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Athens burns
woodster - 12/2/12 at 09:59 PM

Very sad but I think it's only going to get worse right across Europe

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/02/12/photos-from-riots-in-greece-over-unpopular-austerity-measures/


nick205 - 12/2/12 at 10:52 PM

, but I think you're right, there'll be more of this to come I fear and not just in Greece.


mark chandler - 12/2/12 at 10:57 PM

Some nations are prepared to work, others seem to just want to take advantage of this.

The stats on loans not repaid, tax evasion etc are horrendous for Greece compared to other countries.

I,m just surprised that it's taken this long, Germany has shouldered a huge amount of other peoples dept, but then they are prepared to work hard so can afford it is not the answer, Greece needs to stand up and work their own way out of it.

To me its just like the parasites in this country that make social security a way of life, its a good analogy when you think about as most crime is also commited by these people.

[Edited on 12/2/12 by mark chandler]


tegwin - 12/2/12 at 11:15 PM

Nobody likes change forced upon them.... but if you live a freeloading lifestyle eventually you are going to have to change and do some work....

We have all had it very easy for the last decade... things are going to have to change, back to the way they were when my old man was my age... Lets just hope to god that Labour does not get in at the next GE!


Dangle_kt - 12/2/12 at 11:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler


To me its just like the parasites in this country that make social security a way of life, its a good analogy when you think about as most crime is also commited by these people.

[Edited on 12/2/12 by mark chandler]


Lets not get into socio-economic determinants - its really not black and white, and you can tar a lot of people with broad brush statements like that.


coozer - 12/2/12 at 11:22 PM

About time we did to get out of the worehouse that is the EU...


RK - 12/2/12 at 11:23 PM

People were told things were fine for years, and that retirement at 53 or whatever was normal. How were they supposed to know otherwise? Now, they have to learn the hard way. Somehow, the public will pay for the private profits, as usual. This is the "capitalist" way. Conservatives are no different to anybody else, except they make sure their friends get the contracts first.


mark chandler - 12/2/12 at 11:48 PM

I did quantify the statement by including 'that make social security a way of life'

I agree that a number of people are forced into social security, but these are the people that are looking for gainful employement and do not commit crime.


[Edited on 12/2/12 by mark chandler]


RK - 13/2/12 at 12:10 AM

It's all rotten, in every possible way, but the question is how to move on without too much pain.


Ninehigh - 13/2/12 at 12:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
We have all had it very easy for the last decade...


Speak for yourself, the only effect of this recession I've felt is that employers are being bigger a-holes!


Hector.Brocklebank - 13/2/12 at 12:46 AM

Having lived, worked and tried to make a living along side the Greek way of "Sigar Sigar" life for many years.... And having some VERY VERY good Greek friends, Oh And having been married to a typically Greek female too, (managed to escape that one with my clothes & tools though)

I feel Qualified to comment.

Sadly their general attitude is as lacking as their work ethic, so sorry but I have no sympathy, there comes a time when we all have to pay the piper.

Greece's time is up, the majority of them wouldn't know a decent days work if it smacked them on the face with a wet haddock.

Females too busy drinking "frappe" & txt'ing and the men sitting at the kiosk arranging the next hunting mission.. 99% of them are Mallaca's


Simon - 13/2/12 at 12:48 AM

I said to the missus, they'll all go on strike now!

It's all down to the germans and their puppets (the french) who still seem to want to (in germany's case) control Europe, if not through war, then through financial ruin or psychological bullying.

The Greeks should declare themselves bankrupt and get out of the euro, it's the only way they'll survive without becoming a sub state of the Merkozy's little empire. Fair enough their currency will be worthless, but their exports will be cheap,and imports dear, so it'll make them dependent on their own produce. We'll still holiday their, and that'll be cheap and it'll give them hard currency to buy imports.

ATB

Simon


RK - 13/2/12 at 12:53 AM

I agree with your last bit, Simon, but the French and the Germans just want to sell stuff to other Europeans. I don't think they want to control anybody - and I love it in France!! I'd own a place there if the missus let me.


l0rd - 13/2/12 at 01:11 AM

i will only post a short reply as i am on my mobile.

Yes, Greeks behave like that because this is the way the politicians taught us. Once upon a time, working in the public sector was considered as the lowest job you could have. They changed it and every one wanted to work in the public sector because they can't fire you. Also, they have given so many stupid benefits as well that they earned silly money. A janitor in the local civic offices earned 48000 euros!!!!

As for taxes, people don't pay taxes because we are fed up of the politicians stealing the money and because the tax system is hillarious.

