Last week in Greece, a Socialist politician and former minister by the name of Tsochatzopoulos as well as his daughter were incarcerated for alleged fraud, corruption, and a few other bad deeds of similar and dissimilar nature. It is speculated that the remainder of the family will follow.
For anyone concerned, it is rumoured that the two are doing fine under the circumstances, and enjoy preferential treatment. In a recent declaration to media (from jail), Mr Tsochatzopoulos stressed the calamitous nature of the allegations against him. His daughter followed suit.
Dire straits for a man who is among the founders of Greece's socialist Pasok party, and VP of the European socialists.
If the allegations are proven in court, we hope that Mr Tsochatzopoulos is not a standard example of what European socialists have become. If so, Europe is in trouble.
(Coming to think of it, Europe is in trouble...)
Not all is dark and hopeless, however, and there should be hope yet in the horizon for Mr Tsochatzopoulos. A parliamentary internal affairs committee had examined allegations of corruption, apparently leaving no stone unturned, and returned a clean bill of health.
Prominent amongst the committee members signing the exoneration is the current leader of the Greek Socilast party, Mr Tourkoglu / Venizelos and a socialist minister, Mr. Loverdos -- the latter, a man of mind-boggling cretinism. Mr Loverdos single-handedly doubled the unemployment rate in Greece simply by enacting legislation limiting access to employment in Greece (2010) and revolutionised the pharmaceutical distribution network by declaring distribution centres illegal, whereby pharmacies in Greece now are missing just under 30% of the standard sku's!
For those of us planning holidays in Greece and take non-standard medication, it's a good idea to pack a few extra pills to last us the trip.
Friday, 27 April 2012
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
Where's the magic wand - transform politicians to global corporations
It seems that politicians have caught on to the fact that voters have caught on to their impotence. Not of the physical impotence which would have been heaven sent, but of the useful, action-based kind.
The French seem bent to try out a a man named Holland as President -- but watch out for the 2nd round of elections. Hollande, as the Socialist candidate is spelt, talks some of the talk and walks none of it as yet. If he were to do so, he would need a magic wand the existence of which he has kept hidden.
Maybe he is simply voicing his wish-list and he hopes daddy & mummy will foot the bill when, and if, he moves the list onto his "panier" (shopping basket).
Meanwhile in Holland proper, the government has collapsed. People there seem exasperated, and they should be; their government has had to admit it can't find the magic wand any more. Known for their tolerance, the Dutch seem to have reached the end of their tether with traditional politics.
In Greece, the world's only Soviet Democracy, "politician" is a bad word.
Accordingly, each and every Greek politician clamours to convince all & sundry of how NON political he or she is. The well-fed leader of the ruling socialist party fancy himself as a national hero, while the tepid leader of the presently (research-wise) leading party promises to rid Greece of the aforementioned well-fed native.
Come elections time, let's hope nobody is fooled. Whatever the outcome, it won't be easy for Greece to rid itself of its authoritarian junta of traditional politicians and their cronies.
So, while politicians still enjoy their unearned cookies and more, there is a lot of unrest.
WHY, what is going on?
I think that what is going on is simple:
for many years of prosperity, we left politicians on their own, to do as they liked, for as long as they did not hamper with what we were doing. On occasion they showed their appreciation by actually helping us in our pursuits such as they were, hence the projects, reforms and similar political memorabilia.
Little by little, however, politicians turned into the self-serving, corrupt, authoritarian double-crossers they have now become -- in varying degrees of course, exceptions confirming the rule. Any politician reading this is, indubitably, an exception. "Turned into" is a euphemism for "let their true virtue shine through".
I.e. politicians have become guilty of what corporations are usually taxed with by government administrations, vociferous disgruntled minorities, and generally those who didn't get their share of the loot: authoritarian attitude, shady deals, evading the law, ignoring the environment, self-serving policies, playing with shareholder value, use of marketing to absolve hypocrisy.
