SO, what else is new?
Greece's parliament (300 strong, for a population of ~10 million... not bad) voted 160 in favour of the presidential nominee. Not enough to instate a President.
Ridiculous people playing dangerous games: if Greece does NOT elect a President, general elections must be held.
All of this comes at a moment where the country is struggling to exit recession and move onto the tenuous path of recovery. Yet, Greece's members of Parliament and their entourage (media, advisers, cronies and the like) spend their time analysing and speculating -- not one giving paying attention or, at least, mentioning what would be good for the country for once.
Yet, when viewed from the point of view of Greek politicians', this lighthearted approach is understandable:
Greece's politicians and their cronies are well fed. Reportedly, many have amassed wealth and connections that guarantee further affluence. Most have no clue of how the world around them operates, what the market is and how business is conducted. Most have never held a proper job.
So, when a crisis like the present one hits them, they are blissfully unaware of the dangers or the repercussions of their actions; why should they, after all? They are comfortably off, their monetary needs are taken care of, they get a decent pension (better than decent: around 7k / month + extras) and... who cares if the Athens Stock Exchange dropped by 28% in just three days? They are not exposed and they do not understand what it is to be captive -- so they cannot feel it. They have no idea.
Their world is a theoretical world, or conceptual for those who have the gift to conceptualize, and nothing more; reality has to do with their home, their friends, their constituents and the favours they owe others...
Except for the actual wealth, the affluence: no theory here, that is one is for real. All public money.
Greece's politicians and their cronies: Never have so few owed so much to so many.
Thursday, 18 December 2014
Monday, 15 December 2014
Emotions run rampant: Greek politicians bickering with nary a care for their country. Yet again...
It is well known that Greece has been in 6years recession and is, on paper atleast, exiting the recession as of the 3rd quarter 2014. While "the end of recession" is not something to take to the bank, the general business atmosphere is much better than it was two years ago.
Greece's coalition government was scheduled to nominate a candidate for the presidency at the end of the 1st quarter of 2015. Instead, in a sudden move, mostly incomprehensible or as the Economist notes, a "gamble", Greece's Prime Minister, A Samaras, moved the election 3 months forward to this week.
The Eurozone granted a 2 months extension to the loan programme which was normally due 31st December.
 |
| Greece's PM, A Samaras, exiting. Fortunately for Greece, it is not the Eurozone he is leaving, just the Greek Voule -- temporarily |
In Greece, the President is voted into office indirectly through the Voule (parliament). The office has few executive powers, so the President is seen as a figure of unity and of course, the ultimate representative of the country worldwide. In this respect and with a single exception (a nonentity named Sartzetakis), all of Greece's Presidents had done their best to forget political hue and focus on the nation.
So it is not the President but the procedure of instating which the point of contention between political parties. To be instated at the first vote, the nominee has to reach a 2/3 majority or 180 out 350 MPs. If that fails, the country can be led to elections. In Greece no single party has enjoyed such luxurious majority, so the choice of President has always been a matter for bargaining, bartering and petty bickering.
And bickering is where it's at now even though the dire financial situation does not allow for political instability.
But who cares? Obviously not Greece's elected representatives.
The main opposition, Syriza, your usual '60s type "down with everything and everybody else" self-proclaimed left-wing party, had intimated that it will block the vote. The party contends that it is making a point: not to support the "people who brought the country into this mess". Considering that most of its supporters come from Pasok, an erstwhile ruling "socialist" party, this puts them in the same basket. (This same party has declared that it is other peoples fault the country is indebted, that it will raise taxes, lower taxes, review the civil service, re-instate the civil servants' lost income...)
The left-wing Dimar has openly declared it will not support the nomination. Likewise for the right wing Golden Dawn. Both of these parties are blocking the vote as a matter of political principle rather than rational rationale.
Independent MP's are being flirted with to cast their vote, one way or another.
The candidate is a man called Stavros Dimas, European commissioner for the Environment and Minister for Foreign Affairs (briefly), a lawyer by trade. At the onset, an OK candidate, good personality, has impact and some work experience. BUT, let not the quality of the candidate for the job influence the vote!
