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This Is How Greece Celebrates "Exiting" Its Historic Recession
Greece - it would appear by this morning's GDP print - is now the engine of growth for Europe. Despite near-record unemployment, record suicides and poverty, and an increasing number of Greeks doing unpaid work (or in slavery), GDP rose at the fastest rate across the EU... However, it appears, judging by the protests across Athens today, the people did not get the message that the crisis is over... as police resort to tear gas and stun guns.
The news that Greece has left recession comes as the country is gripped by scenes of protesting students.
Our Athens correspondent, Helena Smith, explains:
Tensions are very much on rise after overnight riots outside Athens Polytechnic (where the 1973 student uprising set in motion the events that lead to the fall of Greece’s hated military regime) and a student take-over this morning of Thessaloniki University.
As I write, students are marching through Athens.
Protestors are up in arms over government’s controversial decision to implement a lock-out at all tertiary education institutions in run-up to the anniversary this Monday. Usually, university students have used the three-day period set aside for commemorations to stage sit-ins (that are themselves often marked by clashes between left and right wing students).
Tensions have been fueled by anger over tuition costs & other international-mandated educational cuts - and they show no sign of abating ahead of Monday’s anniversary.
Videos have been released that also depict riot police using excessive force to remove protestors from scene of Polytechnic last night. Riot police resorted to using tear gas and stun guns to remove students from sight - without giving them any prior warning that they should get out of the way! Outside Athens University’s law School tensions are also high today.
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???????? ??? ?? ?????????, ? ?????? ??? ???????? ???????????? ???? ???????? pic.twitter.com/ONWNFTHRMe
— Makis Sinodinos (@MakisSinodinos) November 14, 2014
?? ?? ???? ??? ??????? ??????? ?????? ? ?????? ??? ????????. ???? ????? ?????? pic.twitter.com/wquHbc2DRj
— Makis Sinodinos (@MakisSinodinos) November 13, 2014
Police try to disperse students trying to enter the #Athens University Law School to protest against reforms pic.twitter.com/yLVd6nEBqd
— Hans Solo (@thandojo) November 14, 2014
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I really don't get these general marches. They have been proven to be highly ineffective. How about a 100 smaller marches on the houses of bankers and politicians and all at the same time?
just a normal day in Athens.... Demonstrate and drink coffee.
Unfortunately our favorite Greek Riot Dog died
RIP Loukanikos
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/11151215/Greek-r...
Let me guess, the growth was all in the government sector (specifically in spending on police and enforcement).
Government spending should be SUBTRACTED from GDP, not added to it.
Welcome to the "order-ed new world"
Put AK-47's in the marcher's hands and see how much more they are taken seriously.
I once worked in a restaruant owned by two Greek families (yes, TWO families). That's pretty much what it was like every day, minus the tear gas.
For some reason everybody called eachother a malaka. They just loved that word. Sometimes they'd get really worked up and it was something like "malkese manos", which I guess means about the same thing but "using both hands" or something like that. I didn't stick around that long.
OPA !
The term opa is used as a shout of either acclaim or uncomfortableness by a man chosen as the "victim" of the belly dancer, who plops a turban on his head and wraps him with a veil before vibrating in front of him.
So the students are protesting the fact that the government is not letting them protest to remember protests?
If Greek college guys ever found women there would be none of these protests, there simply isn't enough time in the day.
pods
RIP to a brave soul. Gone to a better world.
"There was a time when the riot police had blocked off an arcade beneath the finance ministry [on Syntagma square]. He bit a policeman’s riot shield! He would not go after other people, just policemen attacking protesters. He was amazing.
Sad. What a beautiful dog. He sort of showed everyone about man (banksters) inhumanity to fellow man.
As longs as the cops, army, politicians and most govt workers get paid then everything is fine.
Yeah.. RECESS THIS!!
Or one specifc bullet.
Police state at work. Nothing to see here. Move along.
Olive pickers to get $10 per hour
Don't worry. Elizabeth "I'm a full blooded Cherokee Princess" Warren will make sure minimum wage goes to $79.95/hr so that the very last yet to be laid off part time no ObamaCare transient illegal alien burger flipper scab and snot picker will be able to afford a nice iPhone.
Allow me to be clear on something: Miss Warren is a poisonous gift to progressive and leftist politics. By cynically laying claim to minority status as a privileged, blond-haired and blue-eyed white person, she has become a contemporary example of how privileged whites have historically abused minorities in order to maintain and further their own social status and ambitions.
Someone who enjoys all the benefits which come with white privilege is not in a credible position to speak on behalf of disenfranchised minorities, any more than a Wall Street banker is in a position to speak on behalf of the working or lower-middle classes of society.
But but but but but....
The Progressive LOVE her, in spite of her lying and hypocrisy!
I'd ask my Progressive pals to chew on that one for a while, (fucking Commies!) but they only make strange sounds get flustered and burrow themselves deeper into their delusional fogs.
