EU goes begging to China, cap in hand ...

[sasguru]

Maybe the Chinese will provide some aid to the poor Europeans

BBC News - Eurozone seeks bailout funds from China

If we need some I guess we can take our begging bowl to India, the country we pillaged and impoverished over centuries?

[PAH]

He would present the fund's bonds as a potential commercial investment to China, he said, adding that Beijing regularly needed to find safe investments for its trade surpluses.

So they'll be using the same rating agency that rated sub-prime mortgages as AAA to help sell their proposition.

If I was China I'd be offering to buy Europe and lease it back to them, with a clause that all future furnishings must come from my shop.

[OwlHoot]

Maybe the Chinese will provide some aid to the poor Europeans

BBC News - Eurozone seeks bailout funds from China

If we need some I guess we can take our begging bowl to India, the country we pillaged and impoverished over centuries?

"cap in hand", "pillaged India". The cliches are coming thick and fast today.

We didn't pillage India for centuries - We rescued them from centuries of oppression and conflict by the Mughals, as their present prosperous and democratic state attests.

HTH

[BrilloPad]

Maybe we can apply to their overseas aid budget for a handout to help our impoverished chavs?

Actually they don't need it - they managed to update from Reebok to Nike during the recent riots.

[sasguru]

We didn't pillage India for centuries - We rescued them from centuries of oppression and conflict by the Mughals, as their present prosperous and democratic state attests.

HTH

Utter nonsense. While the mughals were no saints, they were as nothing compared to the Raj.
Indian GDP as a share of world GDP was about 3% in 1947 as opposed to 25% in the 17th century (taking the landmass of the indian subcontinent as an entity).
Their recent prosperity is entirely due to their own efforts in expanding the puny higher educational system left by the Raj - didn't want the natives getting too uppity you see.
In his recent empire book, Paxman makes the interesting observation that Empire made us lazy - compare us with the German's who didn't have one e.g.

[BrilloPad]

In his recent empire book, Paxman makes the interesting observation that Empire made us lazy - compare us with the German's who didn't have one e.g.

Have the Italians been lazy since the fall of the Roman Empire?

[sasguru]

Have the Italians been lazy since the fall of the Roman Empire?

Indeed they have. And they live with their mums.

[BrilloPad]

Indeed they have. And they live with their mums.

Which is the fate of us for the next 1600 years then?

Time to head to a decent country then. Prefrably one in Asia.

[gingerjedi]

Indeed they have. And they live with their mums.

Mama's special meatball sauce, it tastes so good.

[BrilloPad]

Mama's special meatball sauce, it tastes so good.

Its just Dolmolio.