What do you think of the Euro?

[Legolam]

Here's a new topic.

What do people think of the new European currency?

For those of you that are using it, what did you think before and what do you think now?

For those of you who aren't but might be in the future, what are your opinions?

And for those of you who will use it when you come across to Europe on holiday, do you think it's a good idea?

[7doubles]

it seems a bit totalatarian or even fascest
end of the world stuff

[Beorn]

Originally posted by 7doubles
it seems a bit totalatarian or even fascest
end of the world stuff

HOW DO YOU FIGURE? It's a way to make it easier for people in Europe. There's been some trouble with it, but that's expected...it's like first starting to use computers....a few things go wrong!

To change things with the Euro, the countries supporting it must all agree on it (or majority).

That is not totalItarian (http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=totalitarian) or fascIst (http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?va=fascist)

[Legolam]

end of the world stuff

Really?

The whole reason for the European Union and the Euro is to tie European countries together and stop another world war because of fascism and nazism. I think a common currency is a good thing.

7doubles, what country are you from? And why do you think that the Euro is a bad thing?

[Gloer]

In Sweden they still have krona's. That currency has lost 12 % of value against euro (and even more against the US$).
felt ridiculous to have to exchange money to local currency just for a days visit. Why the hell can't they just take euros and do the exchange busines amongst themselves. You know the local shop/restaurant could just take the equivalen tamount of a stable currency (euro) and take it to bank the next day. Why do I need to waste time and trouble in figuring out how to get currency first?

I am definately pro euro.

[Legolam]

Yeah, I agree. I was in France at Easter and the Euros were really easy to use. They even look like British money so that it's really difficult to get confused. The exchange rate is easy to work out (0.66 E to the £ - why don't I have a euro sign on my keyboard!?) and I'm sure with another visit to a Euro country in the summer, I'll be completely comfortable with the currnecy.

Also, the exchange rate has worked out so that there is virtually 1$ to 1E - this will make it so much easier and convenient for Americans and hopefully entice some more over here to spend their cash!

I think Britain is doing the wrong thing by not being in the Euro. I speak from experience when I say that the most deprived areas in the country are losing out on vital business because big Asian and American companies are taking their trade to the continent. Near where my parents live, there is so much unemployment because the investors have backed out. We need the Euro!

On the plus side, many British companies are taking the Euro, and introducing it through the back door :D

[DGoeij]

I had made a thread on that a couple of months back. See if it's still around.....nope. It died out after awhile, I guess.

There are a lot of complaints about rising prices because of the Euro. In Germany the word on the street is Teuro (after the german word teuer, for expensive). Same thing in the Netherlands, however it seems to be minor issues. Beer got very expensive, but for a small part because of rising taxes on alcohol.
I'm getting seriously confused by the numerous small coins and the fact that every coin represent about the double value of it's predecessor (if we had a comparable that is. We Dutch counted in 5, 10 and 25 cents). For example, one euro is like 2.2 guilders. Watch out what you are spending!
My wallet tended to be empty at the end of the weekend, but I'm getting used to it by now I hope. At least I am a bit more carefull now.

There's not much fascism or totalitarianism involved and sure it isn't the end of the world. A war within Europe would be so expensive because of the economic intermingling, we're pretty safe for any of that. :D
My problem towards the European Union is more towards the lack of democratic balance and accountability than the introduction of the Euro.

[7doubles]

you'll see, next thing you know you'll be wearing a cerial number on the back of your hand. by the way, in who is the trust of the euro placed in not "god" no, most likly france. $7.50 a hot dog $3.50 a pepsi. its no wonder you dont know how to manage to make ends meet without strugglen. for instance the minimum wage in the usa $5.50hr, gas cost $1.12 a gallon. it cost $32.00 barrel, opec. there is 50 gallons in a barrel. that is a tax difference of $21.20, not too unreasonable. but how much is petro in your countrys, much higher. thats because too many countrys want their taxes from the same treasury at the same rate prior to the euro, raising taxes even more to stableise this goverment's econamys, burdens the common tax payers unjustly. this applys to all goods and services. did you know it is $7.00 cheaper to call london from new york using a pay phone for 3 min then it is to call new york to london? its true. here if gas went above $3.00 a gallon people would riot!

