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When Jail Threats Don't Work: Greek Government Punctuates Case Against Strikers By Firing Tear Gas At Them
As we wrote earlier, Greece is currently paralyzed, literally, due to a wholesale shortage of fuel at gas stations, as drivers of trucks carrying the precious commodity have been striking for several days. As noted previously, the government invoked a war-time mobilization measure forcing the strikers to stop striking or face civil penalties and jail time. Shockingly, this had absolutely no impact ont he angry mob. In order to make its point even more clear, the government accentuated its overturn of labor rights by firing tear gas at protesters, according to the Guardian. And, in an amusing turn of events, the IMF delegation which was rumored to be passing by at just this time to conclude the backroom deal in which US taxpayers would fund a few hundred more billion of failed Greek programs, was subjected to a Greek parliamentary guard wearing the traditional skirty attire, screaming in a bullhorn that the truckers were merely engaged in a modern remixed version of sirtaki and there was absolutely nothing to see there (obviously the guy had just graduated from the CNBC School for People who Want to Fabricate the Truth Good).
More from the Guardian:
With fuel shortages stranding thousands of tourists and disrupting supplies of food and medicines nationwide, prime minister George Papandreou resorted to emergency legislation, more usually used at times of war or great natural disaster, to end the walk-out.
But hopes of a return to normal were quickly dashed when riot police fired tear gas at thousands of truckers gathered outside the transport ministry this morning.
"The order is coming through to [drivers] but I have no idea how they are going to react to it," said Giorgos Stamos, a member of the truck drivers' union. "It is highly unusual that after just three days of going on strike we should be mobilised in this way."
The ruling socialists called for the mobilisation – the fourth time since the collapse of military rule in 1974 that such an order has been issued – as it became clear that Greece was facing a public health crisis because of the strike.
On islands, where fuel supplies have totally run out, tourists could be seen abandoning rented cars by the side of the road while yachts remained docked in harbours or drifted out at sea.
Under the order – which followed a plea by the Greek Tourist Association to stop the strike – authorities were given the go-ahead to requisition vehicles and services, with the owners and drivers of trucks being told they had to resume work or face stiff fines.
"To allow the strike to continue would threaten the normal functioning of health and welfare services and public order," the government announced.
The mayhem began on Monday when some 33,000 licensed truck drivers walked off the job in protest at government plans to open up the freight industry, one of many 'closed–shop' professions blamed for keeping the Greek economy isolated and uncompetitive.
The debt-stricken country is under intense pressure from the EU and IMF to make the changes – a condition of the €110bn (£92bn) of emergency loans it received from eurozone nations and the Washington-based body in May.
With officials from both organisations visiting Athens to prepare a first assessment of the progress made under the €30bn austerity program that the government has also been forced to implement, the Greek finance minister insisted that "every closed profession" would soon be opened up.
In the case of truckers, the first group to be tackled, it will mean that new licences will be issued at lower costs and in greater number. The sector wants the government to delay the introduction of a bill to allow for more talks with the industry.
The truckers have shown this week that such reforms will not be easy.
In a culture where workers' rights are seen as sacred, militant unionists have reacted furiously to the mobilisation.
"The government is aiming to smash every striker's right," Rizospastis, the newspaper of the KKE communist party proclaimed on its front page. "There is nothing but to gather forces and fight."
The strike has further dented tourism – widely seen as the linchpin of the country's economic recovery this summer. With one in five Greeks working in the sector, tourism accounts for almost 20% of GDP.
The trucker's strike "is a huge problem for bookings that our country needs, to cover part of the losses that have occurred in recent months," said Andreas Andreadis who heads the Greek Hotel Federation.
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This simply can't be happening and thus must be a lie because I don't see it on CNBC.
Unless CNBC has instituted a new "don't let the American hamsters see the Greek hamsters riot" company policy.
Greeks are retarded. They are also lazy and would rather strike to oppose retiring later in life, than working hard so that they CAN retire early.
WELL U SEE THERE R BAD APPLES AND GOOD APPLES IN A BASKET,
ALSO THERE LOGICAL GYUS AND STUPID ONES ..U OBVIUSLY KNOW WHERE U BELONG..
"Well. You see. There are bad apples and good apples in a basket. Also, there are logical guys and stupid ones. You obviously know where you belong."
Perhaps he does. Do you?
Everybody is retarded except you my friend. You may disclose to us what you are working so hard at the moment. Is it something which creats real value or just numbers and drivel?
"greeks are retarded" You're right. I can't think of a single thing these people have contributed to western civilization or culture. And, except for those twilight characters, who needs garlic
The Greeks pretty much started western civilization.
They don't get credit for Grand Theft Auto or South Park.
