On the 25th January, Greeks voted overwhelmingly against their
previous government remaining in power.
The against vote comes as no surprise and is justified if one looks at what Greeks have gone through - albeit, not a very judicious one at this moment.
That
government imposed austerity measures with the counter-promise of reform.
The result? Little reform, an overwhelming public sector, 1.55 million
unemployed *(the 5th highest in the world)...
In other words, 270 bill euro in aid,
austerity, unemployment and... not much good to show for it.
Of course, Greece is better off now than it was 3 years ago, for sure. But not better enough...
But what makes voting Greeks tick???
On two separate occasions I happened to discuss voters in Greece with two University professors, both candidates, both subsequently voted into office.
These were short chats, rather than lengthy discussions, but none the less informative and inspiring.
I understood that the outcome of elections ion Greece is largely influenced by four factors:
ignorance: a large part of the population is unusually ignorant of key financial and economical parametres and unaware of the mechanics of public finance. This is markedly visible across the board with students at all disciplines.
television: as anywhere in the world until now. The Greek particularity is that there is no challenge from the media. Probably because Greek journalists themselves suffer from the same ignorance -- whatever the case, no-one has ever provided a tough challenge to a politician, live, on television. Unless of course, it is a person officially rejected, i.e. right-wing. And never has anyone ever questioned "left-wing" politicians.
left wing is religion: its declarations are to be believed in, rather than accepted through rational thought. All others are infidels.
emotion: as opposed to rational, or slightly critical thought... Or even pragmatism.
Henceforth, it is easy to understand that manipulating Greece's vote can be an easy job for a crafty player. Such as the late Mr A Papandreou, a US citizen of Greek descent who succeeded in hoodwinking the electorate for numerous elections up until his death. A true master if there ever was one!
Monday, 26 January 2015
Elections in Greece: "Against Someone Else" Wins
All the Elections posts have to begin with the same disclaimer:
On the 25th January, Greeks voted overwhelmingly against their previous government remaining in power.
The against vote comes as no surprise and is largely justified. That government imposed austerity measures with the counter-promise of reform. The result? Little reform, an overwhelming public sector, 1.55 million unemployed *(the 5th highest in the world)...
In other words, 270 bill euro in aid, austerity, unemployment and... not much good to show for it.
Of course, Greece is better off now than it was 3 years ago, for sure. But not better enough...
Back to the question of whom the voters opted for: why Syriza?
The underlying message from many Syriza sympathisers had more to do with the German chancellor: "we can do it".
We voted the for guy no-one wants!
Just to prove to everyone that we can do it.
Mr Tsipras, the new Prime Minister has oft mentioned Greece's pride and dignity. He has also spoken out against austerity, for and against the EU, for and against the EMU, for and against raising taxes, for and against a score of other things...*
Let's hope Greece doesn't lose whatever is left of its dignity during his rule.
*interestingly, he too campaigned against austerity. In this respect, he promised to re-hire all civil servants who are out of a job (very few), abolish cuts to public spending (medical, pensions, etc) summing to an estimated total of euro +3 bill/ quarter. Greece is still operating under deficit, so where is the money coming from???
Wait! It must be from the those Germans, the ones we voted against...!
On the 25th January, Greeks voted overwhelmingly against their previous government remaining in power.
The against vote comes as no surprise and is largely justified. That government imposed austerity measures with the counter-promise of reform. The result? Little reform, an overwhelming public sector, 1.55 million unemployed *(the 5th highest in the world)...
In other words, 270 bill euro in aid, austerity, unemployment and... not much good to show for it.
Of course, Greece is better off now than it was 3 years ago, for sure. But not better enough...
Back to the question of whom the voters opted for: why Syriza?
The underlying message from many Syriza sympathisers had more to do with the German chancellor: "we can do it".
We voted the for guy no-one wants!
