The ancient Greeks invented the word chaos to describe complete disorder and confusion. They did not think they would be living with it for so long. Greece is the economic basket-case of Europe, gone from junk status to even “junkier”. The country’s debt is 145 per cent of GDP and it is the ordinary people who are paying the price. One-third of Greeks live below the poverty line. Anger has turned into violence and despair, and suicides have increased by 40 per cent since the crisis began. Plummeting salaries and pensions, never-ending tax hikes and ever-deeper spending cuts have pushed the country to the brink of economic and social collapse. Queues at soup kitchens are lengthening, the number of homeless people is mounting, and critical medical supplies are in short supply. The Greeks also invented democracy, but inconclusive election results with no outright majority could simply prolong the crisis. Some say the Greeks have brought it all on themselves, and call for harsher measures. But can the latest government cut further and deeper? Can Greece survive the euro? Can the euro survive Greece? Or is this the end of the European dream? The Cafe travels to Athens to find out what the future holds for the birthplace of Western democracy.
Greece = India
So true. Even the latest Batman had touched on the inequity. However, I’m not interested in total socialism per se. I do think we need to focus on closing tax holes, and fighting manipulation in the market, and change the tax rate back to the one in the early 90s. However, people need competition. Competition makes people try harder to gain consumers. Unfortunately, human nature dictates when you get things w/o working for it, you take it for granted.
Dude that’s not truth.Back in the 20th century,and not many years ago German industries along with other north european industries & companies, were hiring greek workers and this was one of the reasons greeks were migrating to Germany for instance.
Most German industries have succeded because of greeks in every way,the term “unprodactive” in the way you mean it doesn’t stand for any peoples.
Indeed Greece is unproductive but not because it can’t produce.
They have started doing it and in China there are more than 10 huge greek industries from wine to clothing and jewlery to food.
There are also new companies opened in Greece by chinese (mostly in Athens) who hire usually greek people that know how to speak chinese fluently,one reason why all the chinese language centres are full!
This conversation is typical of Greek mentality (don’t take me wrong it has helped produce some of the ideas that defined western thought but…) : 7 deferent participants in a conversation, 7 deferent views! How on earth do you expect this country to follow ANY short of rules and “guidelines” set by the troika or by the EU….? I like us better this way. Dis-functional in this recent circumstances, but fully mentally functional from the get go.
Yes but isn’t she a beauty…?!
Only the Working Class can lead Europe and humanity out of this mess called Capitalism. Socialism!
One word SOCIALISM
Broke ass Brevet because of socialism.
The majority of the comments here are written by really pure stupid people and also could be characterized as Fascis and anti-Greek… They don’t have an Idea about the Triple European Crisis and the Greek Crisis. As the Al Jazeera documentary is really for the Waste! …
I don’t know about Dubai or Singapore, but I do know that in New York and other cities, people live much more fast-paced, stress-filled lives. Blood pressures run higher, obesity rates are higher, and (mind you, I have not researched them) but I can guess that suicide rates are also higher. Maybe the American fast-paced 40-60 hour work week ideal is not the most perfect method for everyone.
Greece should pull out of Greece…
You can see what is wrong in southern Europe when you go to their cities. There is a noticeable lack of energy and dynamism at play. Streets are empty and they close down for their 2 hour lunches. Thats not the way to run things in 2012. Go to Singapore, Dubai, New York in how it should be done.
Get out of Euro. The new currency will de-valuate and labour cost and other cost will go down. Investment will come and sell product to all over Europe. Back in the game…
Greece should begin with mail order brides. In Turkey it would be a huge success. Greek woman are the only products in Greece that can save their economy.
Greece needs to declare war on rome before its army march on its footsteps
kaili sucks!!!
you a jew
Greece showed us how far is too far. Technology is not yet evolved enough to afford everyone everywhere an existence of leisure. America is rapidly racing toward the other end of the spectrum, where the 99% toil night and day to support the increasingly extravagant lifestyles of its (largely hereditary) aristocracy, and a frightening number of them have developed a sort of class-wide Stockholm syndrome where they’ll dawn tricorner hats and protest any perceived attempt to better their lot.
20,000 homeless in Athens? That’s about how many people lived in Athens during it’s Golden Age. Jesus Christ!
Of course it’s wrong but it’s not Greek people’s fault. Greek people is adsolutely neglected by the Greek politicians over the last thirty years.They are interested only for themselves, their families and their voters. Actualy, there is no immigrant policy in Greece.
Chavez is a really brave man!
The European and American dream has been a nightmare for the people of color and indigenous people around the world.
The chaos has been foretold in Ancient African documents.
The time of the Gentiles is at an end.
Thankfully