Arguably, Greece has the finest of the bunch. They offer a beautifully clear example of what happens when you let the thieves guard the till.
Or wolves, the lamb.
{This is a Soviet era wristwatch, made & purchased recently. It is a 40 year old model, still made today. It is sturdy, unassuming and unprepossessing. Something useful to come out of the Soviet Union. The Greeks have nothing to come out of their Soviet rule, except corruption.}
The French seem bent to try out a a man named Holland as President -- but watch out for the 2nd round of elections. Hollande, as the Socialist candidate is spelt, talks some of the talk and walks none of it as yet. If he were to do so, he would need a magic wand the existence of which he has kept hidden.
Maybe he is simply voicing his wish-list and he hopes daddy & mummy will foot the bill when, and if, he moves the list onto his "panier" (shopping basket).
Meanwhile in Holland proper, the government has collapsed. People there seem exasperated, and they should be; their government has had to admit it can't find the magic wand any more. Known for their tolerance, the Dutch seem to have reached the end of their tether with traditional politics.
In Greece, the world's only Soviet Democracy, "politician" is a bad word.
Accordingly, each and every Greek politician clamours to convince all & sundry of how NON political he or she is. The well-fed leader of the ruling socialist party fancy himself as a national hero, while the tepid leader of the presently (research-wise) leading party promises to rid Greece of the aforementioned well-fed native.
Come elections time, let's hope nobody is fooled. Whatever the outcome, it won't be easy for Greece to rid itself of its authoritarian junta of traditional politicians and their cronies.
So, while politicians still enjoy their unearned cookies and more, there is a lot of unrest.
WHY, what is going on?
I think that what is going on is simple:
for many years of prosperity, we left politicians on their own, to do as they liked, for as long as they did not hamper with what we were doing. On occasion they showed their appreciation by actually helping us in our pursuits such as they were, hence the projects, reforms and similar political memorabilia.
Little by little, however, politicians turned into the self-serving, corrupt, authoritarian double-crossers they have now become -- in varying degrees of course, exceptions confirming the rule. Any politician reading this is, indubitably, an exception. "Turned into" is a euphemism for "let their true virtue shine through".
I.e. politicians have become guilty of what corporations are usually taxed with by government administrations, vociferous disgruntled minorities, and generally those who didn't get their share of the loot: authoritarian attitude, shady deals, evading the law, ignoring the environment, self-serving policies, playing with shareholder value, use of marketing to absolve hypocrisy.
Arguably, Greece has the finest of the bunch. They offer a beautifully clear example of what happens when you let the thieves guard the till.
Or wolves, the lamb.
{This is a Soviet era wristwatch, made & purchased recently. It is a 40 year old model, still made today. It is sturdy, unassuming and unprepossessing. Something useful to come out of the Soviet Union. The Greeks have nothing to come out of their Soviet rule, except corruption.}
Invest in Greece 11: death of the calendar month OR "go directly to prison, do not pass go..."
In the newest of their string of vapidity-induced measures, the Greek government decided on 23rd April 2012, that private sector organisations are obligated to pay Social Security contributions on the month salaries are paid.
Mind you, this applies ONLY to privately owned entities!
This brings corporate cash-flow needs one month forward in a time when cash in Greece is non-existent as the state has siphoned most of it out of the market.
No problem: you can pay late at a cost of +3% -- IF your debt is below the threshold of Euro: 75k. If it is over, you go to jail, directly as in the game.
This means that corporations with long payrolls have to pay social security contributions before they know what sum the actual salary + benefits is; or, they can resort to paying personnel on the basis of a different period say, for work completed 20 days before...
In other words, in matters of remuneration, gone is the calendar month in Greece!
This makes me wonder:
the people governing Greece are writing the book on mismanagement, mistakes, and mess-making. They do all the wrong things, and they do things wrong.
