Comments on: Understanding Greece’s default

By: NukerDoggie

NukerDoggie — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 16:43:51 +0000

Yep – Greece’s default is Pandora’s Box. The lid is open and you can’t shut it now. This is going to bring down the entire financial order of the West because there isn’t enough moolah to cover all the sovereign defaults that are just waiting in the wings.

All we did 3 and 1/2 years ago was transfer to the sovereigns the massive private debt that defaulted in the crash of 2008. That is now breaking the camel’s back, since most over-developed sovereigns were already on trajectory toward having their backs broken before the crash of 2008 came along.

It’s ‘prophetic’, if you will, that the collapse of western democratic capitalism should begin, be triggered by, the default of Greece, the Mother of Democracy. It’s 1989-1991 for western capitalism.

By: JayCM

JayCM — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 14:04:39 +0000

Felix, don’t worry about overdoing the Greece coverage. This is the internet. If I want other stories I can find them. A journalist who develops some real expertise about sovereign defaults is more valuable, and stands to benefit when Portugal and Ireland go south. And Spain, Italy and France. And the US. You should have fairly good job security, is what I’m saying.

By: dcurban1

dcurban1 — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:42:32 +0000

The attempted covering of a Greek default is the largest exercise in moral hazard in the history of the financial markets. This will spur defaults all around the world and lead to defaults by Portugal and others.

Why should the Portugese continue to suffer under their program when the Greeks, who fudged their books to get into the EU, get a free ride?

By: Kathryn1977

Kathryn1977 — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:16:12 +0000

Hi Felix, I am glad that you’re writing nonstop about Greece. I hit my update feed button about 14 times a day to see if you’ve written anything. I like your mix of facts + opinions. I scan WSJ then come straight to you for detail.
I have been reading some of the others you suggest as well, so thank you for those links too. I am relying on you for this coverage so please keep it up.
PS I wonder if you ever sleep btw.
Kathryn

By: MBS83

MBS83 — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:19:57 +0000

You’re rather cavalier with the criticism, Felix. How about elaborating about the mistakes you casually allege others to have made? That will let us poor readers judge for ourselves — and let others defend their work, if they care what you say.

By: breezinthru

breezinthru — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:05:52 +0000

I also greatly enjoy the Eurozone coverage on this blog, Felix.

I especially enjoyed the CDS timeline you provided and your thoughts on the sovereign CDS market from a previous article. Fascinating stuff, really.

By: genauer

genauer — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:47:18 +0000

the Irish interest payments on government debt are a lower GDP fraction than for Germany. Do the numbers, Felix

By: scythe

scythe — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:46:32 +0000

the interview worked well – glad your IQ evolved past ducks and legoland

yes, everyone lapses into idle speculation because apokalypsia `ellenika didn’t arrive

jealousy for greece? ireland has more guts and integrity than falling hysterically on the floor, molotov in one hand and camp wehrmacht costume in other, threatening to implode

By: Strych09

Strych09 — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:28:04 +0000

Felix, you keep on going with “flooding the zone” with greece coverage.

Because if the greek default happens and we have a major stock or bond market crash, some people will be wondering “what happened”, but not those who have been reading your blog.

By: FifthDecade

FifthDecade — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:16:57 +0000

To be honest I’d have preferred you not interrupting him so often – because I was concentrating on what he was saying, I didn’t listen to your interruption, and couldn’t hear his endings or “…which means that…” continuations. At the end of the clip all I can remember is you like waving your arms around, and the look on the bloke’s face showing he realised you weren’t a serious interviewer.

Pretty poor stuff Felix.

By: cooperowl

cooperowl — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 15:55:27 +0000

Thank you Felix for switching over to Youtube. Not sure when you did it, but I always had technical trouble watching the old videos when they were self-hosted by Reuters.