I have no real idea about what was going on in the mans mind, only a few comments he left on a piece of paper and his actions, with even that being filtered through the media.
I took it as he had paid into his pension not with gov’t money but with his own, he was self employed and had sold his business. He was required to pay into social insurance but something (I am not certain of what) happened that it was no longer there. This explains somewhat how their system works: http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/comparative/tn0801018s/gr0801019q.htm
Perhaps he had an illness and medical costs were eating up their money, or maybe the insurance he paid into for his pension went belly up? Maybe the Greek gov’t had taken over accounts— our gov’t toys with the idea of taking over 401k’s...
Yes, I do think he had trusted his gov’t too much, just as many of us do. My mother has taken care of her retirement well but if gov’t started jacking with accounts and taxing differently—she may not be doing as well as she is today.
That wouldn’t be my mothers fault, that would be the gov’t promising too much to others who haven’t provided for their future and the gov’t deciding to take from her to give to the others.
Redistributing wealth to pay for others who haven’t earned it and that would be because the gov’t has been negligent and derelict in their duties and promised too much in order to keep the office that they hold.
Yes, I see us very much going the way of Greece and having the same problems but on an even larger scale. Much worse should Obamacare not be overturned.
Like I have written, I have no idea of what was in this mans’ mind without knowing him and without more information.
But, from the small amount of information I do have and relating it to things here in the US, I don’t think the man was a gov’t teat sucking wimp who just stepped out because he couldn’t handle it.
I read meaning into this:
“my advanced age does not allow me a way of dynamically reacting (although if a fellow Greek were to grab a Kalashnikov, I would be right behind him)”
I think he saw the Greek gov’t as corrupt and bad stewards, the sovereignty of Greece has been ceded and the constitution disregarded.
He felt too old to stand up and lead a revolt with a Kalashnikov. He thought that his suicide in Constitution square was his best way of standing up and trying to wake the people of Greece. He wants them to take their country back. His last stand and revolt was to lay down forever.
I am hoping more information comes out but this is what I am reading into it thus far. It is a message and I hope we hear it here, too. Our gov’t is leading us down the road to destruction.
I did’nt mean to imply that the man was stuck on the government teat. It sounds like he was a successful businessman who worked hard for many years before selling his pharmacy. In short, it sounds like he did everything right and worked hard for a retirement that was squandered by socialists. That makes it even more troubling to me. His alleged statement that he did not want to leave his children in debt indicates a conflict of honor.
I really thought this was a story that was worthy of more discussion in light of our own situation and direction. I don’t believe successful Americans are immune from losing the lifestyle we take for granted in our country. I am trying to insure that I don’t have to rely on the government to feed my children if our system fails. I don’t expect to get social security despite paying a considerable sum into it. I won’t be surprised if the government seizes either my 401k and IRA “for the greater good” either. I try not to count on those. I put more trust in my small farm that I work on with my “leisure” time.
However, after almost two decades in law enforcement, I feel like I know what might happen when times get desperate. Perhaps this story struck me because I have watched for it. I would like to know more about his story and situation.