On Proton Bank, the Greek Left, school sit-ins, Margaret Thatcher
Proton Bank — hats off to the Bank of Greece
Now, everybody knows that it is one thing to restructure a small Greek bank and another thing to restructure a too-big-to-fail bank in core countries of the EU. However…
The Bank of Greece gave a textbook example how this is done: Split it up into a good and bad bank; capitalize the good bank with the aim of being able to eventually sell it at a profit; liquidate the assets of the bad bank and pay off creditors in order of priority rank (with shareholders coming last).
Congratulations! Perhaps the Bank of Greece should give its blueprints to EU elites so that the latter can copy them. They should copy them quickly because they will need the blueprints soon.
Klaus Kastner
On the myths of the Greek left
It is somewhat amazing that the left is still a force in Greece.
It is somewhat even more surprising that the 75% of Greeks who are not leftists have put up with this madness.
Every dominant society in every liberal democracy has its share of «guilt.”
Australia shares its guilt over the treatment of its indigenous population, as do Canada and the US. The latter also shares the guilt of the treatment of its black population, as does South Africa. The UK also shares its Irish guilt.
The only exception to this is Turkey, where the historical treatment of Greeks and Armenians and other Orthodox peoples barely rates a mention or concern.
However in Greece our lust for self-destruction has never known a boundary or sense of rationality.
The left in Greece however is a case in point. Had we not had a strong leftist movement we may never have had this economic and subsequent political crisis.
Yes, the civil war was brutal and regretful but it is of the past.
I mean at what point has the left apologised for their role in the civil war?
The leftists claim that over 100,000 of their supporters were exiled. Well, how many of their fellow compatriots had to leave Greece because of their self-destrictive behavior? Over 375,000 Greeks had to immigrate to Australia alone as a result of the civil war.
The left’s legendary figures of Zachariadis and Velouchiotis did fight the Nazis, and quite admirably, only to agree to the ceding of Macedonia to communist Yugoslavia. Yes, Macedonia, that sacred region where the three greatest Greeks of all time (Alexander, Philip and Aristotle) were born.
Has the left apologised to the Greeks of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Toronto, Berlin and Montreal, who for the past 50 years have had to hear pan-Slavic propaganda that they initiated?
Has the left apologised to the Greek people for the incessant strikes?
Has the left apologised to the Orthodox Church for its systematic propaganda?
Has the left apologised to the Greek people for the fact that in 40 years it has not created a single job? Yes, not a single job or income.
The time has come for the communist party to withdraw to the ash heap of history.
Jim Babalis
Melbourne
Thatcher
If Margaret Thatcher had not broken the power of the unions in the 1980s, I think the UK would be in a similar financial mess to Greece.
It amazes me that so many Greeks blame the politicians they have elected for the current sorry state of affairs when it is clear that the unions have far too much influence and have intimidated the political class for many years — resulting in a bloated, ineffective and dysfunctional public sector, and a private sector that resists the leeching wastefulness of the state through tax avoidance.
So many Greeks do not seem to understand that you are not paying a euro cent in interest or debt repayments because your government is still spending more that you collect in tax — your debt could be reset to zero and you would still immediately need to borrow more. Those that have trusted Greece in the past and bought your bonds are vilified as greedy capitalists that must take losses while Greece puts its case that the rest of the eurozone?s taxpayers should lend you new money.
There is a disconnect with logic and common sense which perhaps only an outsider can see clearly; to me it looks hopeless.
English Taxpayer
Unrest in schools
To the spoiled, entitled students of Greece,
Your behaviour is deplorable. Perhaps you need a reality check. In very few countries do students receive brand-new books every year. In very few countries are you allowed to take an infinite number of years to complete an undergraduate degree. In very few countries do you have access to free post-secondary education (food, tuition, books…).
I have recently seen many e-mail jokes comparing the lack of books in Greek schools to situations in Africa. These jokes are in very poor taste, and none of them are funny. The main difference between African students and Greek students is that African students respect their education. African students do not consider education a right. For many of them, it is a privilege, and they take great pleasure from having the privilege to go to school and learn, even just a little.
While I feel that the state of the education system, at all levels, in this country is tragic, unfortunately you get what you deserve. Try respecting your teachers. Try respecting your books. Try appreciating the fact that you are fortunate enough to have access to free education up to and including university level. Most students in other countries do not have this privilege.
Instead of protesting about the time limits to finish degrees, the external evaluations of professors or the idea that you may have to pay for your post-secondary education, why aren’t you protesting about the fact that your education system has failed you? Greek universities have become a sad joke, and in an increasingly global economy, this means you cannot compete with students from other developed (or even developing) countries. Instead of destroying your schools and the few resources that you have, make the most of what you have, like an African student. Demand better quality, not easier access and lower standards.
You should be focusing on learning respect and appreciation, above all.
Eleni Philos
Athens, Greece
