“The people cannot take any more ... we have reached the limits of the social and economic system.”

[marmar]

from BBC News:



The Greek people have been pushed to the limit by austerity measures demanded by the EU and IMF, public order minister Christos Papoutsis says.

He said Greeks had made "superhuman" efforts, and "can't take any more".

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos says all remaining issues with the austerity package will be solved in time for a conference call with eurozone chiefs later.

.........(snip).........

After a cabinet meeting late on Tuesday, Mr Papoutsis, a member of the other major coalition party Pasok, said Greece had "made all the efforts that it needed to do".
"The people cannot take any more. The government is making superhuman efforts, and we have reached the limits of the social and economic system," he said. ....................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17037267

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. How many here believe it will be coming here soon?

I really believe they are trying to hold off the worst until after the election.

[TheKentuckian]

2. Yup, efforts are on hold for now but I'm sure they'll fire up a new catfood Commision soon.

[woo me with science]

3. That is exactly what they are doing.

Occupy now, because they are rushing structures into place to prevent occupation later.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. So glad you are seeing what I am seeing.n/t

[jeanpalmer]

5. You have that exactly right

The US is about 3 years at most behind Greece. Per capita public debt in Greece is about $35.000 per person. In the US , it's about the same. Public debt to GDP in the US is slightly behind Greece's, with no credible plan in either country to reduce it. Private debt is still near all-time highs and has recently turned upward again. This 3-year differential with Greece, plus the ability to print money, gives US politicians like Obama a period of grace where he can be ignore the problem for another 3 years without any accountability. By the time the ----- hits the fan, he'll have been re-elected and be gone. We'll be left to pick up the pieces; he'll be writing his memoirs. American policy makers -- Obama, the Fed, Congress -- are rolling the dice, hoping that the next 2-3 years will return an economic miracle where near full employment returns and it takes them off the hook. They have no new solutions, except the neo-liberal ones that have failed us in the past -- lower interest rates to historically low levels and spend like there's no tomorrow . They're just keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

[woo me with science]

6. Kick. nt

[hifiguy]

7. Greek, and American, politicians would do well

to remember how Benito Mussolini and Nicolae Ceaucescu met their ends. Yes, it could happen there, or even here when the people get desparate enough.

[PhoenixAbove]

8. K&R Coming to a town near you (hope not) n/t