Anybody up for "protest tourism?" Nobody in Gen X or Y has any experience.
sarcasm
Quoting Tarheel,, Greeks are retarded....rather strike to oppose retiring later...
Actually, Asshole, The Greeks are smarter than than. They understand that they are being IMF'ed like any other 3rd world country, forced into austerity and debt slavery due to the corruption and greed of their ruling classes. They understand history and they understand exploitation. Unlike the typical beer swilling channel switching american, they are prepared to stand against tyranny, rather than rely on the Obamassiah to fill their gas tanks and pay their mortgages. Do you think the US would be in such a terrible economic state, if 10 million americans stood up against the wall street banksters and said fuck you to the bailouts? If nothing else, the greeks have courage, and will not cower or bow to enslavement.
Disclosure. I love Feta cheese but hate Mossaka.
Spot On Mr russki. Do we know how much those truckers get paid compared to US truckers? And it seems to me there always US trucking companies hiring. Why is that? Maybe because it's a shit job even at 50K yr? Maybe the Greek truckers should come here and drive around the country for a year or two. Make some dough, see the sights. We could set up a whole visa class for them too
I protest and reject the notion of being broke. There MUST be somebody we can squeeze more money from to keep our union paychecks coming.
you had to pay the state 90k to drive a truck in greece, now after the truck drivers paid up now the state says the trucking companies can get people off the street !!!!!!!!! that sucks !!!!!
They're like the Icelanders, only they can take their clothes off at the beach
Answer this for me then, and I mean this seriously:
Are they only opposed to austerity if it's imposed by the IMF? If not, are they going to default, and implement their own cuts?
What no one seems to want to address is that they're fucking broke. If they're simply fighting off the Bankster's, I'm the first in line to cheer them on. But they're still broke. So are they going to take their broke asses quietly home after they go all Iceland on the rest of the world?
You got half of it right.
That's why I have a hard time looking at this as some kind of heroic uprising. We spent til we're broke, borrowed til we could borrow no more, and now we're gonna have a tantrum in the street cause we don't like to face the hard reality of BROKE-ASS-FUCKING-BROKE?
Coming to a U.S. city near you.....
Stupid propaganda.
Would you care to shred the veil of lies then? Enlighten us. Please.
Stop seeing things as so black and white. If you continue to do so , you will continue to think you honestly have a democratic choice when it comes to chosing between the tools of the Donkey and the tools of the Elephant.
Enlighten yourself.
I certainly don't see tham as black and white. Why do you think I asked WAAY up there for someone to help me understand? But as the tone of some threads go, critique is seldom accompanied by wisdom.
It takes some black and some white to make grey. Black: Greece is broke. White: Their choices are now - raped, or beat up and raped. All I asked, is what is the motivation behind the people? My impression is spoiled and ignorant, looking for blood out of a turnip. But again, that's why I asked.
And why would you think I relish a choice between a donkey or an elephant? Or for that matter consider it a choice at all?
Your tone and posts suggests the people of Greece are ignorant , greedy and have spent beyond their means so striking seems a most hypocritical and churlish response to necessary austerity.
Well , i am not going to tell you that point of view is wrong , i am simply saying it takes 2 to tango. Western civilization is full of fat , ignorant and selfish people , the reason we should cut the Greeks some slack here is that they are being used as Guinea Pigs in the great experiment.
TPTB have fattened us all up to the point of debt servitude and now are deciding our fate. The Greek people and Icelandic are deciding not to blink.
Very few in society can hold their head up high on the moral highground and claim theyve succeeeded without the need of modern finance. Those few are more than likely reading this blog. But even they are enlightened enough,or hopefully so, to see the trap that the plebians of the West have been put into.
I expect nothing less of a society with little else to lose. The hows and whyfores become irrelevant. Every action has a reaction.
well said
I do think the people of Greece are ignorant, greedy, and have spent beyond their means. As do I think the same of 99% of the Euros and Americans, myself included to an extent. This isn't an anti-Greek thing for me. I have enough disdain to spread it around evenly to everyone.
I don't disagree with anything you said. If I'm a little snarky, one must remember, that (at least from news available) the Greek riots started over losing "Bonus Salary", having retirements pushed back, reductions in pay increases, all things that seem reasonable when you're broke. I don't however think the Greeks are any more "anything" than any other American Idol watching, IPhone dialing person.
This is where Mako steps in. I'm not insensitive to the plight. I just don't see that there is an answer. That's why I ask, "Are they burning banks because they have finally realized they've been had, or because they aren't being given what doesn't exist?" And my tone, while sarcastic simply points to the cold hard reality: You're broke. So now you put on your knee pads, or you live broke.
Thank you for at least taking the time to explain your thoughts, instead of junking and moving, without input.