Like telling an alkie that he's an alkie and has to stop drinking.
He'll just get pissed off and drink to prove you wrong.
Come to think of it.... Progressive politics is an addiction.
Well, consider that from a European perspective "American progressive" sometimes comes perilously close to being an oxymoron. Indeed, to our political standards, the Democratic Party is quite reminiscent of a Christian-Democrat party. These are, by their own admission, to the center of the right in their political orientation. As for the Republican Party (and the Tea Party in particular), they can be deemed nothing less than far-right/right-wing extremist nationalist/xenophobic parties to European standards.
The problem with American politics in general is that the Democrat & Republican parties are just two variations on the same theme. America knows no actual leftist parties, and as a result, it also has no real alternative policies or a genuine opposition to offer to the electorate.
I'd argue it is this need which Libertarian movements as Zero Hedge respond to, which is the main reason I have come to follow the proceedings of this site. It's interesting to see what, if any, changes it can bring to American politics. What's for certain however is that in the age of social media, grassroots movements such as these are far more empowered in today's world than they were in the past, so this is well worth keeping tabs on.
"....America knows no actual leftist parties, and as a result, it also has no real alternative policies or a genuine opposition to offer to the electorate....."
------------------------------------------------------------
Only someone a mile to the left of Pol Pot, Lenin, Mao, etc or someone breathtakingly ignorant of the US "Democratic Party" of today, could say such an absurdity.
The US "Democratic Party" of today if it followed the concept of "truth in advertsing", would rename itself to at least something more honest and accurate like the "Socialist Fascist Party". If given full and complete power, it would enact policies so horrendous that Americans would be fleeing to Russia and China to get relative freedom.
Gosh...amazing...a piece of wood that can talk.
Now, if it only had a brain...
".....Christian-Democrat party. These are, by their own admission, to the center of the right in their political orientation."
My Dear Sir, you have evidently never been to Germany. The Christian Democrats have been between the Left and Centre - and much closer to the Left than to the centre - for the past 10 years. They are indistinguishable form the "Social" democrats. There is no Right Wing. The FDP used to be 10% libertarian but they have disappeared into Socialist oblivion. The AfD is being smeared as ultra right by the established parties because the latter are scared shitless of losing more votes. The AfD is in fact between the CDU/CSU and the centre.
"Liberal progressive " in the sense of US politics is exactly what all the established parties are in Europe. Socialism, Gay Marriage, Retirement at 63 ....the list is endless.
I'd argue that Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharpton are even worse, who also cynically lay claim to minority status as privileged, black haired, brown eyed, black men..
Get wit the party mang..
Um, people like Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton may have a taste for sensationalism, but this does nothing to alter the fact that they are, in fact, part of disenfranchised minority groups, and as such their voices carry weight in such debates. That in no way is comparable to the cynicism displayed by miss Warren.
Come on man your jamming my funny bone...
Those jagoffs made their careers exploiting that disenfranchised group.
The only thing their voices carry is a price tag, and a collection plate, and let me tell you, if you find yourself represented be these 2, better get the fuck out of the way, or be trampled as they stamped to the next deployment, of that collection plate. Miss Warren has graduated from the poverty pimp school of gettin paid, and she has just started her exploits..
This isn't an attack, they are the same, but being black and doing it is way worse...
Seeing as how both men are well-known civil rights activists who actually grew up amidst the inequality and the discrimination that they fight against, and thus experienced all of these things first-hand throughout their lives, I don't see how that is remotely a tenable position. Contrast the background of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson to the white privilege of Elizabeth Warren, who, to use the famous historical words of Anna Komnene, was "born and bred in the purple".
As I previously stated, I am not interested in seeing privileged and well-fed white people make speeches about poverty and discrimination, any more than I am interested in seeing bankers or members of the upper classes make speeches about income equality and a fair distribution of the national income. The most diplomatic thing which can be said about it is that it is distasteful.
you say " they are disenfranchised ... so their voices carry more weight "
dafuq? how do i logics?
I hope so. I love Greek olives..
This makes as much sence as US GDP going up 0.6% because everyone found an extra $7 in their wallet after filling the tank.
Que up a glazed Krugman pic....
Not really nonsensical. I mean, there could well be a goosing of Greek GDP figures (that is one possibility).
OR
It could simply be that if you don't have to pay anyone wages, and you starve them to the point where they will work for a hot meal, you have an army of unbelievably cheap and freely available labor.
(My guess is the truth and reality lies somewhere in between both absolute interpretations. .Gov statisticians working their magic + slave labor.)
Tourism had a record-breaking year and affected mostly Q3. Meanwhile industrial production or what's left of it) fell by 5% year-on-year in September.
As a poster mentioned above, I am curious to see the portion of growth accounted for by government "spending".