Just to prove to everyone that we can do it.
 | |
| A happy camper: A. Tsipras, the leader of Greece's "radical left" party that won the Jan 2015 elections. |
Mr Tsipras, the new Prime Minister has oft mentioned Greece's pride and dignity. He has also spoken out against austerity, for and against the EU, for and against the EMU, for and against raising taxes, for and against a score of other things...*
Let's hope Greece doesn't lose whatever is left of its dignity during his rule.
*interestingly, he too campaigned against austerity. In this respect, he promised to re-hire all civil servants who are out of a job (very few), abolish cuts to public spending (medical, pensions, etc) summing to an estimated total of euro +3 bill/ quarter. Greece is still operating under deficit, so where is the money coming from???
Wait! It must be from the those Germans, the ones we voted against...!
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Elections In Greece -- Yet Again: If In Doubt, Vote Dogmatically, Against Someone Else (to pull his nose), or just Follow Your Heart
I have been trying to understand why it is in Greece that elections are a much like a football game, where serious issues do not really count, the nation doesn't really count, what is better or worse for said nation doesn't really count...
In other words, a critically large portion of voters in Greece do not vote rationally at all!
How is this?
There are two-three points which makes sense out of this erratic and nationally self-destructive behaviour -- i.e. to be partisan behind politicians who have demonstrably sunk the country, and OR have abundantly demonstrated they are grossly incapable of performing any job, let alone running a country.
1st: Greeks vote left-wing for emotional reasons, because their "heart is on the left" or simply because such is their "style" mostly new-romantic. Typical image of the "girl offering a policeman the rose". Any other consideration -- policy, proposed measures, etc -- does not enter the picture at all.
Then there are those that vote their personal choice of "left"because that is right thing. This vote is dogmatic.
Coming to think of it, the politicians representing most "left" wing parties are as dogmatic and intolerant as their religious counterparts in the middle ages.
2nd: Greeks voting sort-of right wing are pragmatist. They believe in what politicians are supposed to represent: free enterprise, conservatism, EU membership... the usual "democratic" freedoms espoused in the wealthy countries of first world. The fact that these politicians have fallen short of implementing their convictions when in action does not daunt these voters. "Other choices are even worse", they say.
3rd There is the spattering of Greeks who choose to vote AGAINST someone, come what may. These are easily swayed one way or another by anyone who has the knack of manipulating Greek voters correctly; the erstwhile premier of the 80s Mr A. Papandreou (now deceased) was masterful in this. The present, not as masterful leader of the deter-left party, a Mr Tsipras, is donning the style of the aforementioned Papandreou's to the fullest extent and to unparalleled success! The old ruse works!!
Of course there are those who simply vote for strict personal gain and get their hands in the till (see Pasok in recent years or Syriza now). But these alone do not an election win.*
So, elections in Greece in recent years are not about what is better or perceived as such for the country, nation: in fact Greeks are not hot about their "nation" believing for some strange reason that any reference to "nation" is a vestige of the right wing, which is definitely not trendy and generally unacceptable.
Elections in Greece are mostly about the three points above, and which one prevails - or combination thereof prevail.
Greeks are used to voting, after all democracy is a greek word as is the institution, both direct and indirect democracy. Greeks are also used to voting as a means to decide on issues and have been doing so for a few millennia already.
So, in the end, these elections are, yet again, all about having a bit of fun and tomorrow politicians will flock into the TV stations, well-connected market-research companies will have their 15 mins of free TV fame, and in particular, home delivery restaurants will do great business!
For anyone who is not Greek but knows and is interested in the country, it is all very charming and fun.
Woe betide those who are...
*Case in point: in the 2004 elections where a pragmatist and serious campaign led the centre-right party (Nea Democratia) to power by a very large marginby local standards). However that party did not act upon its promise and that was the last time Greeks voted with anything even remotely resembling common-sense.
In other words, a critically large portion of voters in Greece do not vote rationally at all!
How is this?
There are two-three points which makes sense out of this erratic and nationally self-destructive behaviour -- i.e. to be partisan behind politicians who have demonstrably sunk the country, and OR have abundantly demonstrated they are grossly incapable of performing any job, let alone running a country.