Are they so unfathomably stupid -- or is this, finally, a case for the ubiquitous hidden agenda?
Mind you, this applies ONLY to privately owned entities!
This brings corporate cash-flow needs one month forward in a time when cash in Greece is non-existent as the state has siphoned most of it out of the market.
No problem: you can pay late at a cost of +3% -- IF your debt is below the threshold of Euro: 75k. If it is over, you go to jail, directly as in the game.
This means that corporations with long payrolls have to pay social security contributions before they know what sum the actual salary + benefits is; or, they can resort to paying personnel on the basis of a different period say, for work completed 20 days before...
In other words, in matters of remuneration, gone is the calendar month in Greece!
the people governing Greece are writing the book on mismanagement, mistakes, and mess-making. They do all the wrong things, and they do things wrong.
Are they so unfathomably stupid -- or is this, finally, a case for the ubiquitous hidden agenda?
Thursday, 29 March 2012
Brilliant reasoning
An IMF executive called P Thomsen is rumoured to have declared that salaries in Greece should, or are planned to, fall to Euro ~150 / month in order to render Greece ultra-competitive.
Oi ???
By the same brilliant reasoning, Switzerland, land of the stellar salary, should be the paragon of un-competitive-ness; Germany likewise. Accordingly, Afghanistan is ultra-competitive. Take the next flight to Khabul!!!
As this rumour has been reported by Greek media -- known to misunderstand most things and misquote the rest, we can assume that Thomsen, a man who is equally rumoured to know how to read AND write, probably did not say this.
Oi ???By the same brilliant reasoning, Switzerland, land of the stellar salary, should be the paragon of un-competitive-ness; Germany likewise. Accordingly, Afghanistan is ultra-competitive. Take the next flight to Khabul!!!
As this rumour has been reported by Greek media -- known to misunderstand most things and misquote the rest, we can assume that Thomsen, a man who is equally rumoured to know how to read AND write, probably did not say this.
Wednesday, 7 March 2012
Ethics as the fall-back position
Many of us were taught that ethics are the the right sort of rules defining human behaviour. Ethics help us distinguish between right and wrong, just and unjust
Added to that, we were taught that common sense should prevail -- even if it doesn't always...
Yet, life shows us that ethics do not always prevail. Nor is common sense upheld by much of our legislation which is enacted -- as us law grads know -- to protect the haves from the have-nots and, subsidiarily, to keep the have-nots happy with confidence inspiring mass-directed services.
What with politicians' impunity (Greece), some bankers' illicit international dealings (G_Sachs), and most governments' impotence in dealing efficiently with the issues... it all gives credence to the motto, "the price of democracy is corruption".
This difference is confusing; those in the know and off the ethical bandwagon, as we learnt it, seem to reap visible benefits. All the while, the ethical lot seems to be left out of the good things in life (good, as defined on television), and this is disconcerting to say the least and most probably leads to critical personal, inner confusion.
When our our neighbour moves to more exclusive pastures on his illicit gains, the matter comes much closer to home and is even less liable to be ignored -- if anything it rankles.
Which leaves the rest of us with little to do but be patient -- or hope to join those in the know. We can complain and oppose the ethics we were taught to single the naughtiness of those of transgress these ethics. But, decent people rarely do inflict damage on others; decent people are interested in bettering a situation and would not be vindictive.
Until, one day the patience bursts. I don't think it would run out -- but burst. As the patient Romanians patience burst decades ago when they traced and tracked down the late (and largely unlamented) Mr Caesescu. There the ethics banner received star billing: and the actions, however heinous from a human standpoint, were absolved by the prevailing ethics.
Greeks must take care they do not reach the bursting point -- unless bursting is exactly what Greece needs: there is no government to speak of, the people who mismanaged the country continue to do so, chunks of the bail out package are still, allegedly, siphoned away by politicians in Ministerial office...
Added to that, we were taught that common sense should prevail -- even if it doesn't always...