Nothing you said required junking. This is open discourse.
I am not sure the strikers consciously are aware of exactly why theyre doing what theyre doing , which ultimately just hastens the demise , whatever that maybe.
But when a forest needs a fire , or an economy needs a recession , the more brutal and quicker the cleansing the better , for the future of said system. We are taking the wrong path whenever presented a fork in the road. We cannot change or alter whats coming , merely delay , and such delay will just require more to sacrifice even more in the cleansing process.
We cannot change history. Its been written. We should simply embrace the inevitable and plan accordingly. If it takes an emotional responce by a society that isnt sure why theyre doing what theyre doing - be it hatred of banks , a loss of entitlement (as illconceieved such entitlement is) , so beit.
If the US populace refuse to rise up at some point , the Empire will crumble in its current form and be reshapen in a far more , sinister model. And theres still something reassuring about that , because if that model is even more morally bankrupt than how the current one is ending , which it likely will be, then it wont last long. And whatever will be will be.
Eventually a fresh start will be made with a brighter future. But the interim could be long and painful.
I guess that what im saying is , as an electorate , we have no choice. No party or shadow party anywhere in the Western World currently has the answers and if they do , they dont have the balls to implement them. So with that dilema , why not resort to what man knows best to clear out the middleman. A forest fire indeed.
or they know that the IMF is taking them on a trip to greece... and they are already there.
Tarheel,
I am no expert on Greece, but I thought that they were lazy bums also, wanting to retire early and get a government handout. Then, I started thinking. If the government taxed the crap out of me and redistributed the wealth of my family to a particular segment of society via welfare, and then told me that when I hired an employee for my business that I could not fire him/her, had to provide health care and retirement.....regardless of whether I could afford health care for my own family....then the government finds an inflation rate of 2% - 3% acceptable, while at the same time a savings rate of 1.5% is also acceptable. Government intrusion is so prevalent that I am forced to wear a seat belt and pick up dog poop or be subject to a fine. I started thinking maybe I should be rioting.
Bravo! Critical thinking does exist after all. So often when we start down a logic path, once we get to a point where the road signs indicate trouble ahead, we have a tendency to re-interpret data to change the path or we simply ignore the signs.
Yes, maybe we should be rioting. And maybe we should understand that the real message behind the Greek riots wasn't people demanding they keep this or that entitlement but the social benefit of collective behavior. And yes, I just said a benefit can come from public riots.
Can we possibly imagine that 2 plus 2 often equals 6 or 11 because of the magic of compounding human spirit and effort? That human collectivism might actually be good in some cases?
CogDis, as one of the brighter posters @ ZH, certainly you understand that stasis does not exist as a steady state in nature. Rather, stasis is merely a (temporary) transitional period between either growth and/or decay. We cannot escape the immutable laws of physics. Nothing is linear - we are either expanding at an exponential rate, or we are contracting at an exponential rate.
That being said, is it so hard to believe that the power-elite do not understand this basic truth? On the contrary, while you & I were being guided into "respectable" professions, they were identified at an early age for leadership & control. From the beginning, their training & education was directed not towards vocational skills, but rather herd management.
So let me get to the point: the power-elite understand a cascade is occurring. They know how this ends - history provides a 100% perfectly accurate scorecard. Your admonitions to others to embrace 'the truth' are already incorporated into their plans.
Just because you're aware the boat is sinking and sounding the alarm for others does not presuppose that the power-elite disembarked awhile ago and are now quietly sailing off to other "safe harbors".
B9K9
I suspect that because I comment in bits and pieces, and that my articles are soooooo long that very few read them in their entirety, that some might come to the conclusion that while bright (thank you for the compliment) I don't see the big picture, the broad sweep of the battle field. I would like to think that I do.
I agree that there is an entire class of people who breed within their clan and train themselves to control the ugly mob, the herd as you will. And that they are fully aware of the coming "cascade" (great word, I'm stealing it) and they've been preparing for it for decades if not centuries. I agree it is we who are not aware, not them.
I've talked on ZH about how TPTB are beginning to implement their plans to co-op the "truth" and the "truth organizations. I am quite aware of the seeming futility of my admonishments. I suppose I'm making peace with myself so that when times get really tough I can say that I tried, that I didn't silently walk into the gas chambers, that I tried everything I could for as long as I could to awaken the sleeping masses. And at the same time, I'm not take personal responsibility when they don't awake.
This is why I spend a great deal of time organizing on a local level. Because that is where we will survive. Or not survive. On the neighborhood level, not the national or even state level.
Cog Dis, Would you be willing to make local organizing the subject of your next article? I am very interested in the subject and I do not know how to begin. I have never been a "political" person, but I also feel a duty to try - rather than let decay win by default.
