www.mail.com/int/news/europe/
Hmmmm. This is while the Vatican makes mega bucks, upon which if it paid tax, the Italian economy would probably be the healthiest in the Euro Zone.
The catholic church probably makes more money and has more assets than google, microsoft, and apple together, as such they should pay taxes like every other business.
Even though the Vatican is a 'sovereign city state' it was no always this way.
Yes perhaps if the Catholic Church's Italian enterprises paid taxes like any other enterprise, the Italian state may be in a better position.
For Europe to get out of it's economic downturn they need to wind back the EU to what it originally was, a free trade union. They need to get rid of the supranational level of government that stifles growth, chews up resources and destroys enterprise.
The idea that one interest rate is appropriate all the way from Ireland to Greece is foolish. The RBA has trouble enough setting appropriate rates to suit all of Australia. Better for each country to have their own currency and to set their own interest rate. Greece will soon go back to it's Drachma, Ireland it's Punt and perhaps even Italy to it's lira. The British were right to keep the pound.
It has been said a dollar is an IOU. Meanwhile a Euro is a "who owes you?"
^^^One up. On the mark Mobydisc, except the Euro is more likely a "who owes WHO??"
The Belgians would like to think it is they which is typical elitist thinking.
^^^I hear what you say so maybe Four Corners got it wrong.
They said that the separate state thing was put in place by Mussolini.
Whatever. Doesn't matter.
The tax free status of churches and royalty is morally wrong.
I'm not sure what the deal was between Mussolini and the Pope.
I can understand where the Pope is coming from however I disagree. Many businesses depend upon people who have money to spend money. If everyone went on an austerity drive then many businesses would fail leading to more financial misery.
The finanical issues facing Europe in general have been caused by some governments spending more than they collect, people borrowing more than they can pay off, many banks loaning more than they can recover and governments bailing out the banks who are effectively bankrupt, turning them into zombie banks.
The whole system is corrupt and needs reform. For example it was the case, possibly not anymore, that the Greek equivalent of the RTA had not issued a new heavy vehicle licence since about 1985. What did this mean? Effectively those who held a licence could take it easy and lease their licence to someone from Turkey or Iraq to drive the truck.
This sort of cronyism and protectionism are rife across many countries of Europe. People expect they will be protected by the state to earn a guaranteed income even if they are not working. The system is corrupt and needs renewal.
Whats happening in Greece now is the beginning of the renewal. Bankruptcy, default and a new beginning is the only way forward. The creditors will hate it and go broke but thats their problem. If Greece has anything to sell after their default, someone will buy it.
I know nothing of the history of the Vatican, however a guy I worked with (a devout Christian) visited there.
He told me while he was there he gave some money to a beggar, as he was walking away, a priest approached the beggar and TOOK some money from the beggar. My friend went back and asked the priest what was going on. The priest explained that the beggar had to pay a fee for the privilege of begging in the Vatican! 
Perhaps that is what the pope means about sharing rescources?
(copy and paste from web page) "promoting the church's prescription for coping with the economic crisis: share resources and pare lifestyles down to the essentials."
(After this incident, my friend never donated to the church ever again, he only donated directly to those in need)
Notice how this issue keeps coming back every six months when the debt is due to be paid back. If the greeks cann't pay it back in time why don't they just get a longer term loan.
And the threats about holding back the loans if they don't carry through with the austerity measures. This is rubbish as the greeks already have received almost all of the money and spent it. It really is about arguing over the name as the money will not be paid back, the name will be either default or forgiveness of debt. It won't be called a default because the party for the bankers will end. The debt will be forgiven, more loans continue and in 10 or 20 years the cycle start again.
Trouble is it is our super paying for it.
Go Back to the drachma at 1 euro = 1 drachma and reevalue it at 1 drachma is 1000 euro Fixed!!!
Ask the french how to do it they were good at it during the 60'ies when they established the new Franc as 1 new franc was valued at 100 old franc!
Then declare Greece a banana republic!