Yet, life shows us that ethics do not always prevail. Nor is common sense upheld by much of our legislation which is enacted -- as us law grads know -- to protect the haves from the have-nots and, subsidiarily, to keep the have-nots happy with confidence inspiring mass-directed services.
What with politicians' impunity (Greece), some bankers' illicit international dealings (G_Sachs), and most governments' impotence in dealing efficiently with the issues... it all gives credence to the motto, "the price of democracy is corruption".
This difference is confusing; those in the know and off the ethical bandwagon, as we learnt it, seem to reap visible benefits. All the while, the ethical lot seems to be left out of the good things in life (good, as defined on television), and this is disconcerting to say the least and most probably leads to critical personal, inner confusion.
When our our neighbour moves to more exclusive pastures on his illicit gains, the matter comes much closer to home and is even less liable to be ignored -- if anything it rankles.
Which leaves the rest of us with little to do but be patient -- or hope to join those in the know. We can complain and oppose the ethics we were taught to single the naughtiness of those of transgress these ethics. But, decent people rarely do inflict damage on others; decent people are interested in bettering a situation and would not be vindictive.
Until, one day the patience bursts. I don't think it would run out -- but burst. As the patient Romanians patience burst decades ago when they traced and tracked down the late (and largely unlamented) Mr Caesescu. There the ethics banner received star billing: and the actions, however heinous from a human standpoint, were absolved by the prevailing ethics.
Greeks must take care they do not reach the bursting point -- unless bursting is exactly what Greece needs: there is no government to speak of, the people who mismanaged the country continue to do so, chunks of the bail out package are still, allegedly, siphoned away by politicians in Ministerial office...
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
We May or Not Agree with All or Part...
..but it's an effort worth reproducing:
http://9gag.com/gag/2681884
Certain issues are debatable: Germany's war debt was shelved;
Siemens' gifts offerings require takers; why prey on the giver and not the taker. Indeed, why not absolve the giver altogether and only prey on the taker!
Follow the money trail!
One Greek politician, presently employed in some financial capacity, is alleged to have benefited during a recent aid disbursement.
The benefit, allegedly, was metallic -- or of similar nature.
BUT, the friendly and common-sense tone of this humorous page deserves both mention and a smiley.
http://9gag.com/gag/2681884
Certain issues are debatable: Germany's war debt was shelved;
Siemens' gifts offerings require takers; why prey on the giver and not the taker. Indeed, why not absolve the giver altogether and only prey on the taker!
Follow the money trail!
One Greek politician, presently employed in some financial capacity, is alleged to have benefited during a recent aid disbursement.
The benefit, allegedly, was metallic -- or of similar nature.
BUT, the friendly and common-sense tone of this humorous page deserves both mention and a smiley.
Monday, 6 February 2012
Greece's politicians set historical precedent...
JP is a good friend of mine, and a senior official at the Treasury of France.
A few months ago there was a lot of talk about whether Greece should or should not have joined... the EU, the monetary Union etc.
JP summarily dismissed the issue: "this is "bullshit", as our friends the yanks would say. Really!".
"Of course Greece should be part of the EU & the monetary union. And the numbers were OK, let's remain serious. So what if some figures are off -- and do you know in what direction they are off, anyway?"
Then he added:
"To give you an idea of size, at Greece's level, the total errors is about as much as one of my Friday afternoons -- or less. So one can't give a damn, Greece is a small country and one can manage it. Plus, sh*t, it's Greece -- so you would have the country in the EU anyway, for the love of God. Let's be serious."
Then JP floored me:
"(...) It's not the numbers... What we never foresaw was your politicians (appetite)! For 30 years they have been pillaging, non-stop! Even the furious Genghis Khan settled down after a while -- but not your politicians!
It was impossible for ANYONE to foresee this -- there had been no historical precedent!"
Greece's politicians set historical precedent.
