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General Category => Off the Record => Topic started by: garbon on January 30, 2013, 10:32:56 AM

Title: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: garbon on January 30, 2013, 10:32:56 AM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/29/zimbabwe-217-bank-finance-minister_n_2576671.html

QuoteThere's a lot you can buy with $200 if you're one person. There's not whole lot you can do with it if you're one nation, however.

Zimbabwe has just $217 in the bank after paying civil servants last week, Agence France Presse reports. While the amount is a stunningly low balance for an entire nation, it was somewhat expected.

The African nation has been struggling to recover from hyperinflation that stretches back a decade. In the past few years, flagging diamond exports as well as salary hikes have compounded the nation's financial woes, according to the Globe and Mail.

The country finds itself in particularly dire straits now as it appears to be short on funding for its upcoming national elections. Zimbabwe is aiming to double exports of diamonds this year but that likely won't be enough to bail itself out.

"We will be approaching the international community [for financial assistance]," Finance Minister Tendai Biti told the AFP.

Even if the elections are ultimately funded, many fear violence will stand in the way of meaningful change, The Guardian reports.

The idea of a country going broke, of course, isn't so novel as France, Spain and Greece remain perilously close to bankruptcy due to the Eurozone crisis. Iceland declared bankruptcy in 2008 due to the 2007 credit crisis, while Argentina did so in 2002 after the collapse of its national currency.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Darth Wagtaros on January 30, 2013, 10:41:56 AM
The comments mostly blame Obama for doing this here in the US.  I blame Jaron myself.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Ed Anger on January 30, 2013, 11:48:22 AM
Check the couch cushions. That should net them about 10 bucks.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on January 30, 2013, 12:43:31 PM
raid Mugabe and cronies' bankaccounts. That should help
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Caliga on January 30, 2013, 01:03:03 PM
If I was Ed I would buy Zimbabwe.

Emperor Anger I
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Ed Anger on January 30, 2013, 01:33:50 PM
Quote from: Caliga on January 30, 2013, 01:03:03 PM
If I was Ed I would buy Zimbabwe.

Emperor Anger I

(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pokerhistory.eu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fmussolini.png&hash=566f05fe91bc2b6e0a7f49d67be8410a9de385af)
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Crazy_Ivan80 on January 30, 2013, 04:16:07 PM
Quote from: Caliga on January 30, 2013, 01:03:03 PM
If I was Ed I would buy Zimbabwe.

Emperor Anger I

sounds like a Languish projct
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Zanza on January 30, 2013, 04:32:55 PM
I am richer than Zimbabwe.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: jimmy olsen on January 30, 2013, 04:44:41 PM
I would hope that every Languish member is doing better than Zimbabwe.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Strix on January 30, 2013, 04:57:01 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 30, 2013, 04:44:41 PM
I would hope that every Languish member is doing better than Zimbabwe.

It's close after all the guns and magazines I had to run out to buy at the last moment!  :cheers:
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: DGuller on January 30, 2013, 06:01:08 PM
It's not as bad as it looks.  That's a lot of money in Zimbabwean dollars.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Ed Anger on January 30, 2013, 06:04:05 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on January 30, 2013, 04:16:07 PM
Quote from: Caliga on January 30, 2013, 01:03:03 PM
If I was Ed I would buy Zimbabwe.

Emperor Anger I

sounds like a Languish projct

If I did buy them, I present the Languish cabinet:

Security: Seedy
Interior: Peedy
Air Force: Neil
Navy: Tamas
Chief War Wizard: Any polack other than Mart

Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Tonitrus on January 30, 2013, 09:57:25 PM
Quote from: Ed Anger on January 30, 2013, 06:04:05 PM
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on January 30, 2013, 04:16:07 PM
Quote from: Caliga on January 30, 2013, 01:03:03 PM
If I was Ed I would buy Zimbabwe.

