DWB

1) Cyprus is a real country with real banks. Not everyone who has an account there is evading taxes. That is a very short sighted view. Some countries just don't have stable / safe banking so it makes sense to put your money where it is stable. People who conduct business on an international level have very valid reasons for banking there, and it's legal.

2) You're totally missing the larger picture, which is banks are stealing people's money and they are having "bank holidays" which means people can not access their money. The banks are no longer secure and the insurance that your money is safe just went out the window. Currently it is four days. Next time it may be 10. Next time they may just close up shop and you lose. Now you see what game the bank is playing, do you want to take that risk? Faith in the entire system is being put on the line right now because something like this may not stop with Cyprus. Maybe next time it's Italy or Spain, and eventually your country. Chances are it will be if this goes without a hitch.

This is like your FDIC insured bank in the USA skimming 10% off the top and closing up shop for a few days so you can't get your money. You would flip-fucking-out, especially if you needed the money. You would lose faith in that bank and probably the entire banking system if all the banks did the same thing. Well, that is what is happening now. It has nothing to do with people taking risks with banks and getting what they deserve because of it. There are many legitimate reasons to have a bank account and business there, which is something most Americans / Canadians don't understand because they do not usually think on an international level. Thus the USA has been left behind in just about ever sector except war and debt, left with a distorted view on how the world really works.