So here we are, waiting for the 17th when the first vote will take place...
And yet, by all standards, Greece is bafflingly lucky. As Stephen Pope put it in a recent contribution to Forbes magazine, commenting on the Eurozone's decision to extend the programme by two months to accommodate the latest news from Greece,
"Once again to those outside of the Eurozone, it is baffling how a sovereign nation that should never have been allowed into the Euro in the first place…which should have left the Euro in 2010…has again been rewarded for failing to deliver its side of the bailout bargain by being allowed more time to comply."
Quite so.
Especially for a country whose inhabitants have seen their taxes grow by 35% in 6 years, the disposable income fall by 47% and private sector unemployment soar to 25.7 - 26.4% (the ministry of labour is not sure which of the two applies).
So, the good part is that Greece and its presidential election are in the news-- and publicity is always good it is said.
The bad part is, it's all for the wrong reasons.
Again, Greece's inhabitants deserve better than their politicians.
Monday, 1 December 2014
"Help, I feel I'm sinking..."
I was speaking to a friend this W-E aboutwhat I think is the rise of loneliness in the world, despite (or in spite of) ll the communication devices we have at our disposal.
HE was much more positive. "You have access to so many people on line. Even the words of a perfect stranger could provide enough comfort. Even if words alone don't mean much, the fact that someone takes the trouble to write them proves we are not alone."
I would like it to be so, but I'm not so sure. I googled the phrase and not much came up in way of support; of course, much of the correspondance will have been done through private messaging I expect.
However, back to the brass tacks: "sinking" usually means something went wrong beforehand.
A stranger can hardly put right whatever went wrong. Often, the only person who right the wrong is the sufferer; I think this is because many of the wrongs are either a matter of perception, or matters that require personal presence and action.
Of course, it would be nice to have someone take the matter in their hands and tell us that it's going to be OK. And regress to childhood....
Which may be better than resorting to temporary chemical relief from the problem -- which does not solve the problem per se.
HE was much more positive. "You have access to so many people on line. Even the words of a perfect stranger could provide enough comfort. Even if words alone don't mean much, the fact that someone takes the trouble to write them proves we are not alone."
I would like it to be so, but I'm not so sure. I googled the phrase and not much came up in way of support; of course, much of the correspondance will have been done through private messaging I expect.
However, back to the brass tacks: "sinking" usually means something went wrong beforehand.
A stranger can hardly put right whatever went wrong. Often, the only person who right the wrong is the sufferer; I think this is because many of the wrongs are either a matter of perception, or matters that require personal presence and action.
Of course, it would be nice to have someone take the matter in their hands and tell us that it's going to be OK. And regress to childhood....
Which may be better than resorting to temporary chemical relief from the problem -- which does not solve the problem per se.
 |
| Don't let the flame go out |
Tuesday, 25 November 2014
We don’t want your medical tourism business
An article by Dr
Constantine Constantinides of healthCare cybernetics that appeared in the IMTJ looks at the resentment factor in medical tourism.
We don't Want Your Medical Tourism Business...
We have known for some time that several hospitals in Ontario, Canada have been providing care on a “for-profit basis” to people from outside Canada and generating millions of dollars in revenue.
But in November 2014, we read that the (Liberal) Canadian Government had taken steps to put the brakes on medical tourism into Ontario, and that this was greeted as welcome news by the coalition of health organisations that had been calling for the government to end the practice.
But why should this be “welcome news”?
Hoskins also pledged that the Ministry of Health would work with relevant hospitals on a framework to ensure compliance with the outlined principles and requirements. In the interim, he asked hospitals not to enter into new international consulting contracts that include the treatment of foreign nationals in Ontario.
So, what motivated this move? For me, the move was motivated by the medical tourism resentment factor.
We don't Want Your Medical Tourism Business...
We have known for some time that several hospitals in Ontario, Canada have been providing care on a “for-profit basis” to people from outside Canada and generating millions of dollars in revenue.
But in November 2014, we read that the (Liberal) Canadian Government had taken steps to put the brakes on medical tourism into Ontario, and that this was greeted as welcome news by the coalition of health organisations that had been calling for the government to end the practice.
