Greek Rioters

Graham_Devon

FTBFun wrote: »

"what do we want?"

"not to pay any tax!"

"when do we want it?"

"err, we already have it!"

Do you understand what is happening in Greece?

Would you be happy to hand over our budget and spending entirely, say for instance, to France? With the aim being, to protect France?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17006686

Picture 6 is what this is about.

nickmason

Talking of it "starting in the UK", what I find most striking about those pictures is how they remind me of riots in the UK last year. The difference being is that I understand what the Greeks are rioting for. They might have little chance of achieving it, but it seems more noble than just looting for the sake of it.

FTBFun

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Do you understand what is happening in Greece?

Would you be happy to hand over our budget and spending entirely, say for instance, to France? With the aim being, to protect France?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17006686

Picture 6 is what this is about.

There is endemic tax evasion in Greece. This is fairly well known. Perhaps if the actual number of people earning more than €50,000 paid their taxes rather than the fake number they wouldn't be in this mess in the first place?

Graham_Devon

FTBFun wrote: »

There is endemic tax evasion in Greece. This is fairly well known. Perhaps if the actual number of people earning more than €50,000 paid their taxes rather than the fake number they wouldn't be in this mess in the first place?

They would.

As I stated, I understand the argument against the Greeks. However, this is way beyond anything the Greek people could have done or been responsible for.

At the end of the day, the politicians make the rules. The EU themselves let the Greek people in by turning a blind eye. This is all about politicians and the EU. The people in the middle are the Greeks. And this is way beyond any power the people may have had over their personal finances.

If people didn't take child benefit in the UK, the UK would arguably be in a better position financially. But people take it, because it's there to be taken. We don't en masse reject it for the good of the country, so I don't know why you expected Greeks to do something similar in terms of taxes for the good of their country.

ILW

So is it their own politicians they are angry with? (The ones they elected).

Graham_Devon

ILW wrote: »

So is it their own politicians they are angry with? (The ones they elected).

Yes and No.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17011452

Have a read.

Last night witnessed Greek rage. At least 45 buildings were burned in the capital, 150 stores looted or smashed.

The violence sends a clear and unmistakable message to Brussels: they cannot bank on the new measures being implemented.

ILW

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Yes and No.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17011452

Have a read.

So what is the alternative that the Greek "people" would prefer?

RUN_RABBIT_RUN

ILW wrote: »

So what is the alternative that the Greek "people" would prefer?

they probably want to be in control of their own destiny rather than being dictated to by merkozy

the problem for them is that their politicians shipped their country finances down the river as soon as they joined the euro

they have no democracy now, it doesn't matter who they vote in our out, as the measures stay the same. thats why the people are discontented

unfortunately there is little to be gained and much to lose by them smashing up their own infrastructure, lawlessness is just going to make everything worse for them

ILW

RUN_RABBIT_RUN wrote: »

they probably want to be in control of their own destiny rather than being dictated to by merkozy

Have they not figured out thart being in control of their own destiny is what has got them to the mess they are in. I doubt if anybody could do a worse job than they have.

RUN_RABBIT_RUN

ILW wrote: »

Have they not figured out thart being in control of their own destiny is what has got them to the mess they are in. I doubt if anybody could do a worse job than they have.

again, its their politicians that got them into this mess

the peoples main weapon against politicians in a democracy is to vote them out, the problem here is that whoever they vote in will have to do literally the exact same thing that is being dictated by brussels

i tend to agree with graham, they are angry and they are expressing it

but they're just making things worse. theyd actually be far better off swallowing it and getting on with trying to sort their mess out but i fear this situation isnt going to go away anytime soon