The Greek parents too poor to care for their children

[DeterminedJuliet]

Yes, but would a CEO be able to add that "billion" without support staff?

No, I've known more than one PA who claims they've done most of the work their boss gets the big dollars for.

I work as a Veterinary Receptionist right now - technically speaking the vets "make" most of the money through surgeries and procedures and whatnot. But I can tell you right now that the whole practice would fall apart and they wouldn't be able to make a dime if they didn't have a support staff. I'm pretty sure there isn't a single one of them who actually knows how to take a payment themselves.

Vets and customer service people are paid pretty much in line with normal supply and demand principles by their employers.
A person concerned for their horse may pay $1,000 to a vet to have its spark plugs (OK sorry, spark plug equivalents) changed in their horse.  They could have paid a stable girl $100 for the same thing but they want to feel they've done their best for the horses welfare.  Vets do magic stable girls don't know.  Directors of companies are concerned for their company, hot shot CEOs do magic the in-house manager can't, even if he does know the business better.  The decision to pay a vet or a hot shot CEO may not be rational but I'm not sure from what angle to attack it.  Shareholders have a right to complain because its their money being wasted, claims of employees and the public of how another entity should spend their money seems hard to maintain.  I think adjusting the tax rates would make more sense.

Puddin'. Yeah, I get what you're saying. I think the trouble is that some "hot shots" think that their brand of magic happens in a vacuum. It doesn't.

[Asmodean]

Why not do as that motel drape wearing dude and sell the kids on FB for 20 million a piece? That would almost get Greece out of crisis, yes? 

[Tank]

Its awful. How can anyone in good conscience buy themselves a leer jet when children are starving and hardworking people can't afford medical care?

Hm.  Well, you might consider how you own a computer in good conscience in exactly those conditions.  Do you only eat what you need to survive?  Does your money go towards anything that isn't absolutely necessary for survival?  If these conditions don't hold then I fail to see how you can take such a haughty tone towards the wealthy.

I don't think that's the whole story. Many people take their behavioural cues from the culture/society they live in. If the culture supports selfish consumption it will be the norm which will reinforce the perceived cultural values. Now the individual can contribute time/money to charities and be politically aligned to a socialist agenda or not. There are some things one needs to have to function in out society. Cars and computers are things like that. 

So which is fairer. A society where the tax sytem allows the rich to buy a better model of BMW while others are so poor they can't own a car, and thus get into the job market, or one where the rich are taxed so they have a slightly lower model of brand new BMW and the poorer person can affored a functional second hand car that allows them to get and keep a job?

When times are hard its NEVER the rich that suffer.

[The Magic Pudding]

Why not do as that motel drape wearing dude and sell the kids on FB for 20 million a piece? That would almost get Greece out of crisis, yes? 

No I don't think so, $432 billion debt.
432,000 / 20 = 21,600
That means they'll have to sell 21,600 babies at $20 mil each.
Putting 21,600 on the market all at once would I think put pressure on the baby price, they'd end up having to discount the price of the Greek Baby.  Perhaps if they did it gradually it would work.  There's always the chance other countries with a comparative advantage will enter the market and undercut them.  If China suffers a slow down and switches to a 24 child policy the baby price could fall lower than pork bellies.

[Asmodean]

Why not do as that motel drape wearing dude and sell the kids on FB for 20 million a piece? That would almost get Greece out of crisis, yes? 

No I don't think so, $432 billion debt.
432,000 / 20 = 21,600
That means they'll have to sell 21,600 babies at $20 mil each.
Putting 21,600 on the market all at once would I think put pressure on the baby price, they'd end up having to discount the price of the Greek Baby.  Perhaps if they did it gradually it would work.  There's always the chance other countries with a comparative advantage will enter the market and undercut them.  If China suffers a slow down and switches to a 24 child policy the baby price could fall lower than pork bellies.

Dump the prices. Sell ten times as many kids. 

[Tank]

Greece debt write-off talks with banks stall

Whole story.

Talks between Greece and its private sector lenders over a possible 50% write-off of its debts have stalled.

Reaching a deal is a pre-condition for Athens receiving the next chunk of bailout cash from the International Monetary Fund and European Union.

Without that money, the Greek government could run out of cash and be forced to leave the euro.

Meanwhile markets fell on rumours that France and other governments were about to have their credit ratings cut.

European stock markets dropped by 1%-2% as the news spread in mid-afternoon trading, while the euro hit a 16-month low against the dollar of $1.263.
'Paused for reflection'

The committee representing Greece's lenders said that some parties had not responded constructively to the proposed 50% debt write-off.

It said discussions were "paused for reflection on the benefits of a voluntary approach" without stating when they would resume.

The alternative to a voluntary debt write-off is likely to be an outright default by Greece - a failure to continue repaying its debts.

In its statement, the steering committee of the Institute of International Finance (IIF) - an industry body for global banks - praised the Greek government's leadership.

Some of Greece's debts are reported to have been bought up on the cheap by so-called vulture funds - speculators who specialise in pursuing troubled borrowers for payment in full.

A popular tactic of vulture funds is to veto agreements between distressed borrowers and their main lenders, in the hope of winning special treatment for their own loans.

Last week, a Greek government spokesman said that if Athens fails to secure its latest bailout money from the EU and IMF - for which the deal with private sector lenders is a condition - it would be forced to exit the euro.

The government is struggling with public opposition to new austerity measures, demanded by lenders.

Meanwhile, the prime minister warned that Greece may run out of cash to meet its debt payments as soon as March if unions to not agree to further spending cuts.

EU, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank inspectors are due in Athens later in January to review progress.

My emphasis. In my experience only one country has ever defaulted and that was Argentina a few decades ago. If Greece fails 2008 will look like a cocktail party! And don't think the USA would be immune to this. If Greece goes then the Euro will go and that will screw US exports to Europe. This is economic dominoes on a worldwide scale.