Too bad for the population of the country, i.e. the 10-odd million minus the 10-12,000 intimately connected political clan.
Maybe these people deserve to have special ID card, stipulating their non-political status...
A few months ago there was a lot of talk about whether Greece should or should not have joined... the EU, the monetary Union etc.
JP summarily dismissed the issue: "this is "bullshit", as our friends the yanks would say. Really!".
"Of course Greece should be part of the EU & the monetary union. And the numbers were OK, let's remain serious. So what if some figures are off -- and do you know in what direction they are off, anyway?"
Then he added:
"To give you an idea of size, at Greece's level, the total errors is about as much as one of my Friday afternoons -- or less. So one can't give a damn, Greece is a small country and one can manage it. Plus, sh*t, it's Greece -- so you would have the country in the EU anyway, for the love of God. Let's be serious."
Then JP floored me:
"(...) It's not the numbers... What we never foresaw was your politicians (appetite)! For 30 years they have been pillaging, non-stop! Even the furious Genghis Khan settled down after a while -- but not your politicians!
It was impossible for ANYONE to foresee this -- there had been no historical precedent!"
Greece's politicians set historical precedent.Too bad for the population of the country, i.e. the 10-odd million minus the 10-12,000 intimately connected political clan.
Maybe these people deserve to have special ID card, stipulating their non-political status...
Thursday, 15 December 2011
Eurozone Greece: It Made Sense Back Then, No Mistake
Much is being written lately about Greece's joining the eurozone (see image left) being a romantic mistake. Romantic because Greece is, after all, the cradle of democracy and how could we do without the cradle; mistake because Greece could not keep up with the requirements and disciplines of a common "hard" currency.Ex President G d Estaing of France practically admitted it was a mistake.
I cannot comment on the sentimental bit: it either is or isn't and if the "is" affects decision makers -- so be it!
I can however comment on the latter. I propose that there was no mistake:
Not only was Greece more or less within specs, it was a promising small country with a big history, a democratic regime (they invented after all), a land of some opportunity, a growing economy -- as far as one could tell -- and excellent prospects. At the time.
Add to that, Greece Inc is, on the whole, a small operation by most European standards and, thereby, manageable even if something went wrong.
But no-one could have predicted just HOW wrong!
No-one could have predicted the utter indifference Greece's politicians and their cronies would show to the country's fate. For the past thirty years, Greek political history is one of scandal, misappropriation, mismanagement, and impunity for the few.
Even today, two years after Greece unofficially went under and is being kept alive by those same "romantics", nothing has been done to assuage public sector deficit. Not even by reducing the payroll.
"Nothing" is not an exaggeration: nothing is the fact. Zilch.
Zilch: the public sector has actually increased in size -- albeit only by 7000 new recruits (soon to become 10000 new recruits).
The state income had decreased by 33% in 24 months.
Greece's present government, ruling a country of 10mill comprises 51 persons. Italy's only 15.
Greece's ruling socialist party politicians publicly assert they have avoided the worst and succeeded in the saving the country.
One hesitates to use the ill-used word "Mafia" -- even though the same families seem to be key players in the Greek politics for the past 30 years just as we see in Hollywood (and probably real) Mafia.
It is probably a first in the political history of the contemporary world. Even Attila settled down to peaceful growth after the first pillaging; not so Greece's ruling families and their followers!
No where else has such bewildering indifference to the fate of the common good been reported!
And no-one could have predicted the Greek voters' deep rooted naivete to vote for the same people who have resulted in the virtual death of their country. Even when everything around them was already crumbling down! They accepted to be hoodwinked, time after time, again!
So, I repeat my vehement conviction: no mistake when Greece was invited to join the Eurozone.
It all made perfect sense -- and where the numbers were close, a little bit of romantic will made the way.
There could be no predictability because there was no historical precedent!
Now we have historical precedent.
Too bad it comes from that beautiful small country with the big, glorious, history!
