What Money can buy.

How many people in the world wish to come to Greece each year? 10-20 millions? Surely more than the population of Greece itself. They save money for this big trip, and while they plan it, they picture several things in their minds. Some see it as a trip to some beautiful beaches under the sun, others are looking forward to visit Acropolis, and few, very few are actually feel like coming back home. Home to a place that accepts all homesick people as its citizens. Because it is here some of the biggest myths of all time were born and these myths have been feeding the consciousness of the world for thousands of years. And the biggest myth of all is that of Ulysses. The myth of returning to the place of origin, coming back home.
   
These people save money to come to Greece and yet, all Greeks will be forced to exile, in order to make some money, just to survive. Why are we driven away from home? With less than 200 years since the Greek revolution in 1821,  that we celebrated yesterday, this home of ours have never been peaceful for more than 30 years. Why?

I gave her my hand, she took me by the arm. I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul.

Many Greeks believe in conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, what is going on can only be explained with such a theory. What tickles our national vanity, is the notion that everybody is after our civilization, our culture, our beautiful country and in general, they are jealous of us. Well, I tend to believe that this is all part of the bigger plan, to keep our minds busy away from the truth. Everything is done for PROFIT!
They do not want our heart. They do not wish for our soul. But it would be easier and more profitable if they can obtain both before the final take over.
With the European constitution we all extended and shook hands. But some countries grabbed us by the arm. I can't blame the people, but I do blame the big government policies that instead of promoting the United European ideal, they just used the opportunity to serve solely their countries, businesses, factories etc.  disregarding the cost for the European Union. 

The story of Greece in the EU, from where I stand

In the late 70ies-early 80ies, Greece entered the European Union, from what I have heard for two reasons: as a favor and out of guilt. In today's logic, that everything has to be calculated and profit made, this sounds irrational, so for those believing in conspiracy theories, a third reason can be added, PROFIT.
Thirty years later, Greece is the first nation in Europe to be forced by the other members to seek funds through IMF.  This is weird, since the EU, had the necessary funds and ways to solve the problem at once without outside help and long  before the spreads for the 10 years bonds skyrocket. Two years later, and they still blame Greece, (actually the people of Greece, not the treacherous politicians that sign almost everything they are served, without reading it first) for not agreeing to the new colony-like treaties they are forcing the government to sign. The debt two years ago was smaller of what we owe now, and now they promised us a haircut, but with conditions so excruciating for the people, that they just can't work! And from what I hear, the same things will be asked, or have already being asked,  from the rest of the countries in trouble, the ones that the  stock market has named PIIGS. (Portugal, Ireland -I added Italy, Greece, Spain). But the media just won't reveal this truth to the people of these countries.

The people of the PIIGS  are not to blame, at least not entirely. At a consumer's world, all western countries consume more and more and the only thing that keeps Germany and France afloat, is the simple fact that they are the biggest countries of Europe, with the biggest industries and ways to force their will and products to the smaller countries. They sold technology, pharmaceuticals and many other products in high prices, while their governments agreed in lending the money to the countries willing to buy, turning the blind eye. Ignoring that these countries can't repay, or depending on this simple truth, in order to buy after a "meltdown" all these countries and  resources, for peanuts!  At the same time they have passed laws that completely ruined the infrastructures of smaller countries, introducing the laws of an international market without limits, thus making all local business too expensive to keep. The same goes for the USA, only the USA has also the military power to enforce their will and the unique currency to play all kinds of tricks with...

Now you may ask, how can some countries that actually regulate the things in the whole world and Europe, allow their banks to buy bonds from that very countries in order to profit and when this doesn't work, try to bail out the banks? I mean the spreads are way too high because there is danger in buying them. If you are willing to take the risk, you should expect to lose. And if you lose you should not force your will through your powerful government, to limit the damages. It sounds weird, isn't it? But let's see a simple fact. While all this lack of immediate actions from the EU skyrocketed the spreads of PIIGS bonds, and the greedy banks made a fortune overnight,  the IMF was called in and a series of treaties were signed. All these treaties, contained conditions that bailed out the banks! So not only did they gain when they could, but they actually received more money to survive during the crisis! It is obvious that banks are the tools to achieve the "new colonization" goals. They enhance the faulty perception of money, people have.