Definitely seeing a Weimar Germany moment coming soon, and as the industrial base erodes it will be nationalized. Only agriculture will be left standing. Then we will have ~50% of Greeks building infrastructure and in nationalized industry. ~50% in the armed forces. ~100% national growth accounted for by .gov.
And when you hit that point, you know the rest:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM8ix0siRVQ
Edit: History has shown time, and time again that enforcing onerous debt burdens on nations (and consequently individuals) leads to bad things. Yet here we are. Repeating history. Enforcing magic numbers pulled out of thin air on folks who cannot afford it.
The minority (has and) will make out like a bandits out of this nonsense and a lot of good people are going to get killed. Collateral damage.
Logic would have called for more mayhem in Greece given its sad, sad economic and social situation. Yet, there is more agitation in Spain, Italy and even France. Of course these things are not linear and Greek society could erupt any moment (even though there are no such signs - bar the students).
Logic? In today's world? What is that?
You have to hand it to the folks in charge, they have done an absolute blinder on the majority. Really. If I hadn't seen the post 2006 events myself, I never would have believed it.
I fear that unfortunately in Europe's case, everything will be fine on the surface until it isn't. Stability and sanity is hanging by a tenuous thread and when it snaps it is going to plummet.
See and hear those rumblings in the distance? That's the storm coming.
Well it's either the storm coming or it's the engines of police-armored vehicles which are pre-emptively warming up (just in case).
Obviously prostitution is included in tourism.
Suck it Ferguson!
I will be surprised to see people riot in Ferguson, it's getting cold there...
DOWN WITH THE BANKERS !!! F the NWO
most of them are young kids, they heal faster and can take it.
WORSE NEWS!!
my wife just called... I have to cook my own dinner and we're out of pizza's...
The silver lining: she's going to a concert with my parents in law and I don't have to go :)
Just stop for a meat taco from one of the Romanian girls on your way home, SD.
And you are complaining about? Look you can always go to some kebab shop, the kind you wife would constantly nag you about how it is bad for your health and everything, you can have the bottle all to yourself just like when you were in college, you can have the night all to yourself and a crate of beer, and you are complaining?
LOL WHY DONT THESE PEOPLE GET JOBS LOL
BECAUSE THEY ARE LAZY MILLENIALS.. I THOUGHT WE ESTABLISHED THIS? ;)
Atica! Atica! Atica!
I think it is clear at this point that Greece is a failed state, soon to gt at the same level as any other failed state. It is a write off, a write down and a third rate EU protectorate at best. It is the first and true Olive Republic. Problem is, they don't event make enough of that anymore. The EU common agriculture policy has taken care of that.
The students, most of whom are unemployed, should commit to being arrested, cracking skulls until they are. At least in jail, someone has to feed, clothe, and pay for the electricity.
Until the state realizes that the battlefield has been reshaped and puts all those (now incarcerated) citizens to work on building infrastructure, and unpaid community service.
DP
How come all these recoveries are 'appening whilst i sleep. I'm staying awake tonight.
Has President Butt Plug scheduled a visit to Greece yet? You know, to play some golf and study their economy.
Looks like outside a Wal Mart on Black Friday!
The best way for Greeks to protest is to join the Golden Dawn. It's past time for the Jewish rats to be put down.
Rather than blaming ethnic groups, which plays into the hands of the ruling elites, better to resist the domination of the international corporations and big money squeezing those below. Workers rights are vital.
Your absolutely correct on the divide and conquer thing playing into the hands of the elite.
That said, he has a point on jewish organizations - ADL, SPLC, HIAS - being always at the forefront of the multi-culti invasion. They support La Raza and every other Open Borders initiative, and it pisses me off.
Of course, so do all the big Foundations and corporations, which gets us back to divide and conquer, so I guess you are right in the end.
"The best way for Greeks to protest is to join the Golden Dawn. It's past time for the Jewish rats to be put down."
Um, ah, how can I best say this without hurting your feelings....Sir, you are foaming at the mouth again, did you forget your meds again?
All the hiring took place in the police department.
From MarketWatch, under the Greece GDP story:
You’re invited: A free evening event focusing on investing opportunities in Europe
Will you be in London on Dec. 3? Then you’re invited to our MarketWatch Investing Insights event, “The Worse Europe Gets, the More You Should Iinvest.”
Governments are in trouble, reform efforts have stalled, unemployment is climbing, the news from the eurozone is bleak. And investors are fleeing. But that’s a mistake: The worse the economic data from Europe get, the more you should be buying. Why? Because actions by the ECB will boost asset prices and the stock market in particular.
And, big exporters can grow sales. Lower costs and steady sales translate into higher profits and dividends. Join us for an evening of cocktails and conversation to explore these opportunities
I see more hot babes in that one picture than I see in cleveland in 6 months.
Pizza Hut, McDonalds et al have killed us. Must be part of the plan to slow population growth.
Stay out of the square
Lol don't get all happy guys - this happens every year these days, mid Nov,
recession or no recession. It is the lefties' annual celebration...