As for the f***n germs, why haven't they repaid the money they owe us since ww2? This is an estimate of 600 billion euros. So, if they had to repay us the money, Greece wouldn't have a problem in the first place.

Ahhh also. Greece is cutting more money from the pensioners by 300 milion euros to cover some new meassures that germs want. SO WHY DON'T THE GERMS PAY TO GREECE THE 500 MILION EUROS THEY OWE US ON TAXES FROM THE AIRPORT IN ATHENS?

Why did Siemens bribe the greek ministers to sign deals with them? Isn't Siemens german?

Me, i am unemployed for the past 6months. My income is 300 euros from a flat that i rent out. My wife is unemployed. she has another flat that she rents out for 400 euros a month. we are expecting a baby. As i was in uk for so many years, i am not entitled on benefits, i do not have insurance, they want me to pay 3000 euros on emergency taxes because of our flats. So, we have an income of 8400 euros a year both us, take away the 3000 from the emergency taxes that leaves me with 5400 euros. take away the electricity bill which is 1200 per year average, 600 euros for water per year, 2500 euros on gas for heating. ohh forgot to mension thar as we have an invome of 8400 euros, and the tax free money is 5000 euroz per year, i have to pay 340 euros on inland revenue.

To recap i have an income of 8400 euros per year and have to pay minimum 7640 if i am not mistaken without taking in to consideration food, telephone bill, or road tax, insurance etc......

This is the life that the germs wants me to live.

and by the word germs, i mean the germans.


mark chandler - 13/2/12 at 07:41 AM

"Yes, Greeks behave like that because this is the way the politicians taught us"

That's a poor excuse, common sense should prevail if you set a retirement age at 53 and start working effectively at 20 then you have 33 years to pay into the pension system etc, when people live to 80 then this system has to pay out for 37 years.

"As for taxes, people don't pay taxes because we are fed up of the politicians stealing the money and because the tax system is hillarious"

If you do not pay in then why do you expect to get anything out?

Taking state money but do not trust them enough to give them any money in taxes in the first place to pay for this, you cannot have it both ways!

You can blame the German's, blame the war whatever, but if the countries ethics are wrong you will never resolve the problem.

[Edited on 13/2/12 by mark chandler]


chrisxr2 - 13/2/12 at 09:13 AM

Tis a bad situation for many if only it wasbas simple as greece leaving europe. I work with a guy that lives in cyprus pays all his taxes and bills, but has a moftgage with a greek bank which if greece defaulted means he loses his house. Fair? I dont think so.


designer - 13/2/12 at 09:49 AM

The EEC 'bent' the fiscal qualification rules to let Greece into the EEC in the first place.


Strontium Dog - 13/2/12 at 09:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler

To me its just like the parasites in this country that make social security a way of life, its a good analogy when you think about as most crime is also commited by these people.

[Edited on 12/2/12 by mark chandler]


What utter rubbish!

Tax evasion by the wealthy costs this country FAR more than all the benefits combined and to simply state that it is people on benefits that commit all the crime is just irrational nonsense!

And yes, I've spent some time on benefits as a full time carer for a terminally ill patient. Maybe that makes me a criminal too!


bobinspain - 13/2/12 at 10:35 AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/9077586/Germanys-Carthaginian-terms-for-Greece.html
Makes interesting reading.


There are plenty more tears yet to flow before this saga is finished.
I commend to you 'The Great Deception. The secret History of the European Union,' by Christopher Booker and Richard North.


plentywahalla - 13/2/12 at 10:39 AM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
The EEC 'bent' the fiscal qualification rules to let Greece into the EEC in the first place.


To be more accurate, The Greek government cheated! For instance the Greek railways loses billions a year in revenue to the Greek economy. The government 'hid' the losses by claiming the expenditure was buying equity in the railways. Buying shares in a company they already owned! There were dozens of examples like that.

But there's another side to this too.

Not many people ever comment that the Germans have done exceptionally well out of the Euro. Greece is suffering because a weak economy is damaged by its inability to devalue its currency to make exports and tourism more competitive. By contrast the German economy has been boosted by having a fixed rate currency. If it still had the dmark it would be trading about 30% higher today than the Euro meaning its exports are 30% cheaper abroad.

The German economy was struggling before the creation of the Euro because of the costs of re-unification and merging the East German state. No wonder they were so keen to get everybody into the Euro, They've make a killing out of it.


wilkingj - 13/2/12 at 11:18 AM

Regardless of which Country, Political Party, or the work ethics of any countries individual peoples.
Its all summed up by the comment that Charles Dickens wrote in the book David Copperfield in 1849.

Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness.
Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pound ought and six, result misery.

Its as true today, as it was 160 years ago, probably more so.

