As Greece Teeters, the Free Loaders Strike and Protest

By Douglas V. Gibbs

European stocks have been plunging, and Greece is on the verge of default. So, in this crisis, what do the citizens do about it? They begin crying about the cutbacks and deregulation that Greece is forced to initiate.

This is what happens when you train a society to be dependent upon the government. Even in the face of complete collapse, they will cry that they aren't getting their government freebies.

Greece is doing what it can to avoid complete collapse, and they are trying to save themselves as the European economic crisis worsens, and Obama continues to try to send the United States in the exact same damaging direction.

Socialism, liberalism, whatever you want to call it, has caused this. Now, after all of the damage, they are trying to save themselves with austerity measures that, though painful, must be used - despite the temper tantrum of the free loaders in that society. . . that have been taught to be free loaders by the socialist government system of entitlements.

The cuts the protesters are railing against are cuts to pensions above 1,200 euros ($1,650) per month, a temporary layoff for 30,000 state employees and a drastic reduction of revenue exemption on annual taxes to 5,000 euros, from 12,000 euros currently.

Collapse is inevitable, though, because with the cuts have been increases in taxes, which kills the ability for growth. Greece has a new controversial property tax which could be extended to 2014, and that tax alone has raised dissent in the governing party with backbenchers and former ministers doubting their effectiveness after two years of recession. That is because with tax increases comes a retardation of growth. To pull themselves out of this they have to also cut taxes. The austerity measures will never work as long as tax cuts are not initiated as well.

"Not even Greece's German and Turkish conquerors imposed such taxes," said one official.

The main private sector union GSEE and the Adedy syndicate representing civil servants have called for strikes next month against the austerity measures.

The public sector will shut down on October 5 and a general strike will be held on October 19.

And this is only the beginning of the madness.

Liberalism fails wherever it is tried.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Strikes sweep Greece, contagion threat sweeps stocks - EU Business

Protests and strikes rock Greece - The Independent

Greece faces more strikes as default looms - CBC News

Strikes hamper Greek rescue effort - Financial Times