Emperor Anger I

sounds like a Languish projct

If I did buy them, I present the Languish cabinet:

Security: Seedy
Interior: Peedy
Air Force: Neil
Navy: Tamas
Chief War Wizard: Any polack other than Mart

That's like dividing by zero.  :lol:
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Alcibiades on January 30, 2013, 10:02:55 PM
I didn't think that country could do any worse, but with that cabinet in those positions it sure looks possible.   :lol:
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Neil on January 30, 2013, 11:01:19 PM
I think I could do a fine job.  I certainly wouldn't waste resources on nonsense like air superiority or strategic bombing.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Fireblade on January 30, 2013, 11:48:23 PM
We should all chip in and buy Zimbabwe. The possibilities are endless! We can all divvy up the country and play wargames with the people. A real life RTS, if you will. Scattering resources around the place shouldn't be too expensive either. Bags of rice are what, $4 at Wal-Mart? Toss in some scrap metal so our units can make spears and I think we can get a couple of really interesting games going.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: derspiess on January 31, 2013, 12:03:06 AM
So then what do we do with Mugabe?
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: garbon on January 31, 2013, 02:19:23 AM
Quote from: derspiess on January 31, 2013, 12:03:06 AM
So then what do we do with Mugabe?

Gaol!
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Martinus on January 31, 2013, 03:16:46 AM
Newsflash: nations, like people, are worth more than the balance of their bank account. Otherwise I would be able to buy Ide thousand times over.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Eddie Teach on January 31, 2013, 04:42:56 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 30, 2013, 04:44:41 PM
I would hope that every Languish member is doing better than Zimbabwe.

Debts > Assets :(
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Monoriu on January 31, 2013, 04:54:22 AM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 30, 2013, 04:44:41 PM
I would hope that every Languish member is doing better than Zimbabwe.

I hope we have higher standards that that  :P
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Josquius on January 31, 2013, 04:56:26 AM
This is being reported everywhere in this same out of context way. Sigh. Its just handing it to the "Western media makes crap up to put countries they don't like in a bad light!" people....by actually making them right for once.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Monoriu on January 31, 2013, 04:57:53 AM
Quote from: Fireblade on January 30, 2013, 11:48:23 PM
We should all chip in and buy Zimbabwe. The possibilities are endless! We can all divvy up the country and play wargames with the people. A real life RTS, if you will. Scattering resources around the place shouldn't be too expensive either. Bags of rice are what, $4 at Wal-Mart? Toss in some scrap metal so our units can make spears and I think we can get a couple of really interesting games going.

Joking aside, I don't think anyone should accept Zimbabwe even if the nation is freely offered to them.  It will be a burden more than anything.  The problem with the place is that property rights, contracts, respect of the law, obligations etc don't mean much, especially to their government. 
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Grey Fox on January 31, 2013, 08:03:11 AM
I'll take over Zimbabwe but I'm going to tell you upfront. You ain't going to like it.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Tonitrus on January 31, 2013, 05:14:39 PM
Quote from: Neil on January 30, 2013, 11:01:19 PM
I think I could do a fine job.  I certainly wouldn't waste resources on nonsense like air superiority or strategic bombing.

Yeah, but what good are dreadnoughts to the air force of a landlocked country? :hmm:
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: DGuller on January 31, 2013, 05:31:52 PM
Quote from: Tonitrus on January 31, 2013, 05:14:39 PM
Quote from: Neil on January 30, 2013, 11:01:19 PM
I think I could do a fine job.  I certainly wouldn't waste resources on nonsense like air superiority or strategic bombing.

Yeah, but what good are dreadnoughts to the air force of a landlocked country? :hmm:
You can screw on some wings and propellers on them.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: 11B4V on January 31, 2013, 06:52:34 PM
If they had stayed Rhodesia and under white control, they wouldnt have this problem.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: 11B4V on January 31, 2013, 06:53:04 PM
Oh, and cool military units too.
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: The Brain on February 01, 2013, 12:00:22 AM
Be a man among men. :)
Title: Re: Zimbabwe Has Just $217 In The Bank
Post by: Maximus on February 01, 2013, 09:12:41 AM
Quote from: Grey Fox on January 31, 2013, 08:03:11 AM
I'll take over Zimbabwe but I'm going to tell you upfront. You ain't going to like it.
No loss. I already don't like it.