In lieu of an article, are there any other authors you would recommend? Thanks.
"From the beginning, their training & education was directed not towards vocational skills, but rather herd management."
Perhaps their parents desired this, and trained them for it, but that does not mean they succeeded. Witness our current state of affairs, and the fact that several of the most visible of them are total morons (Bush2, Geithner), unable to keep their mouths shut (Kashkari, Biden), or unable to hide their sociopathy (Paulson, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Holder, and hundreds of others).
They have failed miseably, allowing conditions to occur which allow the masses to see the bars of the cages they're living in. Not nearly clever enough.
B9K9 wasn't really talking about the facade or public face. He was talking about the silent power base that never gets publicity or recognition.
Michael knew Freddo was a moron, so even though he was "family", he realized that he couldn't be trusted and hence had him eliminated.
Just because the power-elite has its fair share of idiots doesn't mean the others aren't completely aware of this state.
We may yet have the opportunity to tar & feather those who you included in your list. Will it satisfy the mob? Hardly. For the really clever ones will have gotten clean away.
As to CogDis, yes, it is foretold that someone like you will arise. And yes, the power-elite will begin to implement defensive measures. But these tactics will be purely rear-guard maneuvers.
Once the cascade begins, nothing can stop the accumulating mass. The laws of physics dictates that events must reach their crisis and dissipate naturally. That is what safe havens are for - to wait out the turmoil.
CD,
Perhaps the problem isn't the riot, but the reasons for the riot?
Maybe we should be rioting. But we need to ask ourselves why. It is because the government told us we could retire at 35 years old, and now they say we can't? Is is because we believe blood comes from turnips?
I'm all for a riot if it's productive and for the right reasons. And riots there will be. Too bad they won't come in time to save anything. It won't be until it's too late. (it's probably too late already) So like a bunch of spoiled so called anarchists at a G-20 summit, we too will tip cars and throw rocks. And we too will look as "retarded" (taken from above) as the Greeks, trying to hang onto something that's already gone.
Or never should have been there in the first place.
I hear you loud and clear. I often say we won't act like we have nothing left to lose until we have nothing left to lose. Instead of using riots as a means to an end, we will use them as the end. Period! But that won't stop me from speaking out, however futile that might appear to be at any one moment.
However, my comment was really directed towards promoting collective behaviour, of finding support by finding the others, not riots. Of finding actual strength and unity together where ever that is, instead of trying to convince ourselves we already have unity while sitting in front of a glowing boob tube or computer monitor.
Again I ask, in the well worn arc of history, is not this phase readily recognized & understood by the power-elite? Does not every age have its own CogDis? Is it not right there in their playbook, that someone will emerge who explains to the mob that they must fight to retain their rights, or risk losing all?
What is their response? To oppose, fight or simply view CogDis as a key sign of the time? Does it not read that when this man arises, the cascade is about to begin? Aren't they already long gone?
What we need CD, is a William Wallace moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLrrBs8JBQo&feature=related
CC
Inspiration only moves a person so far. At some point, at first blood or when that knock comes at the front door at 3 am, either one has personal moral courage or one doesn't.
Armies get around this problem by not even facing it. They train a person to deal with their fear by giving that person something to rely on, to fall back upon, when fear comes knocking. And they try to divert it with faith in the group and brotherhood. They don't try to extinguish the fear, only manage it. An added benefit is that when fear is managed, personal moral courage is more easily found within.
I don't mean to sound antagonistic CD, because I respect your efforts and agree with what you say.
Your effort has been to find the strength and unity. I would liken that to "faith in group and brotherhood". What we are missing is the army.
I'm not calling for bloodshed, because I don't have the balls to start it. And that's just where the Government wants us to be. Scared. I just have reached a point where I steadfastly believe it's the only vehicle of change that will work.
TPTB have achhieved their stranglehold on us by counting on our apathy, feeding our whims, and enslaving us with debt. Their is no recourse, and the cable isn't going to be shut off any time soon.
Their is no victory at the ballot box. Even at Rasmussen, Obama is still holding 46%. Romney is likely to be our next President??? Ron Paul will continue to be labeled a lunatic by the "mainstream", and as will every other politician who shows an inkling towards Constitutionalism.
The Federal Government has taken complete 100% control of the country, to the point where their crony judges overthrow and undermine the rights of states. Citizen's rights are trampled on a huge variety of issues, and more and more of our hard earned wealth is stripped from us to either be given to those who earn nothing, or to TBTF who take it as tithe.
So the depression sets in. It is the result of realizing that we have finally reached that breaking point that Internet Tough Guys like myself and Chumba talk about. Dying free or living on your knees. It's a Goddamned sad, shit sandwich, and I don't have an answer.
