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I apologize if I'm being too harsh, but I see such statements are generic and not very meaningful other than cheap political slogans, much like Tsipras was saying yesterday addressing the crowd. Proud Hellenes, solidarity, national unity, against the bloodsucking conspirators, ..show the Europeans what Greece is made of, etc, etc. What the hell is a prime minister in an extremely serious situation trying to do? Excite the mob to storm the Bastille? These remarks are OK in a "gipedo" where we shout slogans and being silly, but in serious politics they help perpetuate bad politics. Do or do you not need Europe? Do you or do you not need bailout money? As to some of those slogans: The country has already been sold, not literally, but very close to that, because when you are begging you've lost national independence the future of "your children" was undermined by all Greek governments in the last 50 years, for perpetuating a corrupt state, including higher education. Yes, "show them" what Greeks are made of!.... I think the Europeans have views on this and the current Athens rhetoric doesn't change their opinion. Does anyone think it does? Contradict the IMF.... while at it, contradict all those who are saying your economic policies since WW2 have led you to this disaster. Look, I know you care, like all our friends here, and everyone supports Greece. We also all want Greece to cure its ills and do great. After all, I think all of us here have relatives or friends in Greece, but above all we understand the human toll in this horrible situation. But, we disagree about the remedy. I'm not sure if we agree on the causes of this disease. This is utterly important becuase you have to diagnose the causes accurately before prescribing a remedy. :la:

Its not "next couple of months", its next couple of days. The banks are closed. You can't continue this for the next 2 months. He needs to figure something out fast.

Jim Adams, are you blaming the current government for the mess Greece is in? They have been in power for less than 5 months....

I'm Spartacus!

Ban me or get someone who can ban me to do it because you're worse than I am because you offend millions of my people with your racist remarks.

My point is that the original photo is trying to communicate how desperate and hopeless things are but it's one older man who's sitting down, probably emotional while everyone on the background is waiting in a queue. I'm not questioning you posting it, but it was quoted and for what purpose? We all can see it and judge it for ourselves. I'm not saying things aren't tragically bad but the media (both Greek and foreign) has been caught out since the referendum was announced. First it was Greek media outlets saying there was a bank run on by showing people queuing up at an ATM. The photo used was of people wearing winter clothes from Cyprus in 2013! They couldn't find an actual scenario in Greece to fit their narrative. The purpose was to start the panic as it hadn't started already. Another example was a photo posted on some papers front page of an older man crying holding loaves of bread. Clearly trying to convey the hopelessness of the current situation. The reality was that this picture was of a Turk after a recent earthquake outside of a crumbled building. My real point is we are being lied to by sections of the media with their own self interests. I want to know the truth. I don't care about perceptions from biased media and crooked cynical politicians SYRIZA/ND/European leaders). I fully believe that Tsipras and Varoufakis are also playing this game so I'm not defending them for a second.

Creditors is not individual banks like you imagine in this case. Banks hold less than 5% of the 240 bil debt. Germany and France are more than willing to write off this debt as its stretched over 30 years so in the general scheme of things, it will effect their bottom line very little. A person who is in debt never holds any cards. Greece is in tough trouble if they go to the drachma. Alone and isolated with money that is worthless. They will just be another vacation spot for people to get drunk at and then go home.

I'd do something like this. There was a study done on form. Essentially, everyone has hot streaks because of inherent randomness of the game. Over time though, the strike ratio per say remains the same. Quality > Form. Karnezis - kpaps - sokratis holebas - torosidis samaris - tachtsi Ninis Fetfta Karelis Mitroglou Subs Kapino Manolas Kone Maniatis Samaras Fortounis Klaus Note ** If we didn't get wiped out for qualifying Euro 2016, I'd actually stick in Katsouranis for Tachtisidis as captain for one last tournament. This is what Santos would have likely done, as well. **

I cant believe some of you want the people to vote NO. Thats crazy, suicidal. Leave the Euro, a strong real currency and go back to the Drachmas. LOL. The Drachmas wouldn't be worth the paper its printed on. Greece would be worse off. That currency would be so de-valued. Think Zimbabwean dollars? What trade would happen with the drachmas? Who would want to do business with that? The only happy people would be the foreigners, who could vacation and live in Greece like kings with their money. LOL I see no other out come tomorrow but a YES vote. The Greek people aren't stupid. Austerity is painful, but a life under the Drachma would be worse.

Just to clarify, the austerity suggested by the Troika will only result in the economy to shrink further, so how in the world will Greece be able to pay the debt in 6 months times with a smaller economy than the one it currently has today.

