How the Monsters at Goldman Sachs Caused a Greek Tragedy

[Octafish]

Something tells me Money and Power are interrelated, and it isn't Karl Rove's diary.



And it's definitely isn't Corporate McPravda.

How the Monsters at Goldman Sachs Caused a Greek Tragedy

By Jim Hightower, AlterNet
Posted on March 4, 2010, Printed on March 4, 2010

Another Greek-based cargo ship and its crew was recently hijacked by Somalian pirates, costing the Greek owners an undisclosed amount in ransom.

Such ongoing acts of brazen piracy off the coast of Somalia have riveted the establishment media's attention. But the same news hawks have missed (or ignored) a much more brazen, longer-running and far larger robbery in Greece by Gucci-wearing thieves who are more sophisticated than common pirates -- but lack a pirate's moral depth.

I refer to -- who else? -- Wall Street financiers. Specifically, Goldman Sachs.

SNIP...

In 2001, Goldman's financial alchemists formulated a scheme to allow the Greek government to hide the extent of its rising debt from the public and the European Community's budget overseers. Under this diabolical deal, Goldman funneled new capital from super-wealthy investors into the government's coffers.

Fine. Not so fine, though, is that, in exchange, Greek officials secretly agreed that the investors would get 20 years' worth of the annual revenue generated by such public assets as Greece's airports. For its part, Goldman pocketed $300 million in fees paid by the country's unwitting taxpayers.

CONTINUED...

http://www.alternet.org/story/145884/

Funny. Bush is gone, but I still smell a rat.

[leftstreet]

1. LOL Google Search: Golden Sacs, "Did you mean Goldman Sachs?"

Fer real!

:rofl:

K&R

[Octafish]

2. Goldmine Sacked

Uncle Sam's Goldmine -- backed, owned and operated by the U.S. taxpayer. Emptied by traitors.

Know your BFEE: Goldmine Sacked or The Best Way to Rob a Bank Is to Own One

These aren't just interesting, my Friend. These are some serious times we live in.

[heli]

3. Too bad we can't send every banker with Goldman Sachs on their resume to China

for expedited judicial processing.

[Octafish]

4. What they do to thieves we used to do to traitors...

Me? I'd imprison the so-and-sos and put their activities, such as making little rocks out of big ones, on a webcam 24/7/365(6) for all to see.

One reason it's been difficult to catch them holding the bag is that they've learned a trick or two, ah, not to be caught transporting stuff -- and not to China, but to Switzerland.

Know your BFEE: Phil Gramm, the Meyer Lansky of the War Party, Set-Up the Biggest Bank Heist Ever.

[jannyk]

5. In 2000, the Olympic Committee were so concerned about Greece's

lack of progress on infrastructure etc for the 2004 Olympics - they threatened to pull the games from Greece. So, in 2001 they get into bed with GS and give away the countries future to pay for the games which were supposed to transform Greece into a major business/investment/tourism destination. We know that didn't work out too well and the hosting the games cost around $12 Billion, plus mucho Billion in extraneous building/development costs so Athens would look like a 'cutting edge' destination. Now, of course, much of those new buildings are empty and in decline - the boom never came.

I guess they just kept borrowing more and more from then on.

[Octafish]

7. Thanks, jannyk. Didn't know the back story.

Insiders must've made out like bandits and the Banksters still think they've done nothing wrong.

Goldman Helped Greece Disguise Deficits

Derivatives! Sure. Why not? Heh.

[HeresyLives]

6. Greeks caused the problem, no one else.

[Octafish]

8. Who are you? Capitalism's Invisible Angel?

Goldman Sachs hasn't done one thing to make life better for America. The thing should be shut down.

Don't take my word for it, ask David Stockman. He's brave enough to go against the grain of his own party. Mine too, come to think of it.

Don't know about you, but I don't side with money.

[HeresyLives]

9. Greeks did it to themselves.

Goldman Sachs may have taken advantage of the situation, but there would be no situation to 'take advantage of' if the Greeks hadn't shot themselves in both feet beforehand.

[Confusious]

10. If you help in a crime, you are liable for the crime. n/t