Just a thought:
Remember when we would write to our MP, to the politicos of our constituency, etc?
Greece has devised a new method: talk through television.
Farmers have blocked highways in the country and requesting a talk with the minister of agricultural growth (there is no ministry of agriculture in Greece)... through the telly
...while...
Said minister, calls for discussions with aforementioned farmers via... telly.
Why can't they call each other up?
Anyone got a mobile?
Friday 22 January 2010
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Balancing the imbalances --- Greek style
The current Greek government is trying to convince themselves and sundry that they can pull the country out of its present rut by boosting income by around 30%... or simply hoodwink themselves and sundry into believing so.
They forgot to cut public spending.
Or, maybe, they consider cost-costing has already reached down to the bone and political cronies will be endangered?
For example, those 60.000 still drawing a pension despite their departure for greener pastures...
Or the 25.500 "cashiers" on public payroll...
Or the "extraordinary" stipend awarded civil servants not qualifying for an "ordinary" stipend...
Or, how about the Euro: 230.000 parachute offered to ex workers of the Piraeus port authority to shut up?
But what do you expect from a country routinely run by amazingly inefficient people lacking any professional seniority...
This woman is minister of "Economy, Competitiveness and Merchant Marine".
In more worldly terms, "minister of bullshit".
Before pledging to make ministerial noises, she used to be a teacher.
The best thing about her is the usually open mouth, a result of a somewhat stretched face lifting.
This woman and our friend George Papa, the Finance Minister (who speaks English and French and Greek, which is more than his boss can do), together, will perform the miracles.
By comparison, France has one person to do the job, C Lagarde. Lagarde, reportedly, not only knows how to read and write, she has also worked before in her life!
Wow! How can the French do it and Greeks can't do it? What do the French got, Greeks don't got???
Despite the usual maxims about "getting the politicians you deserve", I still think Greeks deserve better...
They forgot to cut public spending.
Or, maybe, they consider cost-costing has already reached down to the bone and political cronies will be endangered?
For example, those 60.000 still drawing a pension despite their departure for greener pastures...
Or the 25.500 "cashiers" on public payroll...
Or the "extraordinary" stipend awarded civil servants not qualifying for an "ordinary" stipend...
Or, how about the Euro: 230.000 parachute offered to ex workers of the Piraeus port authority to shut up?
But what do you expect from a country routinely run by amazingly inefficient people lacking any professional seniority...
This woman is minister of "Economy, Competitiveness and Merchant Marine".
In more worldly terms, "minister of bullshit".
Before pledging to make ministerial noises, she used to be a teacher.
The best thing about her is the usually open mouth, a result of a somewhat stretched face lifting.
This woman and our friend George Papa, the Finance Minister (who speaks English and French and Greek, which is more than his boss can do), together, will perform the miracles.
By comparison, France has one person to do the job, C Lagarde. Lagarde, reportedly, not only knows how to read and write, she has also worked before in her life!
Wow! How can the French do it and Greeks can't do it? What do the French got, Greeks don't got???
Despite the usual maxims about "getting the politicians you deserve", I still think Greeks deserve better...
Thursday 14 January 2010
Earthquake in Haiti. Redefining the word, "Biblical".
Four disastrous storms about 1 1/2 year ago;- Now a 7 on the Richter scale;
- No earthquake resistant buildings;
- Practically little is left standing;
- The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere...
Put together, the above hardly suffice to paint the picture. Devastation and heartbreaking human suffering.
A child may ask "what have I done to deserve this?" or, "why am I living in Haiti?"
Can anyone help?
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Greek Statistics...
...not withstanding, Greek parliamentarians persist in calling one another names while the country they actually represent sinks lower.
Beside the usual chaff from the inane but vociferous "left-wing", even the major party subscribes to and voices the sweet siren song of "down with everything".
While this is going on, I wonder if there is a country out there willing to offer political asylum to Greek nationals in quest of a serious home for their families?
Beside the usual chaff from the inane but vociferous "left-wing", even the major party subscribes to and voices the sweet siren song of "down with everything".
While this is going on, I wonder if there is a country out there willing to offer political asylum to Greek nationals in quest of a serious home for their families?
Tuesday 12 January 2010
Most important: HAPPY NEW YEAR!
God Knows* we need a better year.
Are we going to get it?
As far as "better" is inside each and every one of us, let's hope we can do better.
*Keeping the deity symbolic, for those who do not believe in any some such.
Are we going to get it?
As far as "better" is inside each and every one of us, let's hope we can do better.
*Keeping the deity symbolic, for those who do not believe in any some such.
Europe's Next Television Star
That would be George Papa-whatever, Greece's loquacious Finance Minister. This 49 year old obscure academic and one time minor civil servant has finally found his calling**.
In the space of a few months, George has propelled himself into what is sure to become the hottest item for TV channels and studios worldwide.
George may not be good at doing anything -0- but he sure is great at talking about it!
And talk he does!
This comes as a sequel to a host of other performances at CNN, the BBC in December, and lately, the choice of Greek television's morning talk shows.
Just you watch! He may not look like much -- but he sounds like a few million dollars...
...And that's exactly how much -- and more -- he'll have in his pocket when he is over his latest tour!
(He needs some sprucing up, but he is still a killer.)
In his spare time, George moonlights as CFO for a country. Not bad for a kid that barely made it through College!
**To give credit where it is due, the man has worked -- somewhat. This is more than most (all ) of his co-ministers can claim. His star colleague is a woman named Louka Something, whose latest face lift has given her a permanent smile of dyspepsia. Great woman, the sort of person to make holders of Greek passports proud.
In the space of a few months, George has propelled himself into what is sure to become the hottest item for TV channels and studios worldwide.
George may not be good at doing anything -0- but he sure is great at talking about it!
And talk he does!
Lately he took Britain's BBC by storm in a shattering show.
This comes as a sequel to a host of other performances at CNN, the BBC in December, and lately, the choice of Greek television's morning talk shows.
Just you watch! He may not look like much -- but he sounds like a few million dollars......And that's exactly how much -- and more -- he'll have in his pocket when he is over his latest tour!
(He needs some sprucing up, but he is still a killer.)
In his spare time, George moonlights as CFO for a country. Not bad for a kid that barely made it through College!
**To give credit where it is due, the man has worked -- somewhat. This is more than most (all ) of his co-ministers can claim. His star colleague is a woman named Louka Something, whose latest face lift has given her a permanent smile of dyspepsia. Great woman, the sort of person to make holders of Greek passports proud.
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