Athinaios the scenario you pose is due to the governments of PASOK and ND, I dont understand what it has to do with the current government. You don't understand, Tsipras and Varoufakis have repeatedly told the Troika that they want to pay back the debts however Greece is physically unable too do so as the debt is now unserviceable and unless relief is given it wont be. It is in the Troikas interests to provide debt relief similar to what Germany received after WW2 to help them rebuild.

POINT OF ORDER HERE: Dear members, please refrain from personal attacks. We can agree to disagree. Free expression is desirable but it must be done with civility. If you don't like someone's views, skip their posts and don't respond. Thank you!

The current proposals from the Troika were not sustainable so what alternative are you proposing all you are doing is criticising the current government for having a left wing agenda at least they are trying to do something different than what the previous governments have been doing and failing for the last 7 years

What worries me is that nearly 50% of the voters intend to vote "yes". This one is a no-brainer, folks! You are intending to accept the continuation of a program that was doomed to failure from the word "go". You are intending to accept the sell-off of your country to foreigners. You are intending to contradict the IMF which says Greece cannot continue on this present course. You are intending to kowtow before the Scheubeles and Dijsebloems of the EU whose anti-Greek sentiments are well-known. You are intending to sacrifice your long-term interests for the (very) short-term. You are intending to sacrifice the future of your children. You are intending to sell out your country.

Denied by the same government that said the banks won't close and capital controls wouldn't be imposed, how can any of you believe what they say anymore?

Maybe Europe can do food drops like they do in Africa. I can't imagine the bearded pony tailed youth are able to grow anything considering that Mommy and Daddy gives them an allowance at 35 years of age.

Greece's "youth" is her greatest asset and strength. I havent returned "home" since 2010 but when I was there in those early years of this financial crisis I was pleasantly surprised and touched at how engaged many of the younger generation were. My experiences were very positive. I got the feeling that the enormous will to do better and change was just strangled out of many of them. When they reach their mid-30s and have been metaphorically put back in their places they accept the mediocrity of a failed system because this very system just lulls them in to being like their parents and the leaders. Whether left or right politically. If the majority of under 35s vote OXI then I can suport them, if they use it to smash the current system. I hope that they are as well informed as they can be but I doubt that as it's too easy to be overawed. Things might well take a turn for the worst as bad as the last few years have been. Whichever way the vote goes I think it's a 5% chance that they leave the EU. That's not really up for negotiating, as a member since 1981 and 5 years before Spain and Portugal. However, cutting links with the restrictions of the EZ is 50-50. No one really knows what dumping the Euro for the drachma will mean. Hyperinflation, a lack of foreign credit/investment, massive decrease in imports of necessities etc.

Now, here's on of the biggest jokes ever uttered. Officially denied? By whom? By a zero credibility government. The same government that said capital controls will never be imposed, and that the Europeans would be shaking at the thought of our departure from the EU? The same government that said " we will negotiate a better deal immediately after we win the elections!" ?

^ looks good to me!

has anyone else noticed how very few violent riots and frenzied destruction there has been in Greece since the election of the N17 party? I have no doubt that Tsipra and his cronies are the ones behind all the destructive riots that we have seen over the years... it's a very predictable 'radical left tool' to destabilize legitimate governments,

From what i see Essien chose number two.

I think bringing in the talented veteran foreigners is better because it brings needed experience into a very young panathinaikos team. Younger players can learn from them.

http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Essien-could-make-Panathinaikos-debut-on-Sunday-366083 says here essien expected to play on sunday in the first preseason friendly :)

do you think that there will be the desire, Will, motivation for structural reforms without the pressure of EZ/EU? After all A Syriza govt. ideologically believes in the opposite.

Akritis, well said. I have added a 3rd option to the vote for those who feel the same way.

Bizarre. There is something very very Greek about blaming all the ills of the nation on "the left". Has "the right" never done anything wrong ? Greece was never an advanced first world economy, but it was never a third world economy either. It was always somewhere in between, and this was reflected in its GDP and general standard of living. Not as good as say the US, UK or Germany but not like an Albania, Bulgaira or Yugoslavia either. And it would probably stay that way for the foreseeable future. It takes decades to really lift living standards in any nation. But, the EU has managed to slash Greece's GDP by 25% in less than 7 years. Quite an achievement. Vote yes for more! Don't even get me started on how they've belittled us (of no real relevance in realpolitik) and their stupid immigration rules (highly relevant).