Greece Explodes: You are NOT going to sell our national treasures to service yr debt!!!

[the_future_modernes]

Yesterday:General Strike! Greek people reject Austerity

The impending fire sale of historic treasures of the people of Greece to pay the billionaires bar bill at Club Euro has infuriated a broad cross section of the Greek people. People from as far away as the outer isles of Greece are converging at Syntagma square in front of the Greek Parliament to protest tomorrow and Wednesday.

The Greek government's plans to surrender the Palace of Corfu (Image: tourist's photo in public domain) to German bankers has infuriated the well to do as well as the working class.

Spiros Avramiotis. a local olive oil producer is furious at the idea of losing one of Corfu’s prime locations and angrily stated. “We have to stand up and send a message to the politicians in Athens that Corfu is not for sale, not one inch of it. Full stop.” He added, “Greece may be on the verge of bankruptcy, but surely it’s not a good idea to sell off the family silver,” a belief that is held by a great number of citizens in Greece. Behind Spiros Avramiotis stands hoardes of islanders who are preparing to join mainland workers in protests against the government in their bid to raise €50 billion from the auctioning of state assets. The Palace is one of several state-owned properties said to be up for sale. Other locations are beaches, casinos, airports and marinas around Greece.

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Greek general strike and austerity debate - Tuesday 28 June

Here's a summary of events today:

• Tens of thousands of Greeks have taken to the streets to voice their opposition to a new wave of austerity measures which will be subject to a vote in parliament on Wednesday and Thursday. A two-day strike called by unions began today. Transport, schools and other services as well as many private businesses were shut as a result of the strike called by ADEDY, the union representing half a million civil servants and GSEE, which represents 2 million private sector workers. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled or rescheduled and protesters have blockaded the port of Piraeus.

• A minority of protesters were involved in running battles with the police. Many of them wore crash helmets or bandanas over their faces. They brandished wooden staves, hurled missiles including bricks and molotov cocktails and started fires. Two communications trucks were set on fire and shops were vandalised. The troublemakers, believed to consist mainly of anarchists, also threw smoke grenades and firecrackers. Police fired rounds of teargas leaving the air in central Athens acrid. Police said 18 people were detained, with formal arrest charges laid against five of them, and that four policemen were injured and transferred to a military hospital. There were reports of dozens of people being treated for the effects of teargas in Syntagma Square, which has been the focal point of the protests.MORE

Showdown in Greece: Interview with Panos Petrou

THE MEDIA analysis of the crisis in Greece claims the same thing that we hear in this country--that working people have been living beyond their means, and now they have to sacrifice. Is this really the source of the crisis?

THIS CLAIM is a total inversion of reality. During the recent past, the economy was booming, and gross domestic product was growing. But working people, the ones who created this wealth, have been living in a state of constant austerity since 1985--with governments implementing one austerity plan after another, while capitalists keep the whole pie for themselves.

In the case of Greece, the global economic crisis and the deep recession triggered a serious debt crisis. While the media claim that the problem is a "big state" that spends too much, the main problem of the deficits is the collapse of state revenues. And capitalists are to blame for that.

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the real tax rate for capital in Greece is 15.8 percent, one of the lowest rates in the European Union.

The big enterprises and the banks enjoy scandalous tax breaks. Many capitalists don't even bother to pay their share. Tax evasion has become the rule over the last years for the rich. For instance, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company S.A. had total revenues of 6.5 billion euros in 2009--and they paid just 77 million euros in taxes! The workers at the company paid more than that. Greece's extremely wealthy ship owners--Greece has the largest commercial fleet in the world--pay just 12 million euros in taxes.MORE

Comments

[thejeopardymaze]

I suppose after becoming aware of what the Irish government want to do with Tara awhile back that I really shouldn't be surprised by stunts like this. You can never be pessimistic enough, because something is always out there to surprise you off-guard.

[the_future_modernes]

tara?

They want to

[thejeopardymaze]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill_of_Tara

http://www.taraskryne.com/home.html

Re: They want to

[the_future_modernes]

A motorway?????!!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL?????