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Have Money in a Spanish Bank? Take It Out Now
Townhall.com ^ | March 18, 2013 | Mike Shedlock

Posted on 03/18/2013 9:05:06 AM PDT by Kaslin

In Cyprus, a decision was made to screw savers with a 6.75% to 9.9% "Tax" on deposits.

Supposedly this move was made to "avoid unsettling investors in larger countries and sparking a new round of market contagion."

In reality, the action was mandated theft, imposed by EU officials to protect senior bondholders.

How can such an action do anything but cause contagion?

The move is expected to raise a mere 5.8 billion euros according to Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, leader of the euro-area ministers. Fallout from this action will cost far more than that.

Contagion-Begging Actions

What is someone in Greece, Spain, or Italy supposed to think?

Consider Spain. By a 526 to 86 vote, the nannycrats in Brussels just passed a regulation that will require a country to accept a bailout if offered. (Please see An Offer You Cannot Refuse; EU Passes Law Forcing Countries to Take Bailout; Is Spain the First Target?)

Also note that EU Court Strikes Down Spain’s Eviction Law.

Think the parlay of EU contagion-begging actions for a second.
 

  1. Spanish banks will not be able to evict homeowners, who in turn will be give reason to default. Losses will soar at Spanish banks and they are insolvent already.
  2.  The "Offer You Cannot Refuse" action by the EU is sure to arouse suspicion of a forced bailout in Spain.
  3. Cyprus actions will heighten fears of bank takeovers, capital controls, and theft of deposits via confiscation. 


Expect Bank Runs

Why would any rational thinking Spanish person keep any money in Spanish banks? They shouldn't and I suspect they won't.

Moreover, this is bound to further inflame the situation in Italy, where Beppe Grillo's Five Star Movement is already the largest party.

In short, this action was one of the single stupidest things the EU could have done and they crammed it down the throats of all Cyprus citizens, hoping to stop the spread of contagion.

My friend Bernd who lives in Germany had these comments. "Judging by the German forums on Focus, Der Spiegel, SZ, FAZ and Die Zeit, there is hardly any support for this action. The name calling and swearing is rather blunt. These guys did not study their Machiavelli. He said roughly if you hurt people, you must never hurt all of them at once."

The closest Machiavelli quote I can find is "If you need to injure someone, do it in such a way that you do not have to fear their vengeance."

Rest assured there is going to be vengeance over this action. The Cyprus government will fall, and deposit fear will spread everywhere.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Editorial
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 03/18/2013 9:05:06 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

They just closed the banks until Thursday.


2 posted on 03/18/2013 9:06:18 AM PDT by Pete
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To: Kaslin

Coming to a North American continent near you! This is prophecy of what will happen in the United States.


3 posted on 03/18/2013 9:10:00 AM PDT by GreatestGuyIKnow (If it's not on FoxNews, it didn't happen.)
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To: Pete

Who is “they?” You do mean Cyprus, right? If it’s somebody else things just got worse.


4 posted on 03/18/2013 9:10:23 AM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: Pete

Where? Spain?


5 posted on 03/18/2013 9:10:42 AM PDT by pgkdan ( "Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." ~Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Kaslin

To protect senior bond holders. Interesting


6 posted on 03/18/2013 9:22:57 AM PDT by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: Kaslin

Isn’t Spain one of those countries which installed the carbon tax system a few years back? ... Sheeple never learn from the calamities of others.


7 posted on 03/18/2013 9:26:14 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)
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To: GreatestGuyIKnow
This is prophecy of what will happen in the United States.

Maybe this is the crisis that King Obama will institute to start the riots. Then King Obama can declair dictatorship to save America.

8 posted on 03/18/2013 9:29:06 AM PDT by Logical me
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To: Kaslin

Dont worry, they will never do this in the US. They are just planning to confiscate your 401K with the promise that you will get “guaranteed interest”. What a deal!


9 posted on 03/18/2013 9:46:31 AM PDT by Brooklyn Attitude (Obama being re-elected is the political equivalent of OJ being found not guilty.)
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To: GreatestGuyIKnow

After most of my life in debt, I am a saver now for the last several years. This to me is unthinkable.


10 posted on 03/18/2013 9:50:27 AM PDT by BRK
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To: Logical me
Then King Obama can declair dictatorship to save America.

Now I want to go to the bakery. Your fault.

11 posted on 03/18/2013 9:56:03 AM PDT by Stentor (Shhhh!)
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To: Kaslin

It’s not a tax, not a levy, not a fee. It’s theft.


12 posted on 03/18/2013 10:56:00 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Make you mad? $h!t in a hat.)
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To: Kaslin; Black Agnes
Gartman Warns Cyprus: One Does Not Steal Russian Mafia Money And Get Away With It
13 posted on 03/18/2013 1:27:07 PM PDT by blam
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To: blam
That last paragraph is a real rough one.

And it comes at a point in time when the Euro Weenies are trying to overthrow the Russian supported government of Syria.

Fairly certain that a world war is coming. Just a matter of time now.

14 posted on 03/18/2013 4:35:06 PM PDT by justa-hairyape
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To: Logical me

If riots start all over America every republican “leader” will be on the stage supporting obama’s martial law declaration.


15 posted on 03/18/2013 8:51:23 PM PDT by Terry Mross (This country will fail to exist in my lifetime. And I'm gettin' up there in age.)
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