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I DO NOT THINK THE GREECE NIGHTMARE WILL EVER PLAYOUT, BUT LINGER FOR AN ETERNITY. JIM ROY on 5/24/2012 10:20:41 AM |
It will take 2-3 years for the Greek mentality to shift and for the Greek people to accept that their life of social support is over. During that time, we'll see increasingly powerful protests against the necessary reforms. The rest of the EU will talk Greece into staying with the Euro, but there will be several times when it looks like they will go back to the Drachma. Their economy will be in shambles at least until 2015 and perhaps until 2020. Things could get much worse much faster, though, if other countries like Spain or Italy fall apart. None of the people in these countries want to give up their cushy entitlement programs. Think about how Russia fell apart when they were introduced to democracy - after generations of being told what to do, they had no idea how to manage themselves. Likewise, a society with generations of people used to generous social support will take years to adjust to a system in which they have to work much harder, and they will fight it with all their strength. Art Fox on 5/24/2012 11:08:09 AM |
Sorry, I'm not prepared to comment on Greece (and i'm embarrassed to ask "is this a good time to visit Greece?"- I've always wanted to experience the area- the waters, the food...) Mostly i just want to thank you for your writing. You paint great pictures in your stories and make sound observations in your commentaries. Thank you so much. Sandrina on 5/24/2012 11:39:45 AM |
Father Bruce was such a man who began Covenant House, a wonderful organization that helps homeless kids. He is gone but the organization he founded is going strong. They have a chapel at 41st and 10th and are worthy of wide range support meyerhoff on 5/24/2012 11:41:01 AM |
I'm not sure but monarchies like big governments are expensive to maintain. To be brief, this country was crucial to the growth of a "middle class, a bourgeoisie" and "the struggle for human justice," and it would be sadly destructive to stifle the American spirit of economic growth and individual progress with big government. However, there is a lot for this young nation to learn from Greece,the birth place of Democracy: The Greeks will have to revert to a pre-euro economy because it's unlikely that Germany can financially sustain a majority of the European countries without demoralizing its' own society. Apparently, the concept of the Euro was to strengthen the continent and to "fairly" equalize all the nations but, evidently, the imbalance of efforts and abilities makes it improbable, and unfair. Grace on 5/24/2012 11:58:42 AM |
It's so hard to keep it straight. Are we talking a family, a problem employee, the USA, or Greece. They are so similar. When a child has a problem and needs discipline, the parents must weight the pain versus the benefit. They know the wayward child must be kicked out of the house and suffer the pain of jail or poverty, but their hearts ache at seeing such pain in one they love. They have the deciding vote, but often lack the will to do what is right. If they don't hold the line and do right, the family is torn apart. When I had a problem employee under my supervision, the decision to draw the line firmly with the result being either correction or dismissal was very painful for me. But when someone chose to force my hand rather than correct the performance, everyone benefitted. The other employees saw my integrity and knew the line was there. They also saw that the slacker was not getting off with pay while they did all the work, which improved their morale and motivation. I no longer ached every night the problem, and the fired employee virtually always ended up with a different job at higher pay and a good chance to turn their life around and become productive. The choice was mine whether I would face the pain and make the right choice. If I failed to make the hard choice, productivity dropped and the group was headed for failure and reorganization. If it were a company, that is called bankruptcy. In the USA, we know what must be done to fix our problem. The working few cannot carry the nation, and the more they are asked to do so, the smaller their numbers become. If we try to carry the slackers without holding them accountable to produce, then the jobs will evaporate into the global competition (Asia) and we will bring on greater poverty. The decision belongs with our elected representatives. We know the current president does not have the will to make the right choice, and probably does not have the experience or wisdom to even see the answer. It is up to Congress to stand up and make the hard choice. They will eventually make the hard choice or the USA will fall. The longer they delay, the greater the pain. So it is with Greece. Greece is the wayward child of the EU. Greece is the unproductive slacker of the EU corporation. As with a child or a wayward employee, they have been told what is needed to get back in line as part of the family [corporation]. But the Greek people hold the vote and clearly lack the collective will to correct the behavior. Meanwhile the other potentially wayward children [employees] of the EU family [corporation] are watching. Spain, Italy, Ireland, and Portugal are all waiting to see whether the EU will do what is required. If they do, the others will behave well, if not, then the others will become discouraged and also behave badly. The line has been drawn. Greece lacks the will to take any austerity measures, and therefore must eventually be expelled so the EU family can survive. Hopefully, their destitution will turn them into a prodigal son which can be brought home in 10-20 years. If not lovingly expelled from the family, both Greece and the EU will fall. Prophesy indicates that the EU is around for the end times, so I must conclude the very high likelihood that the heads of the EU family will be good parents and let their bad child learn the hard way. Prophecy is not so gracious about the USA. We seem to be absent from the end times, so it appears the Pelosi crowd may succeed in making the wrong choices and destroying the USA family. I hope and pray I am wrong about the USA, for the sake of my children. Bob G on 5/24/2012 2:13:53 PM |
Greek-owned ships, even though they often had "Monrovia" - indicating Liberian registry - on their sterns, at least would operate with Greek crews. Now, they are manned by non-Greeks. So much for Greek union benefits. You can't keep demanding a better vintage wine when there's not even any water available. Patricia Flynn on 5/24/2012 2:40:03 PM |
Greece will collapse and complete chaos will ensure and a strong arm leader will rise to power promising law and order and rule as dictator for his lifetime. Rich on 5/24/2012 4:50:38 PM |
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