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Greece's GDP in 2000 was $130 billion. In 2004 it was $240 billion. In 2008 it reached $354 billion. In 2012 it went down to $245 billion. As soon as we entered the Eurozone with it's golden ticket, the euro, our GDP grew 272% in 8 years. In the same time, Belgium's GDP grew 218%. Ireland's grew 276%. Lithuania's grew 427%. Spain's grew 268%. How is this possible? Add in the factors of a stronger unified currency, the actual performance of the economy, and inlfux of cheap debt maybe? Taxes are a problem, no one pays taxes! In 2000: 22% of government revenues where from income tax, profits and capital gains compared to 17% for Germany. 28% of revenue was from taxes on goods and services compared to Germany's 20%. Taxes on international trade are non-existant for Greece or Germany. 4.34% of revenue was from other revenues, Germany's was 0%. Greece has 29% of revenue as social contributions compared to Germany's 58%. Tax revenue as a percentage of GDP, Greece's was 22% while Germany's was 11%. Total revenue as a percentage of GDP was 40% for Greece and 30% for Germany. In 2000: Germany's expenses on employee's was 5% of total expenses compared to Greece's 21%. 7% of expenses for Germany where on interest payments compared to 16% for Greece. 80% was for subsidies and other transfers compared to Greece's 38%. Germany spent 3.7% on goods and services compared to Greece's 13%. It is clear we had and still have a bloated public sector and lots of interest payments but, why does no one want to explain why Greece's gross external debt went from 181 billion euro in 2003 to 317 billion euro currently, when we where given 240 billion euro's in loans? From the first tranche of bailout money "we" received, most of it went to foreign banks. The troika didn't even ask for systemic changes in the way the government does business. They didn't force government efficiency. They didn't offer adequate debt relief. They asked for cuts in military spending (one of the highest by % of GDP, in EU) and the government cut soldier's wages instead of procurement of armaments. Along with the billions spent on dud submarines from the Germans the rest of the equipment is mostly useless since maintenance costs where also cut. We have twice as many tanks as the U.K. They asked for cuts in government expenses on social services, firesale of government assets and a haircut on deposits. I don't understand how any of you can see from these facts that Greeks don't pay their fair share of taxes. Shipping companies which are a large portion of our GDP provide near 0% taxes through various exemptions. The movement of wealthy people's funds in offshore accounts is what exactly? The corporate tax rate dropped from 40% in 2000 to 20% in 2010. The lowest VAT is 6.5% on newspapers and magazines. There's 20 billion euro in offshore funds held by Greeks. Around 15,000 individuals and companies owe the taxman 37 billion euros, according to Venizelos. What happened to the Lagarde List? Oh that's right, Voula the hairdresser had the journalist, who published the names, arrested for breach of privacy. It's all Voula the hairdressers fault and her 15,000 friends. No other country on earth has people who cheat the tax system. I said it before, Syriza had meetings with wealthy and powerful people, agreed to take the brunt of hate and not change laws that affect the wealthy in exchange for being kept in power. The same thing will happen to N.D, PASOK, KKE, Bernie Sanders or anyone else wanting to lead the country. No way, no how, the country will be lead by idealists with proper reform. The poor will always take the brunt. The British and Danes did the same when a list of tax evaders was given to their authorities. In November 2012 the UK tax authority declined to prosecute those named on the list. This s%$#! happens all over the world, how can any of you believe what is presented in the media when the facts speak for themselves?