Irlandos

Arsi, burzi kai loulas...

Spending went out of control during the Andreas Papandreou government. Funds provided for investment were wasted on handouts. Assignments to the public sector were made without regard to cost - or necessity. Billions were lost in embezzlement scandals that were conveniently forgotten. Spending increased even more during election years. After those years, it was difficult to get back to 1970s levels since interest had to be paid on those debts, public sector workers were not dismissed, etc. And future PMs did nothing to recover what was lost. We reached that point in the graph where the ascent gets steep. In 2004, Greece entered the euro and was able to borrow at 0.5%. That made borrowing lucrative however, when the bankers eventually hiked the rate all the way to 7%, the country was unable to make even minimum payments. Did I go to fast?

What "sovereign nation" are we talking about when everything is dictated from Brussels and Berlin and Angela Merkel wants us to change our constitution to say foreign lenders get preference over Greeks??? What "sovereign nation" are we talking about when are forced to go against our own interests concerning Russia? What "sovereign nation" are we talking about when we are dumped 3rd World people from the North, simply because this is the first European country they sneaked into? What "sovereign nation" are we talking about when we have to change our laws based on the judgement of northerners whose sense of morality and justice differs from ours?

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.

PLEASE tell me you didn't get suckered into believing this one! :lol:

Off the topic on the Greek economy but I have to say this: protesting against the G8 in Genoa is to Tsipras' CREDIT in my books. Life has gotten far more miserable, for far too many of us, since these collusionist, by-invitation-only, no-dissent-allowed meetings have begun.

The results on Match Day 8: Apollon - AEK 3-3 Larisa - Olympiakos V. 3-0 Panachaiki - Iraklis 1-1 Playoff table (after 8 games) AEK - 27 * Iraklis - 23 * ---------------------------- Apollon Athens - 14 Larisa - 12 Panachaiki - 5 Olympiakos V. - 4 * AEK and Iraklis have clinched their return to the Superleague

England 2022!!! :)

The results on Match Day 7: Panachaiki - AEK 1-1 Iraklis - Olympiakos V.1-0 Apollon - Larisa 3-1 Playoff table (after 7 games) AEK - 26 * Iraklis - 22 ---------------------------- Apollon Athens - 13 Larisa - 9 Olympiakos V. - 4 Panachaiki - 4 * AEK have clinched their return to the Superleague

If FIFA is to survive, Blatter will have to go.

In other words: they want more of the same...

That will be the day when EPO speaks out against corruption! Btw, am I missing something? Why won't Blatter resign? I see only two scenarios: 1. Blatter is also corrupt - or - 2. Blatter is not corrupt but he has totally lost control and is totally clueless about what goes on in FIFA. Either way, he should resign!

The results on Match Day 6: AEK - Iraklis 1-0 Olympiakos V. - Apollon 0-1 Larisa - Panachaiki 1-0 Playoff table (after 6 games) AEK - 25 * Iraklis - 19 ---------------------------- Apollon Athens - 10 Larisa - 9 Olympiakos V. - 4 Panachaiki - 3 * AEK have clinched their return to the Superleague

Athinaios, Staying in the euro and signing on to the troika's plan, would be a one-time solution. With her own currency, Greece will have the option of devaluation. The aftermath of the crisis of 2009 would never have to be repeated. That being said, I will comment that things will have to change even after the introduction of a Greek currency. Investment will have to be encouraged, exports will have to increase and the government and school system will have to direct youth in the right direction: the primary and secondary sectors will have to grow to increase exports, as well as the tourist industry. And yes, many will have to go back to working on the ships.

Much is assumed here which is incorrect. Should Greece declare bankruptcy, default on loans and go back to its own currency, the entire rest of the world will NOT treat us as a pariah, refuse all trade with us, etc. That has been historically proven in case after case. Eventually, the grocer prefers to have a customer who barters than to have no customer at all. The problem with Greeks is that they want to euro. There will be continual crises if Greece stays in a currency supplied - at cost - by foreign entities at their own pleasure. With their own currency, at least domestic salaries will be paid and the economy will pick up. With it, also tax revenue for the government. This is a no-brainer. We need our own currency and our old markets back for our old products. What we don't need is the EU's constraints in fiscal policy and trading.

The results on Match Day 5: AEK - Olympiakos V. 1-0 Panachaiki - Apollon 4-3 Iraklis - Larisa 1-0 Playoff table (after 5 games) AEK - 22 Iraklis - 19 ---------------------------- Apollon Athens - 7 Larisa - 6 Olympiakos V. - 4 Panachaiki - 3

After we lost the first game, I thought it was all over. However, this second convincing win makes me think we will go through.

It was no "bluff" - Greece actually did not intend to pay as they could not. The money was found, at the last minute, and the default was avoided.

The results on Match Day 4: Larisa - AEK 0-1 Panachaiki - Olympiakos V. 1-3 Apollon - Iraklis 1-0 Playoff table (after 4 games) AEK - 19 Iraklis - 16 ---------------------------- Apollon Athens - 7 Larisa - 6 Olympiakos V. - 4 Panachaiki - 0

The results on Match Day 3: AEK - Apollon 2-1 Olympiakos V. - Larisa 0-1 Iraklis - Panachaiki 2-0 Playoff table (after 3 games) Iraklis - 16 AEK - 16 ---------------------------- Larisa - 6 Apollon Athens - 4 Olympiakos V. - 1 Panachaiki - 0

Put down the KKE all you want but the fact is their solution is probably the one that would benefit Greece the most in the long run. *Out of the euro *Out of the EU *Renounce the debt And march ahead with a protected industry and, at least, a partially planned economy.

Playoff table (after 2 games) Iraklis - 13 AEK - 13 ---------------------------- Apollon Athens - 4 Larisa - 3 Olympiakos V. - 1 Panachaiki - 0

Playoff table (after 2 games) Iraklis - 13 AEK - 13 ---------------------------- Apollon Athens - 4 Larisa - 3 Olympiakos V. - 1 Panachaiki - 0

Good win however, Panachaiki played well after the 1-0 and worried me. I hope we're not just coasting along here in these playoffs!

You vote for the lesser of two evils. After five years of Con-Dem rule, I have no doubt which party is the lesser of the two evils. Away with Cameron! Away with Clegg!