If there was a revolution, would I fight? Probably. In fact, yes. But I'm no William Wallace, and I'm basically just as chickenshit as anybody else. NOBODY wants to step forward, because they are afraid they will die alone. They have no faith that anybody will be standing behind them.
And your statement is exactly why I constantly harp upon the notion that we must look within to find the answers. If we are not at peace with ourselves, if we are not honest with ourselves, if we can't even trust ourselves, how are we ever going to trust our neighbors.
That glowing boob tube in every room of the house has isolated us and destroyed any social cohesion we might have had even 20 years ago. This is why I work on the local level, to develop local trust and strength.
BTW we are basically on the same page. I don't hear in you any animosity towards me, only anger and frustration. And it comes out when you (and I) talk with the only other people who are even willing to talk about this mess rather than seek refuge within the glowing box.
My question would be, what if there never are any riots? What if we just muddle through it, suck it up, take the medicine, work harder and longer, and turn into Japan? We won't act like we have nothing to lose until we have nothing to lose, but for most of us, that's still a long way off. I'm not going to whine about my life, because it ain't so bad, no matter how apocalyptic shit gets. What worries me is my kids, and grandkids lives.
I learned really soon in my corporate career you're either management or not. The parallels between Big Gov and Big Biz are so apparent and numerous (and overlapping) as to be unnecessary to discuss. What do you do when you know you can't change mgmt? You change companies. So, CD, what happens next? Riots? Ain't gonna happen on any big scale. Changing the government is almost an excercise in futility and will be generational at best. Changing countries? Maybe, but that's a solution for my kids, not yours and my neighbors and my buddies. Or, you suck it up and become mgmt for your kids future, but then you become the machine, actively making shit worse.
To me, the paths are clear. Changing the government? Come on. Maybe some cars get tipped over, get real. You either move to Singapore, which at least doesn't compound the problem, or you stay and choose between the 1) lion or the 2) lamb. There's no honor in either, unfortunately - willing participating in the ruin of 1) your progeny's future society or 2) your society's progeny's future...
Needless 2 say, I'm learning Mandarrin. Wo zai xue jhong wen...
Very well said.
Right, because clearly it's either blanc ou noir; republican or democrat; slave-master or slave. Do us all a favor and read Total Resistance. We're not all cut out to be revolutionaries, but we can derail a few trains here and there...
Wow. Did you actually read my post? If we muddle through it, and shit stays shades of grey, then oh well. I'm talking about tail risk, which by definition is binary. You either have a defined credit event, or you don't. Go ahead and derail a few trains. I'll hope for the best, prepare for the worst and watch whatever happens, man. Thinking about tail scenarios doesn't mean you have a monochromatic world view, for christsake...
Also, please spend 20 years working in a variety of middle management roles where your business projections, downside scenario modeling, etc. is far more often correct than not. Continue to watch senior management muck things up and run companies such as Bear Stearns into the ground, despite your best efforts. Then realize your complete inability to actually effectuate meaningful change as an individual, and further the difficulty in building coalitions around change which presents immediate downside risk against potential long term upside to any individual participating in the change. Also, read Winner's Curse, or Choice and Consequence. Then please come back to lecture me on my un-nuanced world view. Thank you in advance.
I suppose it's possible but extremely unlikely that we will just "muddle through" as you say. Because the spiral down is getting tighter and tighter and tighter. Every dollar the government borrows and pumps into the economy creates negative growth. NEGATIVE growth. Yet do you really see the government trying to stop pumping money into the economy. Even if it doesn't really help, the people who get the money will feel better, thus assuring the insanity continues.
Take a close look at history. There are cycles that always end as new ones begin. This one is coming to an end and whether it takes 2 months, 2 years or 2 decades, it's coming to an end. And your standard of living and mine are regressing to the mean. Sure there may not be riots. I'm not advocating riots though I think they will help break throughthis insanity and bring thing to a head.
What is coming is war. Large scale war. It always does because governments start wars to hang on to power. Will your children survive war? We are headed for a severe form of fascism. If you think you can survive that, good for you. Your children may not. How will they deal with a draft?
This all could end in a few months if half this country decided they'd had enough. But just as long as people feel they can't do anything to change things, guess what. They won't be able to change things.
Even if that is so, tipping over a few trains won't stop the war. Wouldn't picking the next empire be a successful solution to protecting your kids? I wouldn't want to live in the UK in WWII, I don't want to be here for WWIII, but in fifty years from now, is anyone going to really be able to F with China?
At least they have balls enough to get out into the street and let their corrupt gov't know how they feel. When was the last substantial US protest? Vietnam?
Americans are sheep !!!!!!!!!!!!
