I'll had that the overlook on the paralel economics and the corruption is startling, the people should not been paying or called lazy for the bad management… this countries are under a strict policial circle, the political class knows that the people hates them.
As I previously said, I don't really know much about Spain's situation. HOWEVER, Greece's situation has been well documented in UK news documentary shows (Panorama, Dispatches, etc).
The southern European countries that are having a hard time now had extremely early retirement ages. Even after severe reforms, they still retire 4 years earlier than the rest of Europe.
They also had grey economies through tax avoidance on goods and services.
Job related benefits were outrageous, compared to the rest of Europe.
Despite pretty decent economic growth (prior to the global economic meltdown), the national debt was skyrocketing. The year before the global economic meltdown, the Greek national debt was 105% of their GDP. Their GDP rose 4.3% but their national debt rose 7% up until the global economic meltdown.
Bailing out other countries has meant higher taxes and service cuts for the countries that had to do the bailing out, yet the countries that got bailed out are angry with those that saved them.
All of these things are direct benefits of the people of these countries. This is why you won't see much pity from the people in the rest of Europe.
What are you stating is true but that is for the old generation of greeks.
The current generation, the one I live, has to face the sins of the older generation in every conceivable way.
I am a nurse and our health system suffers from the lack of financial resources, we are working overtime which we are not paid. The stuff also suffers from the lack of personell. Weare paying our taxes, the low citizens that is, we are paying our bills. And let's not touch the subject of unemployment. Many of us have degrees and diplomas only to decorate the walls of our houses.
For this generation of greeks, a small amount of respect must be shown.
We are trying and i think it is pretty unfair to blame this generation for the sins of the old.
