Divide and sell

It used to be easy to tell apart dictatorship from democracy, but not anymore. Chomsky decades ago, used to say that it is very hard to tell apart a terrorist from a freedom fighter. The control of the Mass Media by wealthy multi millionaires that influence the political life of every country, in order to expand their businesses by sear money power, usually makes this distinction even harder. 

But it is obvious that what we call "common sense" is neither common, nor it makes any sense. What I mean is that you can't have all these politicians fighting over who is to blame, and never assuming responsibility. It is not logical to vote for new laws that disintegrate our every day life and when people protest,  politicians find the protest unlawful and punish it. It is not sane to be a politician elected by your people but actually act and think in favor of the lenders.  The last 4 years NOT even ONE useful law was passed. Only laws that ruined the infrastructure of Greece and led to the lay off of more than a 1,000,000  million people.  And that leads to a downward spiral. Less money from working people more taxes somewhere else. Smaller paychecks for all, less taxes from consumption. Lesser  consumption, fewer jobs. What is even worse is that their inability to get the big tax evaders, will mathematically lead to further reduction in salaries. So, other people steal other people get punished.

If these geniuses that studied abroad and claim to be great in what they do,  couldn't predict this simple truth, they are not worthy of their diplomas or their government seats. So either they are no good, or they do it for a treacherous  purpose to the interest of the people that they represent. Either way they should be held responsible and face justice. And since justice is as corrupted as them, they should expect  a real outburst, from the common people.

It is divide and sell. Attack people with everything you've got. In the meantime you will be able to sell Greece by the km, hoping that nobody will have the time, money and courage to realize,  disagree and protest.  

Visiting Acropolis on winter Sundays

I don't know how things work in Europe and the rest of the world, but when it comes to my country's history and culture, I feel that I have the right to learn them, without paying a fortune. If nothing else, it is what creates the conscience of a nation. And God knows we need this now.
Until March 2012, there was a very nice law, that allowed all people from EU (Greeks included) to access all the museums and archeological sites for free, every Sunday from November till March. This was the best way to help all Greeks learn their history and appreciate their culture by visiting the museums and archeological sites, without actually losing revenue, since these months were actually low tourist season. Note that in a united Europe, if only Greeks were allowed for free, it would be a case of inequality for the rest of the Europeans. So by choosing this season and especially Sundays, they by-passed the problem and  families were able to visit all these places. What's more, most archeological sites are at the same time nice places to have a walk and enjoy nature, since Athens is the only city in Europe with almost no parks! 

But with great surprise I found out this Sunday that the ministries of tourism and culture (I really don't know which one is responsible, but probably the ministry of economics, the IMF and EU, as well)  have changed this. From now on, only the first Sunday of each month (total 5) are free for EU citizens. The price for visiting Acropolis is now 12 Euros, per adult!  It is really a very rude reminder of how sensitive matters like this are lost in the bulk of stupid news.

For those that they think that 12 Euros is not much, let me remind you that 600 Euros is considered a good salary in Greece and two adults in a family means automatically 24 Euros!  For those arguing that there are more people outside drinking coffee, and that they could deprive themselves of it and pay for the ticket, I can only say that a coffee costs 3 Euros max, and anyway these people wouldn't visit these places. For me and many other families, it was the easier, cheaper and most rewarding Sunday outing. Some say that  5 Sundays is an OK number. But they forget that these Sundays are during the wintertime and  rain, snow or severe cold is enough to spoil it for you.

I don't know how much they expect to collect from this. I don't expect much. Today Acropolis and the Ancient Marketplace (Archea Agora) were practically empty! And it was such a lovely day! We had to settle by going to the near by Philopapous hill. Which, for those that don't know or remember, was about  to be fenced and become a pay for "archeological site" but fortunately stopped by free thinking people.

Happy New Year

It is strange how time goes by. After 3 years from that fateful election of PASOK and prime minister George Papandreou, who literally had no clue, or if he had it was not the interest of the people of Greece. Two years of deep recession and unemployment, one year from the Papadimas junta government and 6 months with the incompetent Samaras coalition. And we are sinking steadily into the abyss.
This is the first time in my life that the passing of the year finds me with no hope for a better new year. It is the first time that I think that there are no solutions. We are in deep and instead of the help we needed, we are kicked and stepped on for a quick profit by the other countries. Our politicians are just pawns. ?They just execute orders and I wonder if this is the future democracy of Europe and the world. 

The two big wars of the 20th century are there to teach us nothing. Only new ways to destroy nations, kill people in more humane ways and better propaganda in order to hide these atrocities and make people believe it is for their own good.  The only thing that makes us human and not animals is the altruism, the unconditional love for the other, no matter how strange or different.
I wish everybody a happy new year. If love can't preveil, then at least we would have tried.  

Peace Nobel price for the European Union! That is fantastic. And what's next, an Oscar for special FX?

Peace Nobel price for the European Union! That is fantastic. And what's next, an Oscar for special FX? All these fireworks are looking much like the peace treaties signed just before the war. The body of Europe is torn apart and a Nobel price is a bandage. It is not a joke, it is very serious, because it is clear now that economical powers have infiltrated everywhere.
It is a poor stand, though, so probably no Oscar for them.