But why should this be “welcome news”?
The Canadian “Directive” on medical tourism
In 2014, Minister of Health, Eric Hoskins issued a letter to all Ontario hospitals requesting that they not market to, solicit or treat international patients with the exception of international patient activity related to a hospital's existing international consulting contracts. Back in 2012, Dr. Hoskins’s predecessor, Deb Matthews, had warned hospitals that they could only treat international patients in non-emergency cases if no public dollars were used, no Ontario patients were displaced, and all the revenue generated was spent on hospital services for Ontarians.Hoskins also pledged that the Ministry of Health would work with relevant hospitals on a framework to ensure compliance with the outlined principles and requirements. In the interim, he asked hospitals not to enter into new international consulting contracts that include the treatment of foreign nationals in Ontario.
So, what motivated this move? For me, the move was motivated by the medical tourism resentment factor.
The Asia incident... disruption of a medical tourism industry event
I seem to remember reading (in 2014) about placard-wielding protesters who disrupted a Medical Tourism Congress being held in a prominent Asian medical tourism destination. The Asian protesters were likewise ill-disposed towards the idea of medical services being offered to international patients.Like their Canadian counterparts, the Asian protesters were apparently opposed to any scheme that turns health into a “for-profit commodity” to be bought and sold, especially if it involves providing export quality healthcare services to foreigners.
The resentment towards “inbound” medical tourism…
In 2009, I briefly addressed the benefits and losses (for a destination) associated with the provision of medical tourism services in an IMTJ article (Medical tourism: The Resentment Factor and the (beneficial) Ripple Effect).We know that medical tourism development delivers benefits for a destination and its “providers”. But some feel that, at the same time, the provision of medical tourism services is associated with “loss”, at least for a sector of the population.
The medical tourism resentment factor, in essence, refers to anger felt and expressed by locals towards the practice of treating paying foreign patients at local hospitals.
The resentment to inbound medical tourism is primarily fueled by the feeling that scarce healthcare resources are diverted away from the poor “entitled” locals and channeled to rich “unentitled” foreigners.
When it comes to inbound medical tourism, the following issues cause resentment:
- Export quality healthcare services, provided exclusively to foreigners (inequality).
- The subsidizing of medical tourism development and promotion with taxpayers’ money (taking from the poor to give to the rich).
- Internal brain and resources drain (diversion of human and
technical resources away from the locals and channeling them towards
foreigners).
- Healthcare services “free-loading” (e.g. unentitled foreigners
making use of free public healthcare services as experienced in the UK’s
National Health Service)
- Unsavory practices (such as the trade in kidneys, which discredits the country)
On the other hand, other countries can be thankful, even if they do not express these thanks in any manner -- Germany for instance. Germany has by far the highest turn-over in Medical Tourism in the EU. The fact does not seem to have had effects on the quality of medical services offered to the national population.
In other countries, it might even help raise the standards for the population as well; the fact that a country is selling medical tourism presupposes the existence of quality medical services among other things. As the level of services offered to medical tourists expands, such service level may become more accessible to the population as well.
Hopefully.
India could be the example here...
Thursday, 18 September 2014
Consumerism And The Surge of Luxury Brands In Greece -- A Thing Of The Past?
Attending various to-do's, bashes, and even official occasions in Greece, I noticed that all (within experimental limits of error) of the indigenous population always sported at least one piece of garment from a luxury brand.
I wondered at this near-religious propensity...
I put aside the obvious reasons: upmarket branded apparel & accessories are well made; more often than not they are original, look good, and are always very -- or outrageously -- expensive. That is to say, one can easily acquire other items that do the same job for much less -- minus the logo, of course.
So, I focused on the logo.
In and of itself, the logo alone did not furnish sufficient explanation for the "rite of the brand". Humongous sales at every social nook & cranny: I was assured that a few years ago, every woman, girl, and her aunt, had a DK or two in her wardrobe, including those living in the remotest villages in Crete.
Could it be a matter of taste -- but then again that point of view did not wash; Not only is it a fact that contemporary Greeks are far from being stalwart proponents of elegance and refinement, it is also a fact that the fastidious choice in stentorianbranded excellence did not extend to other items and habits including, at times, personal hygiene.