Friday, 4 November 2011
Political Tolerance Back-fired. Democracy: over.
The image on the left portrays the Ancient Greece -- more to the point, many Greeks' dream Greece.Greece today, falls short of anyone's dreams.
On Nov 3rd 2011 in a speech of, as yet unprecedented, political trickery, lies, hypocrisy, and shameless propagandist mantra, Greece's Prime Minister informed the assembly that he (and his party) have succeeded in gaining Europartners' trust, in saving the country from defaulting, in reversing the dire situation the country used to be in -- which situation was not his/ their fault.
When asked to step down, his unequivocal answer was, "Nah-nah-nah nah-nah, I ain't goin' nowhere".
Greeks are in a difficult situation: they have elected to power a person & a party who campaigned upon false pretences. But that's not the big problem.
The real problem is, the Greek government came to power normally -- through elections. So, Greeks can not claim that they are suffering under the yolk of a junta -- and expect immediate support.
Yet, a junta is exactly what the present (3rd quarter 2011) Greek Socialist government is.
The Greek government has gradually centralised power to a degree that in 3rd world countries would be termed at least authoritarian (legislated impunity for politicians; rampant nepotism, total disregard for popular dissent, blatant disregard for institutions - legal requirements - fiscal requirements - even paying their to enter a museum, soviet-type propaganda...).
Greeks have seen themselves made a fool of, ridiculed globally, and ostracised by the global community.
In the G20 meeting, the Euro leaders called the Greek PM's bluffs and cornered the situation. A further crisis ensued back as Greeks realised that their Prime Minister had lied outright -- to both the Europartners and the voters...
And yet, the good fellas in government are not ready to let go. For that matter, nor did the mob let go until forced to do so.
BUT, a few big buts,
* The mob was the mob and everyone knew they were the bad guys. Even they knew it. Anyone will run to help you if you are a victim here.
* The junta -- any junta -- is a junta and everyone accepts they are bad guys by Western democracy standards. You don't have to explain it. Countries have repeatedly shown their solidarity to the victims of oppressive regimes.
* Soviet type or Stalinist regimes were totalitarian, and everyone recognised the plight of the people living under such regimes. That's where the word "dissident" got star-billing for while.
But in Greece, the present junta is NOT self-evident. No one can recognise the present Greek political regime for what it is outside the country itself -- indeed, many cannot do so within the country itself if they live far from information providing centres. So the people are accountable for what their (legally recognised) government has done & is doing.
Greeks pushed their tolerance for their incompetent & immoral politicians too far.
The Greeks' political tolerance backfired.
They can't even expect sympathy from their allies.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
HELP!
Is there anybody out there?Please help rid Greece of the man in the middle image, and his pack of cronies.
Help!
Before this man in the middle switches the country's flag from the top image to the bottom image.
Officially!
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
It is good to be a civil servant in Greece
EU officials apply pressure, the "Troika" "strongly urge", the IMF throws a supporting comment here and there-- but no cigar:
Greece's socialist government doggedly refuses to reduce the Public Sector. It does of course make all sorts of noises and calculated leaks that sparks TV chatting and general speculation -- to appease EU officials and support local speculation.
It is also an indication that some structural change is being implemented -- even none is.
Despite media indications to the contrary and Greek politicians' supporting noises, Greece's Public Sector including nationalised companies is still running at just under 1mill. strong, up 11.000 from last year. These people do not fear redundancy: the only action Greece's merry socialists will take is early retirement for c. 30.000 civil servants who are in pre-retirement age at this moment.
So, Greek civil servants -- many of whom are uncivil and most of whom do not serve -- are keeping their jobs. Whatever the stakes and against all odds.
A rare display of loyalty from the country's ruling socialist party, Pasok, to its equally loyal fans: the Greek public sector votes in favour of Pasok at an overwhelming rate of 60-70%
Meanwhile, private sector unemployment continues in growth mode.
