Can someone explain to me if and why I'm wrong to think of Greece as a deadbeat? I understand the point that they were forced to make cuts in exchange for loans, and this only further depressed their economy, but where did that money go and shouldn't the government and people be accountable for it?<p>Also, even if they were wrong to do so, something must have caused creditors to demand austerity, have those issues been solved? If Greece was given a clean slate, would it be a healthy, productive and growing economy?<p>There are a lot of places in the world where people have horrible social support. I don't wish it for anyone, but that's the reality for a lot of places. Maybe that ought to be the reality for Greece? Work until you die, third rate health care and infrastructure. I'm not happy to see it, but if you can afford more, energy is something that must be produced.
Comparing the Greek economy now to where it was in 2008 is disingenuous. The Greek economy was thriving last decade due to a program of systematic fraud by the government; complaining about the decline since then is like bemoaning the fact that you have to take the bus after the police seized the car which you stole.
Most of the slides show the effect of devastation of the Greek economy and social net.<p>Slides 5 and 6 can be a bit misleading since it only shows that in Greece the monthly minimum wage is 586 Euros. This number is still higher than some countries of the Euro Zone, and people may think that it is pretty fine.<p>In order to understand the crisis you have to consider that the minimum wage in 2008 was 794.02. In addition to that some people settle with salaries as low as 300-400 out of fear to lose the jobs they have in struggling small businesses. 25% unemployment is really an underestimate since people who have lost their short-temp jobs or never had any job or are in some kind of educational program are not counted as unemployed.<p>Now take into consideration that salaries were pretty predictable for decades and people made their plans, mortgages etc, and you get a taste of what is happening...
The problem with allowing Greece to not pay the debt or part of the debt is what happens with the rest of the countries that are not only contributing with Greece (Spain alone I believe has given 26bn € to Greece) but are also enduring harsh economic measures to put their economies in order?
This was a great way to see the human cost of economic stagnation and austerity in Greece, but it doesn't talk about the causes of these issues or the best way forward. Like others have said, there are many countries worldwide with poor quality of life and poor economic growth , but what caused it in Greece and what can be done to fix it? Playing into a game of picking sides in Greece versus the big bad EU powers doesn't seem credible or productive to me.
They missed perhaps the most awful kick in the teeth by austerity - Greeks can't get lifesaving drugs:<p><a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424053111904491704576574791877220786" rel="nofollow">http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB100014240531119044917045765747...</a><p><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/03/us-greece-drugs-idUSBRE8A205Z20121103" rel="nofollow">http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/03/us-greece-drugs-id...</a>
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etc.<p>If you <i>really</i> want to show your support for Greece, you certainly can.