And then I hit upon it -- or a friend did and I followed.
He said, people buy XYZ because they they do not like who they are and wish to be like someone else. That someone is wearing a BurbXYZ coat; ergo, by donning one of same, I become identical to said someone.
Existential problem, solved.
This viewpoint not only adequately explains the phenomenon, it also provides invaluable insight into contemporary Greek psyche. "With a label I am someone to be reckoned with; without it, I am just myself, i.e. no-one."
Viewed thus, the erstwhile hordes of buyers outside the Burberry's etc outlets make sense. From a personal point of view, it is a confirmation of oneself, asserting one's existence and success; from a social point of view, one asserts oneself and confirms being part of the exalted circles of Burberry owners, thereby dispensing the need to learn manners,how to eat, or how to welcome a guest at one's home -- indeed, how to decorate one's home to receive guests.
And, from a financial point of view, simply buying a Hermes scarf beats going to finishing school: it is much cheaper, faster, and it keeps out the cold.
A bargain!
So, I do not think the importance of luxury brands has fallen in Greece; it is only the money that makes the difference.
I wondered at this near-religious propensity...
 |
| Many fast-moving mass consumption products here -- but there's also Rolls et alia. You get the drift. |
So, I focused on the logo.
In and of itself, the logo alone did not furnish sufficient explanation for the "rite of the brand". Humongous sales at every social nook & cranny: I was assured that a few years ago, every woman, girl, and her aunt, had a DK or two in her wardrobe, including those living in the remotest villages in Crete.
Could it be a matter of taste -- but then again that point of view did not wash; Not only is it a fact that contemporary Greeks are far from being stalwart proponents of elegance and refinement, it is also a fact that the fastidious choice in stentorianbranded excellence did not extend to other items and habits including, at times, personal hygiene.
And then I hit upon it -- or a friend did and I followed.
He said, people buy XYZ because they they do not like who they are and wish to be like someone else. That someone is wearing a BurbXYZ coat; ergo, by donning one of same, I become identical to said someone.
Existential problem, solved.
This viewpoint not only adequately explains the phenomenon, it also provides invaluable insight into contemporary Greek psyche. "With a label I am someone to be reckoned with; without it, I am just myself, i.e. no-one."
Viewed thus, the erstwhile hordes of buyers outside the Burberry's etc outlets make sense. From a personal point of view, it is a confirmation of oneself, asserting one's existence and success; from a social point of view, one asserts oneself and confirms being part of the exalted circles of Burberry owners, thereby dispensing the need to learn manners,how to eat, or how to welcome a guest at one's home -- indeed, how to decorate one's home to receive guests.
And, from a financial point of view, simply buying a Hermes scarf beats going to finishing school: it is much cheaper, faster, and it keeps out the cold.
A bargain!
So, I do not think the importance of luxury brands has fallen in Greece; it is only the money that makes the difference.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
The "Troika" to Be Pulled Out of Greece?
Or, that's what is rumoured in numerous publications including the Irish Independent.
Putting national pride aside, that's bad news for Greeks and other inhabitants of the country.
So far, the (very) few reforms have been implemented either because the "troika" put their foot down -- which is rare -- or because the "troika" suggested and served as the scapegoat.
Without the Troika, who will be the one to uphold common sense in Greece? Certainly not the Greek politicians -- they haven't produced an inkling of communality since the advent of time... The main opposition party is still harping about leaving the Euro zone (and the EU) and having the country live happily on its own -- they probably have not caught on to the existence of the internet yet.
So what are the poor Greeks to do? They will be left to the merciless mercy of hungry predators who have 5 years of austerity-experience under their belt and they have thereby discovered a very dangerous truth: that Greeks have proven very tolerant in the name of "we have to survive and there is no money". They have not seriously questioned the barrage of nuisance taxes that has wiped out much of the middle classes. They are likely to accept any pillage that they are victims of as... "financial fate".
And, dangerously enough, there may be less and less Greeks will be able to do about it: if you are in power in Greece and you wish to do something that is reprehensible in some way, all you need to do to make it acceptable is legislate:
Let us not forget that Greece is probably the only country where giving "presents" to civil servants is legal. And politicians are not liable for anything. By law.
