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European Union To Ban Free Speech

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European Union To Ban Free Speech

THE European Union has banned free speech. That’s the implication of this little nugget of news:

BRUSSELS—The European Commission is leaning toward proposing a ban on the issuing of sovereign credit ratings for countries in bailout talks, a top official said on Thursday.

“I think it’s legitimate to have a special treatment when a country is in negotiation or is covered by an international solidarity program with the IMF or a European solidarity” program, said Michel Barnier, European internal market commissioner.

Should the commission, the executive arm of the European Union, come to view these sovereign ratings are inappropriate, “we could ban it or suspend the rating for the necessary time frame,” he said. “I am studying this matter very seriously.”

The thing is, you see, a credit rating is only Fitch (or S&P, or Moody’s, or any of the other 40 odd more minor ones) saying “You know, we think these peeps might find it difficult to pay back their debts“.

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Posted: 21st, October 2011 | In: Money | Comment