Its true for an individual, a family, a company, and even more so for a country.

The blame lies with ALL involved.
You cannot spend more than you earn forever. It just wont work.
Everyone has been brought up thinking they can have everything they want now, and pay later (if ever at all).

Its time for everyone to wake up to the above facts and live their lives acordingly.
There is no such thing as a "FREE meal" in life. It ALL has to be paid for eventually.


The above is NOT aimed at Greece, or ANY other country in particular. Its aimed at EVERYONE.
Its just plain common sense.
I just don't understand why people cant see it.

It's not very palatable, but the truth often hurts.


Irony - 13/2/12 at 11:28 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Strontium Dog
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler

To me its just like the parasites in this country that make social security a way of life, its a good analogy when you think about as most crime is also commited by these people.

[Edited on 12/2/12 by mark chandler]


What utter rubbish!

Tax evasion by the wealthy costs this country FAR more than all the benefits combined and to simply state that it is people on benefits that commit all the crime is just irrational nonsense!

And yes, I've spent some time on benefits as a full time carer for a terminally ill patient. Maybe that makes me a criminal too!


It is not utter rubbish. Yes TAX evasion by the wealthy and super rich costs the country money but those people have had to EARN that money in the first place and they PAY some tax on it. TAX evasion is still a crime yes but at least they are adding something to the economy.


mark chandler - 13/2/12 at 12:01 PM

"I've spent some time on benefits as a full time carer"

In that case you were employed surely? Not scratching your arse, smoking fags & drinking beer like the people that make a living from it.

Okay some people do not get a great life on social, but then thats not what its for, but you only have to watch the news to see how good it is for some... £26,000 for housing and food only 2 weeks ago for a mother with two... I know plenty of people that work hard for 1/2 that amount, pay tax and rent a tiny house.

Back to Greece then, they fail to pay taxes so put nothing in then expect it handed back out, the analogy still stands.


RK - 13/2/12 at 01:20 PM

One thing you should keep in mind. The really rich people stay that way no matter what happens. It's the fighting among the bottom feeders that keeps it that way.


Andi - 13/2/12 at 03:53 PM

quote:
Originally posted by RK
One thing you should keep in mind. The really rich people stay that way no matter what happens. It's the fighting among the bottom feeders that keeps it that way.


How refreshingly true


woodster - 13/2/12 at 07:00 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Andi
quote:
Originally posted by RK
One thing you should keep in mind. The really rich people stay that way no matter what happens. It's the fighting among the bottom feeders that keeps it that way.


How refreshingly true


I second that !! ... When some one that's running a uk bank gets millions as a bonus when the banks still not doing very well and the local council bin man has his wages cut


designer - 13/2/12 at 07:07 PM

quote:

local council bin man has his wages cut



Yes, but the council bin man will get his 'golden', inflation proof, public purse pension on top of what the majority get!


perksy - 13/2/12 at 08:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by designer
quote:

local council bin man has his wages cut



Yes, but the council bin man will get his 'golden', inflation proof, public purse pension on top of what the majority get!





Sadly if the government get their way
It won't be 'golden' and he'll have to pay more into it
and It also won't be a final salary pension scheme

Alot of binmen now are either agency or from privatised companies anyway so won't be dipping into the 'public purse'

You'll also find that most council workers are also having their sickness schemes and benefits eroded aswell

So 'Golden' ain't really the word

Trust me, Don't beleive all you read in the papers...


RK - 14/2/12 at 12:48 AM

And do you really want to be a bin man anyways? Would it be worth it?


chrisxr2 - 14/2/12 at 09:03 AM

With overtime some of the binmen in the uk are on 50 grand a year and with wheelie bins its not a dirty job anymore either, and the hours are good, so yes i would be a dustman tomorrow.


woodster - 14/2/12 at 09:16 AM

quote:
Originally posted by RK
And do you really want to be a bin man anyways? Would it be worth it?


some people don't get a choice, its a good honest real job and a job that needs doing and you aren't ripping anyone off


bobinspain - 14/2/12 at 10:02 AM

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/9079430/Greece-wont-see-a-cent-of-the-great-bail-out.html


The above article is typical of what 'those in the know' have been saying for two years.
Truly prescient commentators recognised the problem at the outset of monetary union 11 years ago.
It's gonna get a helluva lot worse before (if?) it starts to get better.


Ninehigh - 14/2/12 at 10:18 AM

quote:
Originally posted by chrisxr2
With overtime some of the binmen in the uk are on 50 grand a year and with wheelie bins its not a dirty job anymore either, and the hours are good, so yes i would be a dustman tomorrow.


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