joy, pain, sorrow, or disappointment, her love or loneliness, her heartache and pride."

The angel was impressed: "God, you are a genius. You thought of everything! This creature is truly amazing."

And she was ! My mother had an emotional strength that always amazed me. She suffered emotional pain and many pressures but she still gave her family all  the love, hope and happiness she had inside herself. She selflessly constrained her own dreams so that her family could live well. She loved us without reservation and did everything for the family she loved. She was proud of her children and thus gave us strength and confidence to live up to our potential. 

It was the love of my mother that made this world a beautiful and happy place for me. 
I wouldn't be who I am without the love of my angelic mother. 

Though you have left us many years ago, there is not a single day that I don't think of you.
I miss you so ! Wherever you are in heaven:  Happy Mother's Day !




This blog is dedicated to the wonderful, loving creature that was my mom....and to all the other strong women in my family who left this world too early, esp. my beloved grandma and my aunt. 

And to all the other strong women out there, I say: Stay as strong and loving and persevering as you are to make this world a better place. Happy Mother's Day !

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)