Meanwhile the rodents will be chewing away at the spoils and dancing happily knowing they are safe from public fury, creditors' supervision, and annoying legal constraints...
Putting national pride aside, that's bad news for Greeks and other inhabitants of the country.
So far, the (very) few reforms have been implemented either because the "troika" put their foot down -- which is rare -- or because the "troika" suggested and served as the scapegoat.
 |
| A photo of the 3 "reps" together in Athens |
Without the Troika, who will be the one to uphold common sense in Greece? Certainly not the Greek politicians -- they haven't produced an inkling of communality since the advent of time... The main opposition party is still harping about leaving the Euro zone (and the EU) and having the country live happily on its own -- they probably have not caught on to the existence of the internet yet.
So what are the poor Greeks to do? They will be left to the merciless mercy of hungry predators who have 5 years of austerity-experience under their belt and they have thereby discovered a very dangerous truth: that Greeks have proven very tolerant in the name of "we have to survive and there is no money". They have not seriously questioned the barrage of nuisance taxes that has wiped out much of the middle classes. They are likely to accept any pillage that they are victims of as... "financial fate".
And, dangerously enough, there may be less and less Greeks will be able to do about it: if you are in power in Greece and you wish to do something that is reprehensible in some way, all you need to do to make it acceptable is legislate:
Let us not forget that Greece is probably the only country where giving "presents" to civil servants is legal. And politicians are not liable for anything. By law.
Meanwhile the rodents will be chewing away at the spoils and dancing happily knowing they are safe from public fury, creditors' supervision, and annoying legal constraints...
Wednesday, 16 July 2014
Are You Thinking of Dying in Greece? Don't.
Don't... for any number of reasons, most obvious being that we want you here, with us, beside us, in our lives...
Here is another, less obvious reason:don;t die because you are in Greece.
It is very bureaucratic nightmare to die in Greece; what's more and perhaps worse for your friends & family, you can only be decently buried if you are Christian and cremation is out of the question. Also, death & ceremony are very expensive, costing upward of Euro 5k for a service, ceremony and...
then, you have the 40 days and, to be sure, a three years burial.
Eh???
Yup, three years is all you get. At the end of which, your loved one is EXHUMED and the remains thrown away, unless you pay further for something to be done... such as store the remains in a small container that you have to buy.
Yup, death is good business -- but obviously not for you OR your family. Apart from the emotional strain...
Unfortunately, the above is not a scene from an episode of the successful erstwhile series of skeletal ilk*; it is, as the wonderful Father Iakovos** once said, "a gruesome view of what reality is..."
Having been there I can testify to that - as can many others.
So, be smart. Die elsewhere.
How about in France? You can die in perfect dignity; people you never even met pay their respect; no-one is hurried out and the personnel are gentle. And, of course, you may even opt to rest at Pere Lachaise, with Jim Morrison and many others.
But whatever you do, you deserve to rest in peace, we all do.
So steer away from Greece of today.
* "Bones"
**Father ("Pateras") Iakovos is an Orthodox priest and spiritual guide. In the tradition of orthodox priests, he is wise, uninhibited, and unusually clear-sighted. Father Iakovos and others like him show us what decent people are like and are a joy to be with.
Here is another, less obvious reason:don;t die because you are in Greece.
It is very bureaucratic nightmare to die in Greece; what's more and perhaps worse for your friends & family, you can only be decently buried if you are Christian and cremation is out of the question. Also, death & ceremony are very expensive, costing upward of Euro 5k for a service, ceremony and...
then, you have the 40 days and, to be sure, a three years burial.
Eh???
Yup, three years is all you get. At the end of which, your loved one is EXHUMED and the remains thrown away, unless you pay further for something to be done... such as store the remains in a small container that you have to buy.
Yup, death is good business -- but obviously not for you OR your family. Apart from the emotional strain...
Unfortunately, the above is not a scene from an episode of the successful erstwhile series of skeletal ilk*; it is, as the wonderful Father Iakovos** once said, "a gruesome view of what reality is..."
