Monday 6 July 2015

No!

So, it looks as though the citizens in the birthplace of democracy are voting a resounding 'no' against further austerity measures to keep their finances afloat.   It also looks as though Europe is panicking at the result.   It seems we may all suffer at the outcome.

From this farmstead in the Yorkshire Dales, down a lane, pretty far from any hectic civilisation, surrounded by the sights and sounds of Summer - the bird song, the scent of roses, the company of friends, the beautiful views and walks, it all seems a long way away and of little consequence.

Cro says the results may affect all of us.   I do not disbelieve him.  But I do not understand a single point of it all.  The Eurozone, the single currency and all it entails are a completely closed book to me, as are so many other current issues in the world.

My philosophy is largely that I used my vote at our General Election to vote for the Party which best represented my interests both personal and in World situations.   Now I sit back and expect them to do their best.

Is this so very wrong?  Should I now be reading up on a subject I really do not understand? And, as regards other world issues (the Isis crisis, for example) should I spend time worrying about things over which I have no control, and about which I am only told what the Government choses to tell me?

The time will shortly come, the way things are going, when I no longer listen to the News Broadcasts.   What is Headline news one day is not mentioned the next or is pushed to a tailend report.  And who choses how these reports are worded and what goes into them - and probably more importantly - what is left out?

Am I losing my grip, or do many other folk feel like this?   Anyone who can throw any light on the subject please do so now for the sake of my sanity.

17 comments:

Elizabeth said...

I think lots of us feel the same!
This time last year it was all Ebola - all the time.
There is very little we can do about most things - and then there is the law of unintended consequences.
The US should stop meddling in the rest of the world....don't get me started.....
I read the NY Times everyday which I find most interesting
but quite throw my hands in the air about Greece etc....

Cranberry Morning said...

I do know what you mean. I like to keep up with what's happening in the world because it does affect us all. But getting the REAL news over here (U.S.) from mainstream media sources is nearly impossible. They only focus on celebrity gossip and sports with precious little substantial news. Governments everywhere lie to their people to keep them from panicking. From an outside viewpoint, it seems to me that no one in the world wants to actually live within their means, and we're all up to our eyeballs in debt, printing money out of thin air. It is not sustainable, and I think that Greece is the first domino to fall.

donna baker said...

I have always scoffed at the conspiracy theorists. One I hear about is something chemical put by governments in the jet contrails. Ridiculous. But, I don't believe what is leaked or said in the news either. We are not getting the truth from our governments and therefore, everything is suspect. Better just not to read or listen.

Bovey Belle said...

I think it is a worry when the very people we have seen fit (from desperation?!) to vote into office do NOT represent our best interests, or the best interests of our country and are a bunch of self-serving . . . . . I'll let you supply a suitable word as I assume my swearing is not allowed! Well, let Greece go hang itself if it wants to go its own way. Tell them you can only spend your money once.

As for believing what we are told in the newspapers and on the news - well, we never watch the BBC news because it isn't the whole truth, but totally biased in favour of a political party we do NOT support, and the papers tell you their version. It is wise to have a large bag of salt handy and to make your own interpretation . . . Fortunately I have a very politically savvy husband.

A Heron's View said...

Hello Pat am in the process of sending you an article which I think is too large to post on your blog and will answer your questions.

Rachel Phillips said...

You can believe Cro or not, up to you. You would be wise to at least read up on it and keep abreast with developments. Better to be forewarned than say one day "oh, I didn't know, I had no idea" like at least half the idiots on this island.

The History Anorak said...

Of course I'm an ex journalist, so I don't view the news the way most people do. What saddens me these days is how much of it is political - and I don't mean about politics, I mean trotting out the party line and pandering to the government.

Heather said...

I feel exactly the same Pat. Everything seems to have become terribly complicated - is it done to pull the wool over our eyes? I always take the news with a pinch of salt and each of the newspapers seems to put it's own slant on whatever is happening.

Joanne Noragon said...

Probably the referendum was a waste of taxpayer money; the government, the economy, the people remain clouded in smoke and mirrors. Most of the world is owned by big finance, big money, big banks. Will they let Greece fail? I doubt it.

Sue in Suffolk said...

You've had lots of serious comments, and I would love to know what Herons View said that will answer all your questions - Must be a clever bloke! We just pootle along doing our own thing and keeping our heads down. Is that right or wrong? I like to listen to the news on Radio 4 as it's shorter than TV news!

Craig said...

They'll come to some bloody agreement which will delay the crisis for a year or two. But the bottom line is that Greece isn't industrious or rich enough to pay off such huge debts. They over spent for many years pure and simple. I'm with you on the news - too sensational and no follow up reports. As you say, forgotten the very next day.

Tom Stephenson said...

In Greece, the ones with no money at all voted NO. The ones with money voted YES. There are more people without money in Greece than with money, so they won the vote.

John Going Gently said...

Nothing to do with sanity but i want u to enter a class in the flower show before u die
So please do x

Cro Magnon said...

We can all either listen to the news, and worry ourselves stupid. Or we can totally ignore it, and be happily ignorant. I'm not sure which is preferable.

I can hardly believe that the EU banks would continue to lend the Greeks any more money. Why not just hand-out €200 to every holiday maker entering Greece, and let them spread it around. That way it might reach the right people.

Acornmoon said...

I don't understand banking and the world of international finance either. Maybe this is the reason why I have so little in my bank account? We can't be experts at everything, you just have to elect the people you trust and hope that they are well informed and make the right choices.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I can't believe that we are the only sane folk in this country - there must be thousands more like us - so thanks for restoring my equilibrium to some extent.

Loren said...

I spend 90% of my retirement doing exactly this, especially looking for beauty, then I have enough energy to spend the other 10% of my time trying to change the world and express the rage that a lifetime spent as a caseworker and teaching hasn't seemed to help one iota.