Posted on 02/12/2012 3:52:09 PM PST by mandaladon
ATHENS (Reuters) - The Greek parliament approved a deeply unpopular austerity bill to secure a second EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy, as buildings burned across central Athens and violence spread around the country.
Cinemas, cafes, shops and banks were set ablaze in central Athens as black-masked protesters fought riot police outside parliament.
State television reported the violence spread to the tourist islands of Corfu and Crete, the northern city of Thessaloniki and towns in central Greece. Shops were looted in the capital where police said 34 buildings were ablaze.
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos denounced the worst breakdown of order since 2008 when violence gripped Greece for weeks after police shot a 15-year-old schoolboy.
"Vandalism, violence and destruction have no place in a democratic country and won't be tolerated," he told parliament as it prepared to vote on the new 130 billion euro bailout to save Greece from a chaotic bankruptcy.
Papademos told lawmakers shortly before they voted that they would be gravely mistaken if they rejected the package that demands deep pay, pension and job cuts, as this would threaten Greece's place in the European mainstream.
"It would be a huge historical injustice if the country from which European culture sprang ... reached bankruptcy and was led, due to one more mistake, to national isolation and national despair," he said.
The chaos outside parliament showed how tough it will be to implement the measures. A Reuters photographer saw buildings in Athens engulfed in flames and huge plumes of smoke rose in the night sky.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Honestly I think we’re heading there even if he isn’t elected. The mess still needs to be cleaned up.
And when this bailout runs out....???
I agree with you, provided we can get enough people elected into office with the intestinal fortitude and balls to do it, it will take years of hard work and pain to get us turned around and out of trouble.
I think you can safely remove the word “could’ from your equation. We will be headed in the same direction if Comrade Imam obama is re-elected. And that is precisely what he fully intends to bring about. Only when America lies in ruins can he rebuild upon the ashes the Marxist state he envisions.
Just once I want to hear someone say..
“Its food stamps or bike paths and rain gardens. Choose.”
And then they need to follow it up by explaining why all 3 will need to go in the end.
(Just an example)
I would laugh at them, but we are heading the same direction.
Exactly and it would take a miracle to prevent it no matter who is elected. I’m just real glad I live in a tiny rural town off the beaten path.
We have more voters who are takers than who are producers. Public employees with big pensions and longer lifespans is an unsolvable problem unless those pensions are dramatically reduced. Of course, even though the money isn’t there, those being paid with our tax dollars do not want to hear it. I am afraid buildings are going to burn here. We cannot keep spending huge amounts of money on the phantom of green jobs and things like California’s high speed railroad to nowhere.
Those on the left, led by Obama, want to destroy America as we know it. Are we headed for a second civil war?
This is a shining example of a socialist progressive government just what Obama wants for the USA.
This “austerity” is a drop in the bucket.
The world needs to start over at the Cash on Demand level for a while. That would be one way to fix this.
This is what is coming to our country, and the reason deep cuts in the national debt are merely words. We are living in an entitlement society and there is a large enough percentage of the population living off the wages of others, that if you cut back, they will riot and pillage.
The occupy-wall street is an indication of the rage and arrogance inherent in the entitlement class. These people are acting like spoiled children, before anything is even taken away from them. Imagine what happens if the government hand outs stop coming. Look at what’s going on in WI, just because Governor Walker wants state employees to pay a little of their wages for health care, like the rest of America.
I’m convinced, more than ever, there are so many people in this country who will revolt if anyone tries to reign in excessive spending, cut back on the benefits they are getting now, that we’re are destined for the same kind of economic collapse we are seeing in socialist Europe. The government regardless of the party in power, will not have to courage to do what has to be done. We are past the point of no return, far too many people dependent on the government.
We are also a country filled with adults who act more like spoiled children like we are seeing in Greece. America has always taken care of it’s disadvantaged, but if you think all the people ripping off the system, people who are capable of working and are not, are simply going to accept anyone cutting off the gravy train and become contributors to society.. you are dreaming.
MPs rebel against new bill
Schaeuble warns that promises no longer suffice
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/10/53243
The die is cast
http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/8/53257
The vast majority of public transportation is funded by people who rarely if ever use it. The people mover in Detroit is rider funded at a rate of around 7% and 25% is considered successful on average nationwide.
There’s unbelievable waste everywhere we turn.
Greece doesn’t need a bail-out, it needs a police force. Apparently, its current police force has gone on strike in solidarity with the rioters, who are the policemen’s fellow government union members.
Like Greece, the majority of Americans are on the dole in some way or form. We will hit the wall soon no matter what.
Amen to that! Me too!
We’re headed for ‘Revolutionary War, Part II - The Great Reset’
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