The future has arrived

[Mr. Perfect]

Just a glimpse of the hell on earth leftism has produced. Coming to a neighborhood near you, sooner than you think. Enjoy leftists. Your plan to destroy all of humanity is getting that much closer.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/ ... PZ20130206

Greek seamen on Wednesday ended a six-day strike that cut off dozens of islands and led to food shortages after the government ordered them back to work.

But other unions called for more action in a series of strikes by public transport workers and farmers which have underscored Greeks' anger at austerity measures.

Hundreds of people jostled for free vegetables handed out by farmers in a symbolic protest earlier on Wednesday, trampling one man and prompting an outcry over the growing desperation created by economic crisis.

Images of people struggling to seize bags of tomatoes and leeks thrown from a truck dominated television, triggering a bout of soul-searching over the new depths of poverty in the debt-laden country.

"These images make me angry. Angry for a proud people who have no food to eat, who can't afford to keep warm, who can't make ends meet," said Kostas Barkas, a lawmaker from the leftist Syriza party.

Other lawmakers from across the political spectrum decried the images "of people on the brink of despair" and the sense of "sadness for a proud people who have ended up like this".

People have seen their living standards crumble as the country faces its sixth year of recession that has driven unemployment to record highs.

The free food handout in Athens began peacefully as hundreds of Greeks lined up in advance outside the agriculture ministry, where protesting farmers laid out tables piled high with produce, giving away 50 metric tonnes (55.11 tons) of produce in under two hours.

Tensions flared when the stalls ran out of produce and dozens of people – some carrying small children – rushed to a truck and shoved each other out of the way in the competition for what was left.

One man was treated for injuries after being trampled when he fell to the ground in the commotion.

“I never imagined that I would end up here,” said Panagiota Petropoulos, 65, who struggles to get by on her 530-euro monthly pension while paying 300 euros in rent.

“I can’t afford anything, not even at the fruit market. Everything is expensive, prices of everything are going up while our income is going down and there are no jobs.”

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[Mr. Perfect]

I think this is an international issue, it's going to be everywhere.

[YMix]

It's a Greek issue for now.

[Endovelico]

The first step to solve this is overthrowing the present government and letting Syriza try their alternative. The question is, how soon will Greeks throw this government out?...

[Ibrahim]

The first step to solve this is overthrowing the present government and letting Syriza try their alternative. The question is, how soon will Greeks throw this government out?...

Isn't it just as likely that some of the far-right parties could cobble together a coalition and try socialism from the fascist angle? Checking the seat counts, it looks like the right-wing fringe parties combined with one of the center-right establishment parties could form a government easily, and subsequently influence their policy. We've seen that happen before in European history. Happening today in other parts of the world.

[Mr. Perfect]

The first step to solve this is overthrowing the present government and letting Syriza try their alternative. The question is, how soon will Greeks throw this government out?...

How would a new government eliminate existing debts?

[Endovelico]

The first step to solve this is overthrowing the present government and letting Syriza try their alternative. The question is, how soon will Greeks throw this government out?...

How would a new government eliminate existing debts?

We all agree that debt must be reduced, but this is not possible as long as interest rates imposed on the debtor countries is as high as it is. This problem has only one sustainable solution:

1. Foreign trade must be balanced, even if that means temporarily introducing import controls.

2. Budget deficits would only be allowed if they could be financed at home.

[The two above measures would put a stop to any increase on foreign debt.]

3. Rollover of foreign debt would be guaranteed by the IMF and the ECB, at interest rates not exceeding those charged to Germany.

4. Pay-back of foreign debt would be dependent on economic performance (increase on GDP).

5. The whole program would come to an end once foreign debt had been reduced to 60% of GDP.

Such a recovery might take decades, but it is the only way to get there without an economic collapse by the debtor countries. And it could be done with minimum pain to all parties involved. I can't understand why this is not being done.

[Mr. Perfect]

Do you have any numbers on that?

[Nonc Hilaire]

The first step to solve this is overthrowing the present government and letting Syriza try their alternative. The question is, how soon will Greeks throw this government out?...

How would a new government eliminate existing debts?

If a corrupt government borrows using public collateral, but uses the borrowed funds for non-public purposes a new government can declare the entire transaction to be fraudulent and the debt incurred to be the personal responsibility of the previous government and not the taxpayers. Iceland was not a historical novelty. Google "soverign debt repudiation".

[Mr. Perfect]

I see. The "let's play chicken" tactic. I have plenty of popcorn.