Having been there I can testify to that - as can many others.
So, be smart. Die elsewhere.
How about in France? You can die in perfect dignity; people you never even met pay their respect; no-one is hurried out and the personnel are gentle. And, of course, you may even opt to rest at Pere Lachaise, with Jim Morrison and many others.
But whatever you do, you deserve to rest in peace, we all do.
So steer away from Greece of today.
* "Bones"
**Father ("Pateras") Iakovos is an Orthodox priest and spiritual guide. In the tradition of orthodox priests, he is wise, uninhibited, and unusually clear-sighted. Father Iakovos and others like him show us what decent people are like and are a joy to be with.
Friday, 20 June 2014
The End of The Age of Comfort
I just got the news that a very close friend has not long to live. He is 60 and healthy -- other than the stage 4 cancer.
It is not the futility of the thing or the fact that these things happen only to others or not at all; it is the feeling of helplessness that descends upon me like an ugly, itchy, dark & heavy blanket thatI know I can never shake off: I just have to live with it, until it dissipates, or I metabolize it, or I reach my personal fulfillment -- in which case I will have transcended the blanket... Unlikely although I bet that is what my friend is hoping will happen to me.
It is a situation where I cannot find something wise, or smart, or essential, or anything worthy of anything, to say.
As it has been said countless times, planning for the future is a futile exercise unless you are a young person or a large corporation. And of course any plans we had made with our friend our relegated into our past as historical trivia from back then, when things were much more comfortable.
Things were in place, then; people were alive and healthy, things ticked according to plan and if not, in a polite, accessible and foreseeable manner. Life ticked along well, none of the wheels in the life machine were out of place and all things needed to get better now and then was a small adjustment.
Now everything is upset; people one counted upon, the short-list of friends, the reliable few we had chosen to grow old together...
I know that one has to find comfort in life itself, life is its own underpinning.
Easier said than done! For now, we are living the end of the age of comfort...
It is not the futility of the thing or the fact that these things happen only to others or not at all; it is the feeling of helplessness that descends upon me like an ugly, itchy, dark & heavy blanket thatI know I can never shake off: I just have to live with it, until it dissipates, or I metabolize it, or I reach my personal fulfillment -- in which case I will have transcended the blanket... Unlikely although I bet that is what my friend is hoping will happen to me.
It is a situation where I cannot find something wise, or smart, or essential, or anything worthy of anything, to say.
As it has been said countless times, planning for the future is a futile exercise unless you are a young person or a large corporation. And of course any plans we had made with our friend our relegated into our past as historical trivia from back then, when things were much more comfortable.
Things were in place, then; people were alive and healthy, things ticked according to plan and if not, in a polite, accessible and foreseeable manner. Life ticked along well, none of the wheels in the life machine were out of place and all things needed to get better now and then was a small adjustment.
Now everything is upset; people one counted upon, the short-list of friends, the reliable few we had chosen to grow old together...
I know that one has to find comfort in life itself, life is its own underpinning.
Wednesday, 11 June 2014
Corruption: Have You Noticed? Why Do You Tolerate It? Nothing You Can Do, Eh...
As political decision makers, allegedly at the forefront of the purported "corruption scene" (should some such actually exist...), scamper to denounce the practice and vociferously proclaim their allegiance to the fight against corruption, the rest of us sit around busy forgetting, talking about, and generally doing absolutely nothing about it.
Why is that?
Obviously for some, having their hand in the till is their God sent right. So we will leave them out. For the rest of us, it is a cause of indignation, anger, sadness, whatnot -- yet, there is no action.
I think it can only be one of two things:
a) Hope that one day it will be our turn (at the till)
b) Helplessness: the hollow feeling of being able to do nothing about the matter at all, accompanied by fear that any action can engender retaliation.
It is probably b) much more than A. And I understand peoples' concern... The alleged leaders of corruption are, at the same time, the people who make the laws -- or break them, as it were. Having lived in a country that investigated its President on alleged misconduct as well as in a country that enacted laws that protect past corruption, and allow civil servants to be bought, I understand the concern... especially in the latter of the two.
By the way, both of the aforementioned are EU countries-- in case you wondered...