Evidently, they're smarter than we are.
If we were smart, we'd be rioting, too.
Hmmm, and you don't see it on Youtube either... I wonder why? Seriously, search Youtube and see if you can find anything recent, say in the last 3 days.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=greek+strikes+july&aq=f
The austerity will not be televised.
Here is a clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMIjf_dDMU8
@ CogDis.
I guess you are saying that CNBS et al do not want to cover this because it will soon be arriving in our own CIN states (California, Illinois, New York and many others I imagine.)
None of us crazy people are getting out unscathed, unless, maybe, you are a bankster.
You know, "overshoot" isn't just a term used in life sciences. For thousands of years, the power-elite have consistently experienced overshoot in terms of their rapacious ability to fleece the clueless.
Set up a simple money lending scheme where non-existent capital is collateralized by very real productive assets, and wait for the exponent function to work its magic. Once the compounding debt load can no longer be serviced by the income stream, repossess. Works every damn fucking time like clockwork.
Except. Yes, except for when the idiot sheep finally wake up and realize what has become of them. Then the riots, revolutions, recriminations and hangings begin. Wash, rinse & repeat - same as it ever was.
The trick to being part of the power-elite is to not be the unfortunate generation that is left holding the bag. Too bad for those who are going to experience "never again" is going to morph into "yes, it happened again".
Um, not being in the power elite, is there perhaps somebody that I can enslave and marginalize? This sounds like a pretty bulletproof scheme, and I too, would like to participate. I guess I could start by practicing on my neice and nephew - they'll be easy to fleece - they haven't even learned to count yet... :-)
Rothschild started as a small time operator under the original family name of Bauer (farmer). But he didn't rip off his family, he scammed the government and passed his methods down to his sons.
When Einstein was asked what the most powerful force in the universe was, his reply was: "compound interest".
not mandys boobies on cnbc ???????
I'm saying nothing as sophisticated as your thoughts. I just remember the outcry against the "constant" CNBC coverage of the last Greek riots from not only some of the talking heads on CNBC and else where. There were also some news stories and even a few editorials in newspapers asking if the MSM weren't depressing the markets or promoting negative vibrations because they were televising the Greek riots.
In other words, they were implying that the last time there were Greek riots on TeeVee (in the spring) the markets were dropping. Ergo, the markets dropped because of the Greek riots and the bad markets had nothing to do with the economy headed for a double dip.
So now that the Greek riots aren't on TeeVee this time, they will need something else to blame the market dropping again.
Key correlation for equity markets is no longer AUD/JPY but CNBC/POGYROS ?
LOL :>)
Ahhhh, the apotheosis of Greek Civilization. Give me a bottle of Retsina and girl from Crete, and I am off to heaven.
CNBC is too busy pumping the rise in EU confidence indicators. The French finance minister is already projecting that the EU will lead the global economy out of this recession by sometime next year... in a parallel universe.
Earlier I heard someone on CNBC say that they couldn't understand why the markets were dropping considering the good news out of the EU.
Hilariously funny when they begin to believe their own spin.
Apparently that French weed is pretty strong. C'est bon!
Hehe. You mean to prevent a flash crash??
Trouble is: when too much wealth is concentrated in few hands, the threat of insurgency can cause nuclear market devastation in minutes.
Not seeing much on this story anywhere. Hmmmmmm.
Any mob perfectly understands a government that uses a brute force. Communist and fascist governments are just good examples.
Hitler, Stalin, Mao were dearly loved and respected by overwhelming majority of their subjects!
But Cramer is on Zero hedge now !!!!!!!!!!
German news is ful of reports that Greece is running out of fuel.
This from Socialists? I'm shocked!
There was a famous joke going around end of the '80ies in Italy when socialist prime minister Bettino Craxi went on State visit to China... it was about him asking a Chinese People's Party frontman:"But if in China you are all socialists, whom do you rob?" the joke costed famous comedian Beppe Grillo, who invented it, a life long ban from public television... but hey, for everything else, there's MasterCard :)
The price of souvlakis is going up.
You always say that...
dammit now I'm hungry.
no kidding dude. that's some good lookin' eating.
Pita-souvlakis are a cheap, popular street food that many Greeks depend on. The rising cost of souvlakis provides the Greeks an daily reminder of the effects of government policies.
An eating indicator. Got it!
Corruption at all levels is being exposed, and the corrupt will fight it with all they have. By what moral authority does a corrupt government order the actions of a corrupt union?
There is no legitimate law right now. It all needs to come down, and everything rebuilt agan- and I am not just talking about Greece.
www.gold-silver.us/forum
And the EUR is up?