[DGoeij]

7, maybe you should know that numbers printed on skins have a nasty history down here in Europe. They did that in a place called Auschwitz.
Being a student, I have little to do with gas. I have a public transport card. Making ends meet is not my problem, since buying food isn't the problem. Buying beer and such is. Since that is a luxury article (like gasoline) I simply use less of it.
Nobody dies of poverty here, we have a system that ensures an income. I've been in the US once, and the amount of money you spend on basic food is horrendous. Cheap gasoline doesn't make up for that.

Oh, and most of the French were against the Euro. Chauvinism and such....

[Legolam]

Pepsi, hot dogs and petrol. My three most important items (not!)

I agree that it is cheaper to live in America than Britain. But that isn't an argument about the Euro. It's way cheaper to live in Spain, France, Holland and Germany than it is to live in Britain. And those three countries all have the Euro.

With the Euro, it will eventually iron out unfair differences between countries in prices of things like basic food, clothes and luxury items.

I think petrol prices will always be high because our government is trying to get people off the roads to save the environment, something which I think America should be dong too (argument for another day!). Petrol is 50p a litre in Spain though (that's $0.33 a litre, don't know what gallons are) so petrol prices aren't standard throughout Europe.

Oh, and minimum wage in Britain is £4.20 - that's $6.17

[7doubles]

how much is a pound of 25% lean hamburg a pound. here, it ranges from $1.59 to $2.49
depending on the the price of the gas tax intrust rate, acording to Allen Greenspans helterskelter apeasement coafitiont for national spending. where is th euro's main treasury department located? not the mints. in this country its run and bonded by the federal reserve. what about the the euro.
you see we learned our lesson in the cival war, where a wheelbarrel full of money couldn't by a potato

[Gloer]

well
1. The European Central Bank is located physically in Frankfurt, Germany.
2. The Deciding body are the five directors from different euro-member countries of which one is the chief, at the moment a Dutch fellow.
3. Equivalent for US federeal reserve is located in each member countrys central bank. Each member countries central bank administers a proprtionate amount of the reserve backing the euro. These reserves used to back each individual currency, but now together we only need relatively less reserve for euro is more stable.

[Ancalagon]

I think it's great:)

Because I live in Northern Ireland, I can drive into the Republic of Ireland and buy petrol and **** for half the price. Stirling is still strong against the Euro, so it generally saves me a lot of money, either going to Dublin or Donegall for a weekend or simply nipping across the border to do some shopping.

[7doubles]

ok guys, here is the real deal. our federal reserve is "fort knocks". the US goverement is minting out 1oz $50 \24kt gold coins and selling them for $300 oz. the price of silver is minted at $1 oz, and sold at $700 (925) pure. in 9 yrs this new system will go into affect. "sell high buy back cheap" the hunt brothers tried this in the seventys and crashed the silver market. but they did not have a goverment backing them either.

[Asha'man]

You can drive up to get ****, Anc? I didn't think you swung that way. :eek:

Fort KnoX , 7D. Sheesh.

Asha'man

[Aerin]

Ash, I'm pretty sure Anc meant 'fag' as a shortened version of 'faggots' - wood bundles to burn.
Do I have to get the big dictionary out? :rolleyes: hehe

[Ancalagon]

**** are slang for Cigarettes, which sadly I still use, so don't do it kids, it aint big and it aint clever!

[Legolam]

7doubles - what's the point you're trying to make about the Euro. All you've said is some stuff about where America gets its money from :confused:

[Beorn]

Originally posted by 7doubles
OK guys, here is the real deal. Our federal reserve is "Fort Knox". The US government is minting out 1oz $50 \24kt gold coins and selling them for $300 oz. The price of silver is minted at $1 oz, and sold at $700 (925) pure. In 9 yrs this new system will go into effect. "Sell high buy back cheap..." The hunt brothers tried this in the seventies and crashed the silver market. But they did not have a goverment backing them either.

I don't know if these facts are true (possibly the idea is, but the numbers: no). Anyway, there are TV ads who try and rip off stupid people that can get the coins for their price + a plastic case + S&H...The companies sell a $2 coin with paint on it for $50 PLUS shipping and handling.

I've the proof sets for the past 4 or 5 years--they cost $15 each....Even if there is a Susan B., 50 cent, nickel, dime, penny, and 5 quarters ($2.90 if I did my math right), it's not nearly as horrible as you claim it is....The gov't is jacking prices...people trying to rip off other people are.