A dollar is good enough!

How about that! The Greek government passed all the laws that actually bring Greeks to medieval times, and yet EU, ECB and IMF now have second thoughts about giving the next loan (it is not free money, mind you, the interest rate is a killer) thus creating a new world wide wave of disbelief  for Greece, that not only ruins every chance Greece has to recover by attracting new investments, but also make all values in Greece drop, in a free fall.
It greatly reminds me of old westerns or gangster movies, where the mob chief went to buy the business from the rightful owners, and instead of reaching an agreement, he just appraised the business and had the thugs convince the victim. A dollar is good enough! And you get to live, too!
This trail of money has to end somewhere. The politicians of Europe have to built in different foundations, than debt. And I am not just saying because I am Greek and in debt, I am saying because this is a downward spiral, actually a war with many victims, that will not end in Greece, just stalling for the rest of the world, in Greece. If we tolerate this...

Hit the fan

Two weeks after the general elections in Greece, and I still wonder why and how Greece with a debt of 350 billion Euros is still the center of everybody's attention and blamed for a global economic downfall. It is outrageous!
But let's take things from the top. 2 weeks ago the elections proved that Greeks just won't take any more lies about the "help" provided from EU and IMF as painful austerity measures, that lead straight to depression and Greece into a third world state. The proof that all they have been deciding and voting all this time was without the consent of the Greek people, was the  fact that the two major political parties of the last 35 years got around 30% of the voters, put together, while the leftist parties got more than 35% and the rest anti - memorandum parties that  got into the parliament gathered another 15%, total 50%, against the severe measures!!! If you count the rest parties that got less than 3% and didn't elect any representatives, you reach a staggering 62%!!!!
But still we hear everybody, mainly from the EU and IMF, saying that we have to elect a government that promises to keep on struggling the Greeks with the austerity measures that the memorandums have been forcing on us. 
Amongst others, the laws that were forced upon us:
1.In less than a year the average salary in the private sector is going to be 400-500 Euros and in the public sector 600-700 Euros, while the prices are still as high as in 2000, when salaries were almost double that. The final plan is to make Greece a cheap labour and tourist destination, with salaries no more than 150-200 Euros. That have been said from official lips! Even in Bulgaria or Romania, that such salaries are common, the state of the people and the public services plus the crime rate are worse than ever! They still prefer Greece, to come and work. 
2.The poverty limit is around 6000 Euros, but the tax limit has become 5000 Euros! If you have kids the taxation is even worse! People are selling their property because they can't stand the taxation, but nobody is buying! They can't afford to buy or to pay the taxes that come with them!
3.They cut down salaries, pensions, medical expenses, education etc, while they have raised the taxes (70 new taxes!, 5 instant taxes with retrospective power!) This means that people will be dieing from cold since there are more and more homeless each day. Every day more than 1000 people lose their job and they even have lowered the unemployment benefit. Hey, they are so clever that they tax it, after they've given it! 450 Euros  for a year, and then zip! And they have the nerve to tax it!

During this period, they have passed other laws, that have gone under the radar, since when you are on the look out for your daily meal you pay no attention for anything else.
1.Greek parliament has passed a law that forces every Greek to give away his organs if he is pronounced brain dead! Any doctor would take your organs with no need of any consent, if you are considered brain dead! That is Free will, in the land of democracy!
2.While all statistics point that the life expectancy is not going to be more than 72, and lowering every year, they have raised the working years to 40, with an age limit of 67! I work since I was 17, so it will be 50 years for me, and with no hope for a pension or proper health insurance, although I have been paying more than most of the Europeans for these benefits! (39% of my salary, before taxes!) 
3.They close hospitals, make us pay for the doctors and medicine that we already have been paying through our salary (the 39%)

The problem is that they have been fooling us for some time but they can not fool us all of the time, and this slow death of the economy and the people is the final straw. They blackmail us that we will suffer outside the Euro, but the alternative is to suffer inside the Euro without hope of recovery.

How would you feel if you were told what to do by the people that took destructive decisions for you ?

Put your self in my shoes

Please put your self in my shoes. Imagine turning 36, and having a debt that is equal to two years paychecks. You do not have a job, you don't hope to get one, either because it is impossible to find one or because if you do find one, you can't live on such low salaries. I constantly hear that we have to pay what's owed, but the ones that took the money, are not the ones that are asked to pay. All my life I had the rule not to owe money, and suddenly I woke up one day and they tell me that I have to pay for someone else's debt. Then they start the war. Words falling around like bombs. You don't have a future, you should pay the debt, you have to sign a memorandum, you have to pay the interest first and then for your food and medicine, you should have the government I like, you should give away all your rights, you are doing great, you are not doing good.
Put your self in my shoes. Would you feel free, safe, hopeful and creative with all this? Would you tolerate this attitude from anybody? It is not a matter of money. It is a mater of human lives. It is a matter of turns. Our turn and if you tolerate this, your turn, right after.