EUR/(commodity currency) crosses were due for a bounce up. Watch Friday and Monday closes for hints of future direction.
http://www.thedailybell.com/1250/UK-Stagflation-Now-It-Begins.html
Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has warned that high inflation will continue to erode earnings power through next year as the economy faces the threat of 'stagflation'.
GOT GOLD BITCHES?
Yep, bitches got gold, and this bitch will keep the gold until I've no rounds left.
I´m in love......<g>
Gold for the long winter, firearms and the will to use them and a pretty (contemplative) face as well. No wonder russki standart is in love. :>)
stay away from my sister!
LOL
Nope. Got plenty of lead though. Know any alchemists?
What a disaster! My brother and friends are down there now and thankfully they're alright. I have nothing against workers fighting for their rights, but this is economic suicide. A modern day Greek tragedy.
It's unfortunate, but often the only way to kill the parasites if for the host to die. Besides, watching Greeks take it to the bankers and government is about the best news we get each week.
I can only concur. I think we'll soon live "interesting times" here in Italy as well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWxPl4izlas
thanks, I never really listened to the lyrics until just now. I've still got a lot of my own history to relearn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wH_0_pijbZY
often the only way to kill the parasites if for the host to die
Odysseus made short work of the suitors once he got up to speed.
Oh my swineherd!
Dear Leo,
they already are facing economic suicide by IMF. The Greeks understand that if they allow themselves to be thrust into a 3rd world existence, that they will not re-emerge unless they are prepared to war against the banksters. Better to hold the line, now.
Yes, these are the Hollow Men seek to crush everyone under their feet because they believe they are the chosen elite ruling class. Who will take a stand?
They've chose economic suicide (from which you can rebuild) over indentured servitude to TPTB and the agents of debt.
Yes, Leo, a disaster. The Greeks are damned if they do, damned if they don't. More austerity pushes the economy down further, making debt/GDP even higher. Any austerity will just increase unemployment and reduce spending. And the rioting wil reduce tourism.
The US position is no different. You can't spend 60-80% more than you take in revenue in perpetuity. Then once you build up giant structures and structural inefficiencies, you've created too many people reliant on the system to make cuts. It would cause more unemployment, more pain. It is a death-trap - damned if you do, damned if you don't.
Just keep watching your weekly train car loadings, buy your solar stocks, and hope the PPT can hold up the stock market as long as possible.
Bravo to the Greeks! For standing up to the masters of the Loonyverse. Default bitchez!!
Finally something that works... Cut the fuel line and people start to listen, while the m*&her f#@^ers tyrants piss themselves.
Look to the Greeks for real Democracy.
Aux armes Citoyens!
Well, they are Sparta...
http://s242.photobucket.com/albums/ff311/bouf/?action=view¤t=this-is-sparta.jpg&newest=1
the dollar has started its freefall.....months if not weeks away now....
I keep wondering how long before the party gets started here in the US.
Keep an eye on CA. I figure the party will start in three to twenty-four months. A wide spread, but internet porn, facebook, and xbox really promote apathy.
My guess as well. Followed quickly by Illinois.
I keep wondering how long before the party gets started here in the US.
MICHAEL: What happened to Moe Greene?
FREDO: He said he had some business. He said give him a call -- when the party started.
MICHAEL: Well give him a call.
Dollars, bitches!
Yeah, the petro-dollar game is nearly over. If countries no longer have to trade dollars for oil, why trade into dollars at all (grossly ignoring any carry trades)?
Funny you should mention this. I listened to an interview with Lindsay Williams, who claims insider information in the oil industry. Since we have a de facto petro dollar, if the price of oil were to surge dramatically, there would also be a significant demand for dollars since (at this point) one must usually trade oil in dollars. Is that enough of a reason to start another war in the area?
The Euro doesn't seem to reflect any unrest, so all must be well.
It's all fun and games until someone loses a pension.
ha!
I don't want any of you people getting any ideas here! Just "Keep on Truckin'!"
Like the doo-dah man!
Morality question here.
I really, really - I mean very much - reallly, enjoy reading this kind of doomer porn, and I want it to continue. I look at it as, the leg must come off, I'm the only one in the OR who gets that, and as the saw slowly saws, and the patient and everybody else screams for it to stop - I smile and want the sawing to continue.
Does that mean I am a bad man?
X times 39 equals 390? Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees. Captcha bitches.
"Good, bad... I'm the guy with the shotgun."
Nope, that doesn't make you bad. On the other hand, had you wanted the sawing to continue with a rusted piano wire... nah, not even then. Let 'em scream.
We've seen this movie many times. Usually the ending is the same. For an American perspective we need to remember what happened to Air Traffic Controllers back in the 1980's.
Canucklehead
"we need to remember what happened to Air Traffic Controllers back in the 1980's."
