CLUB PARADISE

BIG SHINY NEW PLACE.  SOME EAGER PROPRIETORS TENDING BAR.  IN COME THE CUSTOMERS — GREECE, PORTUGAL , IRELAND, SPAIN — AND THEY START RUNNING A TAB.  THE BARTENDERS ARE SERVING DRINKS AS FAST AS THEY CAN MAKE THEM. THE CUSTOMERS ARE GETTING HIGH, PROPRIETORS WINKING AND NODDING TO EACH OTHER, THINKING ABOUT A VISIT TO THE PORSCHE DEALER IN THE MORNING, THEY ARE MAKING SO MUCH MONEY.  EVERYBODY IS HAPPY.  THE NIGHT WILL LAST FOREVER. 

BUT WAIT.  IT IS CLOSING TIME. THE CUSTOMERS ARE SO DRUNK THEY CANT REMEMBER WHERE THEY USED TO LIVE.  THE BARTENDERS ARE EXHAUSTED.  TIME TO GO HOME TO BED.  SO — SUDDENLY THERE IS TROUBLE IN PARADISE.  THE CUSTOMERS WONT LEAVE.  THEY CANT PAY THE TAB.  SOMEBODY IS GOING TO HAVE TO THROW THEM OUT, BUT IF THEY DO THEY WILL NEVER GET THE MONEY.  YOU CANT HAVE THEM ALL THROWN IN JAIL, THERE WONT BE ANYBODY TO COME TO THE PARADISE TOMORROW.  IN THE END YOU CALL THEM A CAB.

YOU KNOW WHO THE BARTENDERS ARE — THE GERMAN BANKS, THE FRENCH BANKS, THE INVESTMENT BANKERS ALL OVER THE WORLD (MEANING MAINLY BRITAIN AND THE US).  WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING TO HAPPEN? 

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE IT ON THE CHIN AND HOPEFULLY — MAYBE — THEY ARE GOING TO LEARN A LESSON ABOUT DOING BUSINESS.  YOU CANT PUT THE WHOLE WORLD IN DEBTORS’ PRISON — YOU WONT HAVE ANY CUSTOMERS.  AND YOU CANT MAKE THEM PAY IT ALL BACK BECAUSE IF YOU DO, BEFORE THEY EVER FINISH THE LIGHTS WILL HAVE GONE OUT FOREVER ON THE EMPTY, GLOOMY CLUB PARADISE. 

IT IS TIME TO GIVE IT UP.

NOW TELL ME, DO YOU REALLY PITY THESE GUYS?