1st: Greeks vote left-wing for emotional reasons, because their "heart is on the left" or simply because such is their "style" mostly new-romantic. Typical image of the "girl offering a policeman the rose". Any other consideration -- policy, proposed measures, etc -- does not enter the picture at all.
Then there are those that vote their personal choice of "left"because that is right thing. This vote is dogmatic.
Coming to think of it, the politicians representing most "left" wing parties are as dogmatic and intolerant as their religious counterparts in the middle ages.
2nd: Greeks voting sort-of right wing are pragmatist. They believe in what politicians are supposed to represent: free enterprise, conservatism, EU membership... the usual "democratic" freedoms espoused in the wealthy countries of first world. The fact that these politicians have fallen short of implementing their convictions when in action does not daunt these voters. "Other choices are even worse", they say.
3rd There is the spattering of Greeks who choose to vote AGAINST someone, come what may. These are easily swayed one way or another by anyone who has the knack of manipulating Greek voters correctly; the erstwhile premier of the 80s Mr A. Papandreou (now deceased) was masterful in this. The present, not as masterful leader of the deter-left party, a Mr Tsipras, is donning the style of the aforementioned Papandreou's to the fullest extent and to unparalleled success! The old ruse works!!
Of course there are those who simply vote for strict personal gain and get their hands in the till (see Pasok in recent years or Syriza now). But these alone do not an election win.*
So, elections in Greece in recent years are not about what is better or perceived as such for the country, nation: in fact Greeks are not hot about their "nation" believing for some strange reason that any reference to "nation" is a vestige of the right wing, which is definitely not trendy and generally unacceptable.
Elections in Greece are mostly about the three points above, and which one prevails - or combination thereof prevail.
Greeks are used to voting, after all democracy is a greek word as is the institution, both direct and indirect democracy. Greeks are also used to voting as a means to decide on issues and have been doing so for a few millennia already.
So, in the end, these elections are, yet again, all about having a bit of fun and tomorrow politicians will flock into the TV stations, well-connected market-research companies will have their 15 mins of free TV fame, and in particular, home delivery restaurants will do great business!
For anyone who is not Greek but knows and is interested in the country, it is all very charming and fun.
Woe betide those who are...
*Case in point: in the 2004 elections where a pragmatist and serious campaign led the centre-right party (Nea Democratia) to power by a very large marginby local standards). However that party did not act upon its promise and that was the last time Greeks voted with anything even remotely resembling common-sense.
Thursday, 22 January 2015
Elections in Greece -- a New Party in Power
Let's us hope that they are not really the bunch of illiterate, uncouth, bullshitting conmen they seem to be during the pre-electoral period.
At the end of the day, they may just be full of sh*t, making wild declarations and accusations, something of a parody of the archetypal Latin American dictator-revolutionary...
That they are imperiously indifference to their country's fate is a given: they wouldn't have insitgated elections at the moment, had they been interested in their nation.
In fatc, nation is a much forgotten word in Greece.
Forgotten by the politicians, most of whom have a "left-wing babble disorder".
After all, Greece has an authoritarian left-wing regime.
At the end of the day, they may just be full of sh*t, making wild declarations and accusations, something of a parody of the archetypal Latin American dictator-revolutionary...
That they are imperiously indifference to their country's fate is a given: they wouldn't have insitgated elections at the moment, had they been interested in their nation.
In fatc, nation is a much forgotten word in Greece.
Forgotten by the politicians, most of whom have a "left-wing babble disorder".
After all, Greece has an authoritarian left-wing regime.
Greek Elections: Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.. Greek style
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité is the motto of the French Republic. It is also the feed for hope worldwide.
Many countries have in one way or another adopted something similar, Haiti exactly the same.
In essence these three words are the quintessence of modern day cohabitation and, to a large extent, they can be seen reflected in the global community:
liberte: I can speak freely, to anyone, to the world (well, most of the time, anyway...)
egalite: we are equal -- just check this when you are on-line, say even in a bog standard forum; we are equal!
fraternite: when an e-friend was undergoing a major operation, I wrote mentioned it online. Hundreds wrote back to say they are praying, thinking and supporting! Not important, you say, what counts is the doctor who performed the operation (open heart surgery).