Yet, each and everyone one of us is involved, in one way or another, directly or indirectly,with cases of corruption. We may all be victims or bystanders, or both, but we have a story to relate. And most of us have some sort of proof to offer... So offer it!
I say, USE THE INTERNET:
What are you waiting for?
Your turn will never come
Wednesday, 28 May 2014
European Elections... Greek Style
Just a bit of trivia...
Which Greek politician received the most votes in the recent Euro-elections?
Mr Manolis (Emmanuel) Glezos, hero of WW-2, and now 91 years old. Mr Glezos has a fear of flying and it is unlikely he will visit the Euopean parliament -- i.e. his workplace -- any time soon. Frankly, at 92 he probably has many, much better and more pressing things to do...
Mr Glezos is a nice man and, given his age and experience, a wise one with many stories to tell. European politics probably isn't one of these stories. Or, if it is, it certainly is not one of the noteworthy ones compared to the rest!
So why did he score the highest?
The fact may be interpreted in countless ways.Here are a few:
0) Because in Greece people are used to voting and have been, on & off, for the past 2,400 years. So they vote for whomever they like, for any reason whatsoever!
1) Because voting for him is a reward for his symbolic bravery against the German Nazi invaders;
2) Because people in Greece vote emotionally, not rationally?
3) Because voters felt there was not much choice of "decent" contenders presenting themselves...
4) Because the act of voting is not directly or causally related to the actual job at hand -- but a prize as it were. (see 2 above)
Question: would contemporary Greek voters vote in the same manner if it were the position of centre attacker for their favourite FOOTBALL team -- even if that person knew nothing about football, and was 92 years old?
One may speculate that it would serve the country and Mr Glezos much better if voters took some time to think about the job at hand as well as the personality and the past experience of the person they are voting for... and offer Mr Glezos a meaningful distinction that he deserves!
Being a MEP is not a prize; it is a function. And a temporary one at that.
Which Greek politician received the most votes in the recent Euro-elections?
Mr Manolis (Emmanuel) Glezos, hero of WW-2, and now 91 years old. Mr Glezos has a fear of flying and it is unlikely he will visit the Euopean parliament -- i.e. his workplace -- any time soon. Frankly, at 92 he probably has many, much better and more pressing things to do...
 |
| Mr Glezos in 2007 |
Mr Glezos is a nice man and, given his age and experience, a wise one with many stories to tell. European politics probably isn't one of these stories. Or, if it is, it certainly is not one of the noteworthy ones compared to the rest!
So why did he score the highest?
The fact may be interpreted in countless ways.Here are a few:
0) Because in Greece people are used to voting and have been, on & off, for the past 2,400 years. So they vote for whomever they like, for any reason whatsoever!
1) Because voting for him is a reward for his symbolic bravery against the German Nazi invaders;
2) Because people in Greece vote emotionally, not rationally?
3) Because voters felt there was not much choice of "decent" contenders presenting themselves...
4) Because the act of voting is not directly or causally related to the actual job at hand -- but a prize as it were. (see 2 above)
Question: would contemporary Greek voters vote in the same manner if it were the position of centre attacker for their favourite FOOTBALL team -- even if that person knew nothing about football, and was 92 years old?
One may speculate that it would serve the country and Mr Glezos much better if voters took some time to think about the job at hand as well as the personality and the past experience of the person they are voting for... and offer Mr Glezos a meaningful distinction that he deserves!
Being a MEP is not a prize; it is a function. And a temporary one at that.
Monday, 19 May 2014
Being Miserable: A Safeguard?
Two friends were sitting yesterday, on a ledge overlooking a small field, gazing into the distance, talking.
One turned to the other:
"What a beautiful day!"
"It is beautiful. But I see clouds forming over on the right."
"Why are you not happy, insouciant at least? You are alive, you have a job, children... and there are no clouds over us - yet."
"I am worried. I am alone, I feel uncertain about my ability to cope with everything on my own. I'm not afraid of dying -- it's getting there that's scary: how to afford to get old nowadays, on my own..."
"Yes, but still: now you are alive, you have children, you have a job... You could be happy, for a moment... Grab the moment"
"Maybe I am afraid of being content just in case it is snatched away from me the next moment..."
