tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post4440739880637295186..comments2024-03-18T22:27:20.948-04:00Comments on Murder is Everywhere: A Message to Remember: Don't Mess With the Greek PeopleOvidia Yuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05749549092493567689noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-13771548702685796762013-11-11T13:20:32.279-05:002013-11-11T13:20:32.279-05:00From "The Times" lips to God's ear, ...From "The Times" lips to God's ear, Kathy, though at times I think "The Times" tends to think of it the other way around:).Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-891438178547013572013-11-11T02:06:52.856-05:002013-11-11T02:06:52.856-05:00Just as a note: The New York Times of Nov. 9 ran a...Just as a note: The New York Times of Nov. 9 ran an editorial calling for no more layoffs in Greece, as required by the European "troika," of IMF, EC and ECB. And the editorial also called for a much fairer tax system, which taxed the rich and the well-connected, instead of the middle and working classes. Good points.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-77610131220436810632013-11-05T03:19:45.222-05:002013-11-05T03:19:45.222-05:00As part of an agreement with the "Troika,&quo...As part of an agreement with the "Troika," there are supposed to be several thousands of public sector workers laid off by the end of next year, with some laid off now.<br /><br />I would never counterpose workers in the private vs. public sectors. None should be laid off. First of all, it takes money out of the economy and then that creates more crisis and then more layoffs.<br /><br />Second, it's disaster for parents, in particular, who have to feed, house and clothe children. To lose a job in an economy with such high unemployment where no jobs are available is a horror. What will they do? Services that they need have been cut, and as I said above, some parents are putting their children into government care because they can't feed them. I guess this is mostly people who worked in the private sector -- but who needs to increase their numbers?<br /><br />I'd say to put children's needs first, and then to put the needs of other people first. People should not be so desperate and hopeless that they're committing suicide in record numbers or hunting for food in dumpsters, which has been written about.<br /><br />.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-92126153329899381202013-11-04T06:56:04.392-05:002013-11-04T06:56:04.392-05:00I share your always thoughtful concerns, Kathy, bu...I share your always thoughtful concerns, Kathy, but as I also understand not one of Greece's approximately 700,000 public sector workforce (out of a population of 11 million with 5 million considered in the workforce) has actually lost a job through a cut mandated by the crisis, the unemployment figures you quote are almost exclusively borne by the PRIVATE sector workforce, which has much direr implications for the economy. (The actual youth unemployment rate is 57%)<br /><br />Whether or not that observation is 100% accurate (to stay with percentages)--it's hard to find any Greek (from those performing the most menial of tasks to survive, to those clipping coupons) who doesn't share the same negative view on what they perceive as a bloated, surly public sector workforce, riddled with corruption.<br /><br />But that's not really the issue. The remedy should not be expressed in terms of Public v. Private sector, for that will only lead to a different sort of "class" warfare. (See below). Otherwise the simple solution would be to declare everyone a public sector worker and all would be well with the world:). <br /><br />But that obviously won't work, and in these extreme times the remedy has to be expressed in terms of what will get the economic engine of Greece working again so that the millions now unemployed have a chance at better future. To do that there can be no more sacred (or politically protected) cows. <br /><br />This past week the Golden Dawn situation took a dramatic, though not unexpected, turn when three of its members were gunned down outside its headquarters (two died), sparking concern of a "blood feud" vendetta between the extreme right and left.Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-9164051906369220382013-11-04T02:51:57.021-05:002013-11-04T02:51:57.021-05:00It's Oxi day again. So glad that some of the ...It's Oxi day again. So glad that some of the Golden Dawn members have been charged, and also that the state has cut funding to them.<br />It's probably the spirit of Oxi day that is motivating the public sector workers. I would not put any of the economic burden on them. Thousands do face layoffs -- and this in an economy with 27.6 percent unemployment (55 percent for youth), and nearly 1/4 of the people living under the poverty level. I don't blame the public sector workers for fighting for their jobs; they're fighting for their lives here.<br />People are going hungry, the suicide rate has increased, and mothers are putting their children into government care because they can't afford to feed them.<br />So, it won't help to have more people unemployed, without any job possibilities, and desperate. That just makes things worse for more people. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-20390092446551794662013-11-02T22:25:34.495-04:002013-11-02T22:25:34.495-04:00Thanks for the welcome back, Everett! I like the ...Thanks for the welcome back, Everett! I like the boulder analogy except I think in Greece the bigger risk is a slow slide toward economic oblivion. Why? Because no politician seems serious about changing the economic status quo in any meaningful way that might jeopardize the entrenched interests of themselves and their patrons. As for the people, let them eat campaign promises...<br />Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-17684816433156726432013-11-02T22:07:35.682-04:002013-11-02T22:07:35.682-04:00The trouble in Greece, Annamaria, when it comes to...The trouble in Greece, Annamaria, when it comes to "throwing the bums out" is the same as here in the US. Every single person in Parliament (or Congress) is bum, EXCEPT my MP or CMan who takes care of my problems. And that's how the same B*^%$S keep getting elected.Jeffrey Sigerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00718317707555064653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-39294794044595632512013-11-02T11:53:07.325-04:002013-11-02T11:53:07.325-04:00Unfortunately, the likelihood of Greece (and the r...Unfortunately, the likelihood of Greece (and the rest of the world...) resolving this socio-economic dilemma without a major upheaval is getting smaller and smaller. When a boulder is perched at the top of a steep incline, it takes little work to push it back from the edge, but once it tips over the edge, it's rare for anything short of a miracle preventing a loud bang when it hits the bottom. And I fear our boulder is already rolling along at a pretty high rate of speed. But welcome back to the U.S., Jeff, where everything is peachy and rosy. Heh.Everett Kaserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371555243187874414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1990338437877873686.post-5238063565332581572013-11-02T07:21:49.519-04:002013-11-02T07:21:49.519-04:00I pray it will not be the bang, which would be a b...I pray it will not be the bang, which would be a bomb going off. The whimper would be better than that. At least it would not shread human beings Throwing out the useless government would be a start, but even in the land the invented democracy, it's hard to see how voters could revolutionize their entire political infrastructure. There has to be a way short of war and better than despair. What a heartbreaker. Annamaria Alfierihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12311596277267789834noreply@blogger.com