I cannot believe that Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is a stupid man. So I attribute the following to how low a politician can find it profitable to stoop:
Greek Leader Considers Actions Against U.S. Banks Here are some choice bits.
Both the Greek government and its citizens have blamed international banks for fanning the flames of the debt crisis with comments about Greece's likely default, actions that are causing the country's borrowing costs to soar.
Right. Those big bad international banks (you know...the ones that lent you all that money)...they are now trying to scare everyone into thinking you won't repay! Greek citizens themselves, running amok through the streets of Athens, have done nothing themselves to fan these flames. Nope, nosiree.
Papandreou also said a parliamentary investigation will examine the rapid swelling of Greece's debt and international banking practices to examine whether the financial sector engaged in "fraud and lack of transparency."
I think I may have been wrong: perhaps he is stupid. Shameless, at the very least. Stupid for believing that anyone won't blush at the hyprocisy underlying this statement.
The Greek leader also urged more regulation of the markets which, in his view, are now betting against the European governments that have poured billions into them since the global financial crisis began in 2008.
Yes, yes...let's have a regulation in place that prohibits anyone from taking bets against Greece. What a wonderful idea. Practical too.
"We are ready to make the changes ... we have made our mistakes. We are living up to this responsibility. But at the same time, give us a chance," Papandreou said.
I think that people would dearly love to, Mr. Papandreaou. But you are making it very difficult!
Note to the PM: If you want lower borrowing costs, then why not pawn one or two islands? No one would take you seriously, of course. Which is precisely the point, I'm afraid.