"Why would someone snatch away from you what is... Your situation is not transferrable, so there is nothing in it for anyone..."
"Think of it this way: happiness is attractive and someone will want to take it away, pinch it. On the other hand, who would want to steal misery. Being miserable is safe: you don't risk becoming unhappy, you already are! You are safe!"
One turned to the other:
"What a beautiful day!"
"It is beautiful. But I see clouds forming over on the right."
"Why are you not happy, insouciant at least? You are alive, you have a job, children... and there are no clouds over us - yet."
"I am worried. I am alone, I feel uncertain about my ability to cope with everything on my own. I'm not afraid of dying -- it's getting there that's scary: how to afford to get old nowadays, on my own..."
"Yes, but still: now you are alive, you have children, you have a job... You could be happy, for a moment... Grab the moment"
"Maybe I am afraid of being content just in case it is snatched away from me the next moment..."
"Why would someone snatch away from you what is... Your situation is not transferrable, so there is nothing in it for anyone..."
"Think of it this way: happiness is attractive and someone will want to take it away, pinch it. On the other hand, who would want to steal misery. Being miserable is safe: you don't risk becoming unhappy, you already are! You are safe!"
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
"Getting Away With It, ...(NOT)...Messed Up: That's the Living..."* Greek Politicians' Latest Motto.
The Greek government is pushing through legislation at amazing speed, which promises to hold "...people in office unaccountable directly for misdeeds perpetrated during their tenure...". What this means is, the Greek government is exonerating anyone and everyone who has perpetrated a crime: in Greece, purportedly these are financial, i.e. corruption. That includes central administration and local communities...
H*ll of a deal!
The beauty of all this is that it is under the radar, all the radars in fact! In particular, very much under the international community's radar.
The unfortunate part, for the Greek people that is, is that Greece's politicians caught on to a very significant fact: as long as they keep the international community and, particularly, the lenders happy, they can do anything they like in national affairs because the latter are just that: national. Who is to question the laws and regulations of a sovereign state? They can do whatever they like using the most obvious process of democracy: enacting laws!
Who is to stop them?
Had Greece been a dictatorship, or in some sort of newsworthy crisis (think Ukraine), the spotlights would be on -- but it's none of these, fortunately as it were...
TO listen to Greek politicians speak about the crisis, financial figures, growth and budget balancing, you'd think that they understand nothing about the crisis and know nothing about financial figures, balancing a budget, growth policy, and you'd probably be right.
One thing they do know, however: when in doubt, revert to "Save Our Skin" mode.
Enact a law that exonerates everything and everybody: after all trials & tribulations the Greek population has been through without making as much as a dent in the armour, nothing can stop a bit extra...
On the more patriotic side, in SOS mode all of Greece's traditional politicians, the union bosses and the civil-service cronies are united as one!
*Lyrics from the song of same name by British band James .
H*ll of a deal!
The beauty of all this is that it is under the radar, all the radars in fact! In particular, very much under the international community's radar.
The unfortunate part, for the Greek people that is, is that Greece's politicians caught on to a very significant fact: as long as they keep the international community and, particularly, the lenders happy, they can do anything they like in national affairs because the latter are just that: national. Who is to question the laws and regulations of a sovereign state? They can do whatever they like using the most obvious process of democracy: enacting laws!
Who is to stop them?
Had Greece been a dictatorship, or in some sort of newsworthy crisis (think Ukraine), the spotlights would be on -- but it's none of these, fortunately as it were...
TO listen to Greek politicians speak about the crisis, financial figures, growth and budget balancing, you'd think that they understand nothing about the crisis and know nothing about financial figures, balancing a budget, growth policy, and you'd probably be right.
One thing they do know, however: when in doubt, revert to "Save Our Skin" mode.
Enact a law that exonerates everything and everybody: after all trials & tribulations the Greek population has been through without making as much as a dent in the armour, nothing can stop a bit extra...
On the more patriotic side, in SOS mode all of Greece's traditional politicians, the union bosses and the civil-service cronies are united as one!
*Lyrics from the song of same name by British band James .
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