To some who went through the unsuccessful struggle from 1961 to 1967 to stave off sterling devaluation, the series of crises surrounding the euro will be drearily familiar. First there is a surprise loss of confidence. Then there is a series of rescue operations, usually taking the form of international guarantees of one kind or another. These are backed up by domestic restrictive measures leading to a domestic recession of sorts. In time the financial pressures ease and near-normality is seen to return. But then, when few are looking, there is another crisis, another set of international rescues and another set of domestic restrictions. And so on. Eventually the struggle is abandoned, and political and financial leaders work to pick up the pieces.
對于一些曾經歷過1961年至1967年不成功的阻止英鎊貶值努力的人而言，現在圍繞歐元的一系列危機與當年的情景驚人的相似。首先，信心意外缺失。然后是一系列救助行動，通常采取一種或另一種國際擔保的形式。這些得到了導致國內衰退的國內限制性措施的支持。經過一段時期后，金融壓力得到緩解，接近正常的狀況被視為再次出現。但接著（在沒有人注意的時候）將會出現另一場危機、另一套全球救助措施和另一輪國內限制措施。如此周而復始。最終，人們放棄了努力，政治和金融領導人不得不致力于收拾殘局。