And then we had more conditions on these treaties. Apart from being bad, leading all the countries that signed them (without asking their people) into worse trouble, Greece (that I know of) is forced to receive help only from them. Which is weird because we could ask from other sources (namely the Chinese or the Russians), that were eager to help - invest.  So it is a power play among the countries of the world. The former prime minister Papandreou, that led us to this mess,  was rather USA inclined. Anyway, while we sustained substantial pay cuts, pension cuts, health care cuts and unemployment skyrocketed, with their blessing, they (mainly Germany and France and less USA) still FORCE us to sign new deals to buy WEAPONS, worth more that 4 billion Euros. The interest we have to pay for the loans in 2011 are 6 million Euros. So actually they lend us money to buy their toys. And in case we don't?
Back in the 80ies the EU was and named European monetary union. But with the new EU treaties and the passing of a European constitution which is actually stronger that the constitution of each country, we are more than a monetary union. Or at least that is what they claim. The troubles in Balkans are constant and although Greece is the only stable country in the region, with the added bonus of being an older EU member with the EURO, they never backed it up, forcing it to buy weapons and other things in form of PROTECTION. Why don't they end once and for all the problem with Greece's neighbors?  Maybe because they sell GUNS and technology to them as well, and also because they are a bigger market than Greece? It is a fact, that if you are a small nation, with enemies all around, you are bound to be the victim of a constant blackmail. Greece owes 370 Billion Euros, Italy 1,9 Trillion Euros and the USA 15 Trillion Dollars. Do the math, find what each citizen of these countries owe,  and you will understand that Greece, being the smallest of all,  is just the test lab for the new type of economical colonization, that if it works will be forced to the rest of the world.

The sun of Greece

25 years ago I heard a joke. 

During a world conference, the representative of China meets the Greek representative. Interested about Greece, the China rep, asks about the population of Greece. Upon hearing the answer (10 millions) he asks: “And on which hotel are you staying?”

It is very difficult for people from big countries, population and/or size wise, like USA, Germany, France and U.K.  to understand the problems of a small country like Greece. Especially Greece. There are many countries with population close to the one Greece has, (Belgium, Portugal, etc.) but without the other special characteristics and conditions Greece has, only because of its place in the world map.

And that is only about the geopolitics of Greece, a thing that mostly interests the politicians and the companies behind them. It is not about the psychology of the people that live in it. Not about the special bond that Greeks have with this land, that is their home. Not about how they live and work under the same sun, that all world has, but call it Helios and have been calling it Helios for thousands of years.

When you are born in a strong country, it is easy to feel the protection that this country provides to the citizens and accept being a member of this society, with pleasure and gratitude. For Greeks, on the other hand, it has never been like that. The Greek history from ancient times proves just one thing: that Greeks chose to be Greeks. They chose to be the carriers and successors of a civilization, of a language, of a history. And they chose it willingly, knowing that it is a difficult task, because they lack either the special weight of a big population or a problem free region.  

Lies lies lies

In 2007, outside my door, a space ship landed. In 2008, I found out that the Holy Grail is hidden in my basement. In 2009, Greece’s debt nearly brought down the world stock market.
Now, tell me which one of the above sentences is correct. For those hasty enough to say the second one, let me tell you that the building in which I live, has no basement.   For the rest that linger between choices A and C, I must say that it is in fact a trick question and all the above sentences are lies.
I start this blog, for many reasons, but with just one purpose: to scatter the lies that are heard through the “official” media in Greece and most importantly abroad. Because the biggest damage these media are doing, is changing the fine opinion people have abroad about Greece and Greeks.
First of all let’s start with some facts. Greece’s debt, in form of government bonds, was in 2009 around 340 billion Euros. Now, after the PSI “haircut”, that it was supposed to help Greece, the debt is 370 billion Euros!
 What’s worse, the infrastructure that would help the country produce again in order to pay back the money owed, has been destroyed with countless new laws, that were impossible to work even in healthy economies. More over, lay offs of hundreds of thousands of workers and new taxes that have devoured all the little savings people had for the hard times, deepens the depression.
At the same time, in order to save money, the health system is “reorganizing”, meaning that fewer people will be able to have health care because fewer will be able to afford it! 
Education sector is facing a new budget cut, while Greece was already at the bottom of the list for the countries with minimum funds for education.
As if that is not enough the EU and IMF officials, force the Greek government (which in fact is not much of a government anyway) to sell the Electric company and the Water company, two profitable public companies, that offer to the people relatively cheap products, that are absolutely necessary to the people. Of course, since Greece is an easy target now, and is forced to sell, the price it can fetch for these companies is extraordinary small, while at the same time, the prices for electricity and water will surely go up, double or triple if a private company gets them. And already, many citizens in Greece are having trouble paying the electricity bill!