This way of life is not sustainable

Greece: Economic downturn will do us good - Time to end waste.

2009-02-19T06:05:00.000-08:00

The economic downturn is hitting the Greek economy. As a Greek living abroad I say GOOD. Am I spiteful? Am I bitter? Do I hate my compatriots?

None of the above.

However, the situation in Greece has become so unbearable at all levels that is leading to stagnation. If a few years of stagnation and hardship are needed to create a better tomorrow then let it be it.

What do I mean this?

Let me explain. Greece as a country has always verged at the edges of bankruptcy. One would think that in such an environment the populous of a country would also verge at edge of destitute. On the contrary, unlike any logical scenario, my fellow Greeks in Greece live a wonderful life with minimal work effort, high returns, annual expensive holidays and real estate (both primary and holiday homes) that would make any European envious.

So how is this achieved especially in a country in which 46% of the population are classified a permanent civil servants and as such they do not contribute to the creation of wealth?

Tax evasion is part of the answer. Spending what has already been accumulated by previous generations is another part of the answer. Living beyond the means is the final part of the puzzle that will destroy my country.

All of these have to be corrected and to be corrected they have to be addressed. However, anyone that has had to deal with Greek civil service, the Greek educational system, the Greek Tax office, will tell you one thing. Nothing works. People have been to places of power and placed key positions not because of their ability but because of their political affiliation and as such it is not in their interest to change the status quo.

What is the incentive for the tax officer to do his job when he knows that he will be bribed the moment he appears to investigate the shopkeeper.

What is the incentive for the shopkeeper to pay his worker the correct amount of money and national insurance or to accept that his profit has to be reasonable and not 500% when he has to find extra money to pay for his child’s education because the teaching is not up to standard at schools

What is the incentive for the teacher to teach when he realy did not want to be a teacher but the University entry system has force him to this career path and now no-one can fire him for doing a bad job of for not working because he is a public servant (that’s the law in Greece).

What is the incentive for the to the university student to do learn with passion since he is allowed to take go through to the final year of university without passing the exams from the first year at university. (this tells you much about the relevance of what is been taught at universities in Greece)

What is the incentive for the new graduate to progress in life when his lecturer, teacher and guide of his future demands that you buy his book (or photocopied notes) if he wants to pass the exams since for the lecturer this is extra income? (This is a good example to the student of of what he will see in the rest of your life in Greece).

What is the incentive for the doctor to treat you and treat you correctly when he demands that you pay him in a brown envelop if he is to do a good job. Otherwise, he may have to be busy until you find the money. (by the way he is already being paid by the Greek NHS as a consultant and what he is doing is illegal but who cares since he pays the Tax man anyway).

What is the incentive to make Greece a great country when all of its components are rotten?

What you do with the rot? You get rid of it and replace it with solid wood but while in the process you take the whole structure apart.

This is what is needed in Greece and if this requires drastic measures let it be it.

As for me?

Last time I tried to go back in an academic post advertised to all qualified, I found out that there was no point applying because the post was already spoken for.

So there you are. Different rules exist for Greeks and different for Greece. Maybe it is about time that two coincided.

Let us try and make thing better

Panagiotis

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Greece politics and money

2009-02-19T04:15:00.000-08:00

The economic downturn is hitting the Greek economy. As a Greek living abroad I say GOOD. Am I spiteful? Am I bitter? Do I hate my compatriots?

None of the above.

However, the situation in Greece has become so unbearable at all levels that is leading to stagnation. It is sad to say but we as nation have not matured. We have not reached the level when we can have a planned development. As a result development can only take place when necessity dictates and a few years of hardship are needed to kick start a stagnant state to a better tomorrow.

What do I mean this?

Let me explain. Greece as a country has always verged at the edge of bankruptcy. One would think that in such an environment the citizens of a country would also verge at edge of destitute. On the contrary, unlike any logical scenario, my fellow Greeks in Greece live a wonderful life with minimal work effort, high returns, expensive holidays and several real estate investments that would make any European envious. I often naively wandered how is it possible that I, with a descent income, can only afford a single home after years of mortgage and yet a civil servant in a small town in Greece can have two town houses and a holiday home.

Were does this wealth come from in a country in which 46% of the population are civil servants and as such they do not contribute to the creation of wealth?

Tax evasion is part of the answer. Spending what has already been accumulated by previous generations is another part of the answer. Living beyond the means on borrowed money is the final part of the puzzle that will destroy my country.

All of these have to be corrected and to be corrected they have to be addressed. However, anyone that had to deal with the Greek civil service, the Greek educational system, the Greek Tax office, will tell you one thing. Nothing works. People have been put into places of power not for their ability but because of their political affiliation and as such it is not in their interest to change the status quo.

What is the incentive for the tax officer to do his job when he knows that he will be bribed if he tries to investigate the shopkeeper.

What is the incentive for the shopkeeper to pay his workers the correct minimum wage, to the state the VAT or to accept that his profit has to be reasonable and not 500%, when he knows that he has to pay extra for his child’s education because the teachers do not do their jobs in state schools.

What is the incentive for the school teacher to devote his live to education when in reality he never wanted to become a teacher but the University entry system has force him to this career and not the one of his choice.

What is the purpose of an education system that will allow a university student to reach the final year of education without completing the exams from all previous years and he is allowed to take subject exams as he/she sees fit. This tells you much about the relevance of what is taught at Greek universities.

What example is given to the new generation of graduates when their tutors demand that they have to buy the tutor’s book (bad imitation of good academic books) in order to pass the exams. These books are extra income to the tutors.

What tell you of a nation when your health, which is the most basic right, is in the hands of a Greek Nantional Health Service doctor, public servant, that will demand extra undeclared money in a brown envelope in order to treat you at the most vulnerable point of your life.

What is the incentive to make Greece a great country when all its components are rotten?

What you do with the rot? You get rid of it and replace it with solid wood but while in the process you take the whole structure apart.

This is what is needed in Greece and if this requires drastic measures let it be it.

As for me?

Last time I tried to go back I was met by the status quo.

I think Seferis was so right

we took our lives; wrong! And we changed life.” G. Seferis, Arnisi.

All the answers

2008-11-04T15:47:00.000-08:00

It is so easy to believe that life is simple.

Go to work, earn money, buy things go holidays.

Then you decide to play grownup.

Get married, have kids, go to work, earn money, go fewer holidays, buy more expensive things.

Then the world starts to turn upside down. Suddenly, the streets are not safe anymore. The jobs are not that secure and everyone is telling you that is going to get worst before it gets better.

The question that comes to mind is: What is it all about?

Why am I here?

Some times I look at what I am doing and I ask my self : so what?

It use to be simpler in years gone past. It was so hard making a living that going through life and providing for your family was an achievement by it self.

Can you say the same now? NO

What I want you to do is to think. For the next week think what it is life for you and tell me.