Sense on Cents

I have focused on the problems in western and eastern Europe over the last few months. Those problems are not abating. Who would have thought that the host of next week’s G-20 may need the greatest amount of aid of all. 

Should Prime Minister Gordon Brown look to increase the room rates for world leaders in attendance next week? Perhaps a slightly higher fee for the mini-bar? Every little bit helps. 

In all seriousness, the U.K has spent proportionately almost three times as much in bailing out their financial institutions as the United States. 

For those unaware, the U.K. was unable to fully place 40 year debt this week. That experience, known as a “failed auction,” is financially and politically embarrassing, aside from being fiscally frightening. If a country is not able to finance itself . . .

The frustrations in the United Kingdom were expressed the other day by Conservative Member of the European Parliament, Daniel Hannan. For those who missed it, Daniel Hannan Skewers Gordon Brown, is one of the most widely viewed video clips in recent memory. It’s a must see!!

Add it all up, and the U.K. may just end up needing an IMF bailout. Read the IMF: Fifth of Britain’s GDP Spent so Far on Bailouts.

Is this the modern day equivalent of the Fall of the Roman Empire? 

LD

This entry was posted on Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 1:36 PM and is filed under Commerce, Global Finance. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.