73. At 7:09pm on 02 May 2010, Angela wrote:
I am not Greek but I live in Greece and after reading some of the comments here I felt compelled to respond.
Some of you have this opinion that Greeks are lazy and freeloaders.
I would like to point out that Greeks work some of the longest hours in the European Union. Yet they get 650 Euros monthly as a minimum wage even if they have a bachelor's degree. Many work 10 - 13 hours a day with no expectation of over time. I personally know someone who has been working for 10 years at the same company as a computer programmer and he receives 1500 Euros. This is not a random case but quite the opposite.
A great salary in Greece is a measly 2000 Euros a month. Why though is this considered a great salary? Because it can cover a person's basic needs and leave a bit to save and go out a few times a month. I assure you not many Greeks make such a salary. A Greek household usually makes a salary of 2000 Euros or more when there are two people working. However, with two people, costs double and not much cash remains after bills are paid. Add a child or two into the mix and things get really rough. T
his is one of the main reasons that Greeks do not have lots of children in general. They simply cannot afford it and unlike many countries where citizens can expect plentiful assistance from their government when they have children, Greeks can look forward to about 100 Euros a year of assistance. It is simply laughable.
Yes Greeks are corrupt but many of them do it because they have no choice. This is not their fault but that of the public servants but then again a large part of that blame falls on the government. Let me give you an example, doctors in Greece are seriously underpaid and overworked so they try to make extra money by charging patients who need surgeries or other assistance such as pregnant women. When a woman goes to the public hospital to give birth, she knows her doctor beforehand and he has already told her how much he will expect to deliver the baby, this price can run from 500 - 2500 Euros depending on where she gives birth. What is a woman supposed to do in such a case? Refuse to give birth? Complain? Who to? The government knows what has been going on for all these years and have done nothing while the Greek people suffer. Basically if you want to get something done in the Greek public sector you are much more likely to get it done quickly if you know someone or you pay someone.
Again I say the government knows this and have done nothing. What are the people to do? In Greece if you call a plumber or electrician or someone to fix something in you home, they will tell you the price is this amount but without a receipt, I will give you a lower price. For many cash strapped Greeks, the lower price is the best option. When someone makes 650 Euros a month and has to pay 300 Euros in rent, 35 Euros to publicly commute to and from work, 20 Euros minimum in building fees, 100 Euros in food, 20 - 40 Euros for a landline, 20 for a mobile, 10 -15 for water, 20 - 80 for Electricity not to mention any other personal items they might need, they are pretty hard pressed not to try to find a cheaper solution to live.
The average Greek person doesn't aim to have the world at their feet but they would like to be able to pay their bills and have a little bit of money left over to save, go out to eat or go out for a coffee a few times a month.
It is easy to sit in your country and try to pass blame on the Greek people but unless you live here and see the day to day life, you cannot judge. That however doesn't mean that you can't judge the Greek politicans because they are the ones that have brought this country to it's knees.
There are two main political parties in Greece, PASOK and Nea Democratia and none of the two is useful. They both blame each other for whatever crisis the country is in and hope that the people will not see through their veil of deceit.
They took the money of the pensioners and played it in the stock market and now tell them that they have no money to pay their pensions and that they will take away some of their benefits. There are people here who receive 500 Euros a month in pension. Thank God their benefits will still be available to them as they already get little money as it is.
They talk about taking away the extra money Greeks receive at Easter, Summer and Christmas. This might seem like a luxury to outsiders but considering Greek employers do not give raises this money is usually critical for a Greek family. My husband has been working in the same company for four years and only once has he received a raise and that was for 120 Euros.
Due to these ridiculously low wages many Greeks live in extended family household and many move out when they are in their 30's. This is simply because they cannot afford to do otherwise.
I am in serious doubt that the money from the bailout will help the Greek people because the measures that are going to be introduced in my opinion will cripple the Greek people. They are already suffering, barely scraping by month by month and with the hike in taxes, it will be worse and unfortunately instead of curbing corruption, it will just make the average person think of more creative ways to avoid paying taxes or find a cheaper way of paying for a service. I don't agree with it but I can understand it.
The people that the government should go after is that minority group of wealthy people who are the biggest avoiders of taxes. They build their villas and mansions illegally but are fined a few thousands, they employ and exploit illegal immigrants and they get the best accountants who can show them how is the best way to write off their hummers and BMWs.
So when you are sitting their watching or reading the news ask yourself, what if my government was lying to me about the finances of my country? What if they were telling you that the economy has no problems for years and then suddenly they say that the country is on the brink of bancruptcy?What if they say we know it's the fault of our politicians but we want to start over new? What if they say we know it's not your fault but for the better of the country you will have to suffer some extremely hard years? What will you do? Will you be angry? Will you protest? Will you look at you child or children and wonder how you will take care of them? Will you look at your parents and wonder if they have enough to eat now that their pension benefits are being cut? Will you worry about your pension? Will you want someone to be held accountable? Or will you leave everything in their trusting hands and accept whatever they say?
While you are thinking about this and deciding what action you would have taken, the Greek people have no choice and are forced to accept the latter option no matter if they choose to exercise their rights for the former options.
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Merkel misled Germans
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Originally Posted by Void
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