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Accelerated timing

2009-03-05
A bad bout of the flu transmitted across the border by foreign banks is the most succinct way to sum up Václav Klaus's view of the economic crisis in the CR. The crisis was imported, he stressed in MFD. He's more accurate in his assessment of the global situation than most other prominent politicians. Yes, the crisis has been amplified by the "pseudo-activities" of governments across the globe. Yes, an atmosphere of fear has been created through the promotion of imaginary threats. No, stimulus packages aren't going to work. He's right in these respects, but where he's wrong is to suggest that the Czech people and their politicians are innocent bystanders. Overconsumption, financial profligacy and bad government aren't merely the preserve of the countries that started the crisis. Foreign banks can be blamed partly for the timing, but a crisis would have arrived in the CR at some point anyway. [Czech Republic MF Dnes]