In paper, this trend (public sector job conservation vs. private sector job losses) can lead to nicely centralised country, with a unique, large national, employer -- the State.
A state controlled, centralised economy boasting full employment.
Foreign employers will be tolerated as will be the odd craftsman as well as small private shop owners.
This is reminiscent of the Soviet Union in the late '70s & '80s; especially in the auxiliary countries such as Hungary, this model dominated.
But this model was abandoned along with the (soviet) Union.
Perhaps however not totally abandoned.
Could it be that Greece in the running to become the Neo-Soviet state?
Greece's socialist government doggedly refuses to reduce the Public Sector. It does of course make all sorts of noises and calculated leaks that sparks TV chatting and general speculation -- to appease EU officials and support local speculation.
It is also an indication that some structural change is being implemented -- even none is.
Despite media indications to the contrary and Greek politicians' supporting noises, Greece's Public Sector including nationalised companies is still running at just under 1mill. strong, up 11.000 from last year. These people do not fear redundancy: the only action Greece's merry socialists will take is early retirement for c. 30.000 civil servants who are in pre-retirement age at this moment.
So, Greek civil servants -- many of whom are uncivil and most of whom do not serve -- are keeping their jobs. Whatever the stakes and against all odds.
A rare display of loyalty from the country's ruling socialist party, Pasok, to its equally loyal fans: the Greek public sector votes in favour of Pasok at an overwhelming rate of 60-70%
Meanwhile, private sector unemployment continues in growth mode.
In paper, this trend (public sector job conservation vs. private sector job losses) can lead to nicely centralised country, with a unique, large national, employer -- the State.
A state controlled, centralised economy boasting full employment.
Foreign employers will be tolerated as will be the odd craftsman as well as small private shop owners.
This is reminiscent of the Soviet Union in the late '70s & '80s; especially in the auxiliary countries such as Hungary, this model dominated.
But this model was abandoned along with the (soviet) Union.
Perhaps however not totally abandoned.
Could it be that Greece in the running to become the Neo-Soviet state?
Friday, 30 September 2011
Greece's tolerant population
In a country where every new day brings a new tax (or tariff, or whatever instrument payable by the population at large), a relatively small political elite still drives around in high-end state funded Lexus & Mercedes Benz Hybrids, keeps its reasonably good and usefully tax free salaries, and lives in & owns impressive real estate.
The fact that such politicians exist in what is termed a first-world country is worthy of repeated head-scratching.
The fact that many are ostentatious about it would be amazingly sci-fi if it weren't for the apathy of the Greek population around them.
Arguably, in any country of the first world, these people would have been the subject of various ignominies -- simplest of which is, they simply wouldn't be there!
Not in Greece.
In the 18 months since Greece signed the EU-IMF bail-out plan, the ruling Socialist government has succeeded two things:
1) To increase sovereign debt by 33%
2) To save ALL government employees jobs.
Incredible!
Which begs the politically sociological question:
What is better?
a) "Eliminate" such politicians -- as in Romania's final dealings with ex president Ceausescu;
b) Be tolerant and await for the emigration permit from Australian authorities'.
The fact that such politicians exist in what is termed a first-world country is worthy of repeated head-scratching.
The fact that many are ostentatious about it would be amazingly sci-fi if it weren't for the apathy of the Greek population around them.
Arguably, in any country of the first world, these people would have been the subject of various ignominies -- simplest of which is, they simply wouldn't be there!
Not in Greece.
In the 18 months since Greece signed the EU-IMF bail-out plan, the ruling Socialist government has succeeded two things:
1) To increase sovereign debt by 33%
2) To save ALL government employees jobs.
Incredible!
Which begs the politically sociological question:
What is better?
a) "Eliminate" such politicians -- as in Romania's final dealings with ex president Ceausescu;
b) Be tolerant and await for the emigration permit from Australian authorities'.
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