[Legolam]

Again, the point of this discussion is ...? :confused:

[DGoeij]

I'm still more concerned with all these small coins filling up every pocket I have, than potential political economic disasters which tends to happen anyway. Worries or no worries.
Besides, prices didn't go up in the coffee and snacks counter at the faculty, so I'm not complaining....much.:D

[Legolam]

Well, the Euro reached parity with the dollar yesterday, so I guess that'll make it a whole lot easier for American tourists over in Europe

[Asha'man]

Funny, I actually got a 2-cent Euro coin at work a few months ago. And I'm in Denver, CO. :)

Asha'man

[Legolam]

That is weird, because I haven't seen anyone trying to use them in this country and we're a wee bit closer to Europe than America!

[ReadWryt]

Naw, the Dollar is going to get soft against the Euro again soon. It's so low against the Yen and so many other currencies right now that it's inevitable, and besides...it's kind of a matter of pride for some Europeans when their currency is trading well against the Dollar...heh.

I've been led to believe that the Euro is turning out to be a highly liberating thing for many younger folks who are finding it easier to take jobs in other countries for the experience and for tourists who don't need to exchange currencies at each border to be able to hop around the continent. I would think that it would be a far more apparent symbol of the unification of the continent then the common Passport...folks don't usually look at their passport as often as their money.:)

[Rúmil]

I find the Euro very convenient. I travel quite a lot between France and Ireland and not having to pay for your money to get changed is quite pleasant. Also, I nearly failed Maths miserably at High School and it is much easier for me now in strange countries to figure out what items really cost. That, plus the coffee machines are much more convenient: a coffee used to be something weird, like 2.35 francs (I can't even remember now) and now it's just 50 cents. Also, it gave you the nice sensation you were paying with Mickey Mouse money for a month or so after the changeover. And, oh, yes, I was forgetting, it hugely reinforces the cohesion between the European states :)
As for a common passport, I believe there's a legal obstacle for that (I read that somewhere, I'm not sure) You may well ask why that is the case for passports and not currency, but there it is.
So, for the economic ignorant that I am, the Euro is a big success, despite all the complex problems it generates, which I tried to understand, and failed to do so.

PS: Where did you ever get the impression that the french are chauvinists? We are the best country in the world and we're frank about it, that's all :D

**edit: PPS: I'm sorry, I should have asked this before I posted: does one have to join the guild before one can post?**

[Legolam]

I agree, Rumil, I love France! I'm hoping to go over for a couple of weeks in September and maybe hope over the border to Italy for a day trip, and it will be so nice not to have to exchange French francs into Lira, plus I still have Euros left over from my holiday at Easter that I didn't exchange.

And another benefit - places round here are finally accepting Euro currency, like the tourist places and my local pub! :D :cool:

PS I don't think I ever officially joined this guild either but if I have to, can I plead for membership?? :confused: :)

[DGoeij]

I wonder if you have to. I'm wandering around here quite often and nobody informed me. My personal guess is that this guild was created to give political discussions their own little corner. This way people who are interested can find them and moderators have a place to put them together. It's fine by me.
About the Euro. Me and my scoutgroup will be travelling Europe for two weeks, avoiding Switzerland to stay in Euro-countries only. We named the trip PhEuroTours, because our groups name is Phoenix. We have caps and T-shirts with the name and a logo and will be travelling from scout-campsite to scout-campsite, stopping in Germany, Itali, France and Luxembourg. And we will be using the same currency all the time.:D

[morning star]

sounds like we have some coin collecters here. LOL
silver eagles are $7.00 or alittle bit less. Silver changes daily, here are the prices http://www.tulving.com/goldbull.html
proof sets are 19.95 + shipping and handling. the quarter sets are around 15.00.
I'm not the only coin collector here at least.

I think soon we'll have a one world currency, then we'll have like a credit card chip in our for heads, or hands, or at least some will, but i won't.

[LadyGaladriel]

alas I am against the Euro as It will increase VAT for a bit .
I am also against it as I am a natural traditionist and I have had my currency my whole life .

[Legolam]

Why will it increaes VAT? What country are you in? In Britain, VAT is 17.5%. I know for a fact it is less than this is both France and Spain and I don't think the Euro changes it anyway. I think each country is still allowed to set their own rate of sales tax.