They got a John Cusack movie?
Nick Falzone: Oh, you really think the pilot is controlling this plane? That would really scare me.
we may have seen the movie before, but the box office tickets have never been this expensive.
This is the US and that ain't. There's a huge ocean of difference in the situation and what you can expect the outcome to be.
Boring Prophet: There shall in that time be rumors of things going astray, erm, and there shall be a great confusion as to where things really are, and nobody will really know where lieth those little things with the sort of raffia-work base, that has an attachment. At that time, a friend shall lose his friend's hammer, and the young shall not know where lieth the things possessed by their fathers that their fathers put there only just the night before, about eight O'clock.
Splitter!
For the rest of you who didn't get that reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS-0Az7dgRY
Or the prophets:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8WmvMCTW_g
What will be the state of affairs here in the US when the economic system finally takes a swan dive?
cool avatar
WELL LETS REVEAL A TRUTH HIDDEN BY TV..THESE DRIVERS LICENSES WERE GIVEN FOR FREE BY THE MILITARY JUNTA IN 1974 FOR FREE AND THERE WERE NOT PASSABLE (
UNLESS BEING FAMILY) TO ANOTHER PERSON .THE DEMOCRACY MADE A FARE ABOUT 3000O OLD DRACHMA FROM THEN ON NONE WAS ISSUED SO THE PRICE OF TRANSFERE SHOT UP TO 200000 EUROS ..SO THSE GYUS R A SMALL STATE IN A STATE..
I AM NOT PRO THE SOCIALISTIC BARBARITY NOR I LIKE PAPANDREU ..THESE CHANGES SHOULD HAD BEEN DONE LONG AGO..THE THING THAT ALL GREECE ACCUSES HIM IS LYING THAT NOTHING OF THIS WAS MEANT TO HAPPEN AND THAT MONEY EXISTED..THAT IS THE SOCIETY S SENTIMENT..
You are a ZH newbie so I'll be gentle.
Please, remove the caps lock when posting. I have yet to hear anyone tell me they eagerly read something because the upper case writing indicated to them that what they're about to read is very very important.
In fact, many people skip it because it's irritating and annoying to be shouted at.
http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Caps_lock
LOL
All Caps Trivia
"Caps lock can get you fired!!!"
Happened to a woman I worked with. She was always yelling at everybody. We still look back with fond memories at the day that Bitch got the axe.
CHUCK NORRIS can only be spelled correctly using caps lock.
Stocks like AAPL quoted in caps lock can only go up.
The caps lock on my DICK is stuck; Asian keyboards have no caps lock.
yes ,wilco...its a habbit from another forum...
Thank you for responding kindly and gently. And welcome to ZH.
I junked you.
There is a key on your keyboard. It is located all the way to the left, and halfway down from the top. It is called, "Caps Lock". Please push it, and start speaking to us like a civilized human being.
maybe he is using some cheap, 4th world, all-cap keyboard???
Maybe he can't afford better...
WELL IF HE RESPONDS WITH AN AFFIRMATION OF THAT FACT THEN I WILL GLADLY APOLOGIZE.
Show the guest to his room.I hope you have a pleasant time while your stay at the Old Zero Inn...MUHUHAHAHA...MUHUHAHAHAHAHA.
Another liar of the Socialist propaganda is daggerwolf22 . All Papandreou and IMF Socialists when posting say that they don't like Papandreou but they accuse everyone who is against the IMF and Papandreou measures.
Vile propagandists will end to jail.
you re wrong my friend? we belong to pasok that is far more nationalistic than this papandreu one..that makes altereration in greek foreign affair politics
i went out of this pasok when imia incident happenned back in 96..
C'mon, guys like you post in all Greek blogs and state that they don't like Papandreou, but they blame and accuse everyone who opposes Papandreou.
Propagandists of Socialist crap.
Liars and traitors
Just wondering... Do you bring ANYTHING to the table except to call names? Conservatism is propaganda, Socialism is propaganda. Offer something. Can you?
Look who's talking! The one that gave a dozen names to the Greeks and the only thing he brings is the "no alternative" moto. Yeah right.
I suggest that Papandreou should do what he promised before the elections. But, hey, he LIED!
The only way is to kick out of Greece IMF's and Papandreou's Socialist gang by any means, free the country from this junda, restore Democracy and liquify all the traitors.
Greece is a rich country and Socialists stole the wealth. Especially the Papandreou bastards.
Papandreou's time is almost up.
Read the posts I made. Commenting on humanity much more so than Greeks. Asking questions about Greek motivation. Don't sit there and call names and label like a bitch. OFFER something.
Coming soon to a democracy near you!
USA! USA! USA!
I think this is the only time where the USA chant has ever been appropriate for me.