Tax evasion

An excellent article from Mr Papachelas, which anyone in Greece knows is fact. It wasn't difficult to program a complete tax system instead of the TAXIS system which is in use today. Nor was it difficult to have full records of pensions. Still the major problem here are the law courts, which do not function. We read of the arrests of individuals that owe taxes but no mention will be made of the numerous companies which have bad cheques, unpaid invoices etc., that have been presented in court year after year and still remain unpaid. Ask any Greek citizen and the last resort will be the Greek courts.

We have read the latest ideas for stamping out tax evasion, probably due to the fact that Poul Thomsen from the IMF has repeatedly dwelt on this fact. Sadly, this will be a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. With our present economic situation it is hardly likely that businesses are hiding profits. We have all read the foreign press of the number of Greeks purchasing properties in London and Berlin, and opening bank accounts in Switzerland etc. over the past years. True, we can arrest many of them, but can we collect taxes which are owed? This is a different story.

Practically, electricity bills, invoices etc., also won't solve the problem unless we can be assured that the actual tax departments are operating. It was quite impossible for these vast debts to have been accrued in a short period, and this means either the tax officials were not doing their job or they were involved in the corruption.

I agree with Mr Papachelas that the land registries here in Greece are a problem. We all know that still there are properties especially in rural areas and islands that have not been declared. Completing the survey maps for Greece should be a first priority; checking the purchases of properties abroad over the past three years and bank accounts in EU countries shouldn't be too difficult. Apart from this our education institutions, schools and universities should promote moral values, however, prison sentences, loss of pensions and securities especially to prominent figures would be a lesson to all.

Ann Baker


Greece pulling out of the eurozone

Just went to a workshop yesterday re the effects of global corporations on economies of countries they, in essence, use/or exploit in order to pay lower wages across the globe. Chief effect: 150,000,000+ economic refugees on the move now, migrating legally/illegally to places of greater opportunity. Yet also mentioned, was the fact that after South American countries resisted the IMF and devalued their own currency -- yes, it was difficult for a time but now things have much improved -- they are now servicing their debt on their own terms. Look at Brazil, Colombia, etc. Just a thought to remember as you read the rhetoric that the IMF has attached as a memorandum upon the terms dictated to Greece.

Marianna Hendrickson


Re: ‘Political bankruptcy’ by Nikos Xydakis

In relation to the above article:

Local Cretan press reports that:

Last week Christine Lagarde said at a CBS news interview that the danger of a Greek bankruptcy has not been averted. A forced euro exit is still possible, she added, calling on Greek electors not to vote for extremist political parties and on politicians to show a sense of responsibility by telling people the truth.

Bob Scott
Crete, Greece


Papariga exposed

In her latest interview Papariga stated that "KKE doe not have a solution to propose" regarding the immigration problem. The fact is that KKE does not have any solution to propose for any of the woes facing Greece. Yet it is astounding that they receive such support.

Let us face facts. Communism as a policy has failed wherever it was implemented. It has failed in the USSR. It has failed in Eastern Europe. It has failed in Cuba and in Africa. Communist policies have left all these countries in financial ruin. Even Communist China does not follow Communist economic policies, preferring to follow Adam Smith.

No wonder KKE have no solutions to propose.

KKE's only contribution to Greek politics is their demand that Greece leaves the eurozone. Should that ever be allowed to to happen, it will be the end of Greece as a nation.

Atha G


Re: Samaras sets out ND's economic agenda

Words, words and more words. Here we go again. I hope the Greek sheep are producing enough wool for the politicians to pull over their own people's eyes. Again.

Just a silly question: Is anyone keeping track, as in comparisons, of what was promised last time round and what was actually delivered, and this freshly-washed set of kleftes?

They (all of them) have done absolutely nothing but talk and steal for the last 30 years, and now suddenly everything is going to be different. Of course. And this time pigs will fly as well.

Here's a quote which still fits perfectly and always will:

"Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where there is no river."

Nikita Khrushchev

Mary-Ann Faroni
Zurich