Wrong: the patient was reading all of this, his courage rose sky-high. It is no small thing to know that someone half way around the world is thinking of you...
Speaking with a friend, he claimed that in Greece, this motto has been abandoned politically. Whether it was ever a la une is unknown. "Suffice it to say" he said "that it certainly does not apply in this hard-line stalinist Soviet country":
liberte: OK, no problem, as long as you say what we prefer, OR no-one listens to you (whereby, say whatever you like). Liberte of action is less open: business etc is grudgingly tolerated, small-scale. For large scale, the politicians in power must be made privy and party to the project and expect part of the action.
egalite: there is us and them. Politicians in Greece and civil servants are allowed to receive kickbacks. For the rest of the population, this practise is called fraud. Politicians are also unaccountable for their actions, which makes things even more pleasant. So egalite only for politicians, between them.
fraternite: you kidding me???? The spoils are for me, my close family, and friends, all within the political establishment. There is us and the rest. Fraternite... really!
An interesting view on the present day of the country that invented democracy and which, in the year 2k had near-triple the per capita of its huge neighbour, an empire not so long ago (Turkey).
Now Greece is distinguished by the 5th highest worldwide unemployment rate, it has received the largest amount of foreign aid ever recorded in the world history, it has numerous opportunities for growth yet chooses to elect a prime minister whose conduct and declarations remind us more of parodied African chieftains than a contemporary leader of the western world.
The only consolation for contemporary Greeks is to look back at what their country once used to be.
Many countries have in one way or another adopted something similar, Haiti exactly the same.
In essence these three words are the quintessence of modern day cohabitation and, to a large extent, they can be seen reflected in the global community:
liberte: I can speak freely, to anyone, to the world (well, most of the time, anyway...)
egalite: we are equal -- just check this when you are on-line, say even in a bog standard forum; we are equal!
fraternite: when an e-friend was undergoing a major operation, I wrote mentioned it online. Hundreds wrote back to say they are praying, thinking and supporting! Not important, you say, what counts is the doctor who performed the operation (open heart surgery).
Wrong: the patient was reading all of this, his courage rose sky-high. It is no small thing to know that someone half way around the world is thinking of you...
Speaking with a friend, he claimed that in Greece, this motto has been abandoned politically. Whether it was ever a la une is unknown. "Suffice it to say" he said "that it certainly does not apply in this hard-line stalinist Soviet country":
liberte: OK, no problem, as long as you say what we prefer, OR no-one listens to you (whereby, say whatever you like). Liberte of action is less open: business etc is grudgingly tolerated, small-scale. For large scale, the politicians in power must be made privy and party to the project and expect part of the action.
egalite: there is us and them. Politicians in Greece and civil servants are allowed to receive kickbacks. For the rest of the population, this practise is called fraud. Politicians are also unaccountable for their actions, which makes things even more pleasant. So egalite only for politicians, between them.
fraternite: you kidding me???? The spoils are for me, my close family, and friends, all within the political establishment. There is us and the rest. Fraternite... really!
An interesting view on the present day of the country that invented democracy and which, in the year 2k had near-triple the per capita of its huge neighbour, an empire not so long ago (Turkey).
Now Greece is distinguished by the 5th highest worldwide unemployment rate, it has received the largest amount of foreign aid ever recorded in the world history, it has numerous opportunities for growth yet chooses to elect a prime minister whose conduct and declarations remind us more of parodied African chieftains than a contemporary leader of the western world.
The only consolation for contemporary Greeks is to look back at what their country once used to be.
Thursday, 8 January 2015
Happy New Year?
Let's hope so.
For some, this year started out very badly: it is their last.
For others, like us, still here to witness the horror, life goes on.
We are the lucky ones.
For some, this year started out very badly: it is their last.
 |
| Words pale, fail to express raw horror. And my vocabulary is poor. |
We are the lucky ones.
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