Bassoe
Well-known member
source
European boycotts on energy imports are collapsing it's economy. Energy prices are soaring and Industrial output is falling. In two months there will be rolling blackouts, and widespread lack of indoor heating and hot water in places that were previously thought of as "rich". Nearly all small businesses are going go out of business. They won't be bought, they'll just go out of business and disappear.
European heads of state are acknowledging this future, but are refusing to do anything to prevent it. They say it must be done. Europe must endure hardship. But why? Why must Europe suffer?
The stated reason is so that the "enemy" will suffer. But that's not happening, and they still continue down this road. The next reason is to "green the planet". Which also isn't happening.
For context: The way we know it's not those two reasons is because cash payments to Russia for energy have increased, even as energy imports fall, due to the artificial squeeze on supply raising energy prices; and this won't result in less emissions because the proposed short term solutions for making up this energy shortfall are to fire up defunct coal plants and just burn coal instead.
So what's the real reason?
The real prize is Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Companies with hundreds of employees. These medium-sized companies have assets, hardware, clients, and skilled labor. They either compete with large corporations, or they are part of their supply chain. SMEs account for more than half of the GDP in Europe, and employ more than 60% of all workers. Together they have more wealth than the major corporations, but they have much less cash. When their income stops, they will go on the market for a fraction of their current value. Large corporations are going to gobble them up. Creating larger and larger monopolies.
What we are about to see is the largest merger and acquisition wave in history. This is the end of the "well-off" wealth in Europe. It's going to get messy.