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'Boots On The Ground' In Greece: "Stop The German Bloodletting"
Submitted by Simon Black via SovereignMan.com,
Since my arrival into the country late May, the topic of most discussions I overhear everywhere are naturally about the debt negotiations.
I’d call opinions in support or against the Tsipras governments’ activities pretty sharply divided.
Tsipras supporters are generally fed-up with 5yrs of blood-letting “from the Germans”.
Critics, on the other hand, see the euro as some sort of abstract membership in a club that must be retained at all cost.
A minority even criticize Tsipras for—get this—being too soft.
That’s especially true where I’ve been staying here in the port-city of Piraeus, which – being the country’s biggest port, is home to mostly blue collar, working class folks where unions more or less dominate.
To illustrate the political leanings around here, I hazily recall a headline in a newsfeed summing up their worldview quite accurately: “Piraeus – a neighborhood where Syriza is not quite left-wing enough.”
Enough said.
Like most locals, I’ve been steadily hitting the ATM for the past weeks to amass some emergency cash.
I ventured out today for the first time since the capital controls were installed yesterday to have a look around.
In Piraeus, I saw a queue of at least 30 people at a branch of Alpha Bank, and about 10 people at the Bank of Piraeus, where I waited.
The mood among the people waiting was pretty cool, friendly and even throwing a few funny comments around to address the obvious elephant in the room.
Older pensioners who were waiting, being used to getting their money from the window, had dusted off their debit card and received generous help from others on using it.
Experiences were shared on efforts to withdraw cash the previous day, where the published daily withdraw limit of 60 EUR/day for citizens was in effect (and confirmed by to me by the folks on line).
Today however, having presumably exhausted their supply of 20 euro notes, this ATM machine imposed upon users a de-facto daily withdraw limit of 50 Euros – since it was only dispensing 50 Euro notes.
As has also been reported, these capital controls do not apply to foreign bank accounts; and I can confirm to be true as my foreign bank card allowed me to withdraw my self-elected amount (of 300 EUR on this occasion) without issue.
There is certainly an unusual feeling of calm in the air. Car traffic resembles a quieter “Sunday” level than a typical summer weekday going into the high tourist season.
Citizens seem a bit more polite and helpful to one another than before, with no shortage of clever comments to break the tension on everyone’s mind being all in the same boat.
My first thought was to assume a newfound “keep calm and soldier on” state of unity among the populace.
But this is Greece, not Northern Europe. the words “quiet” and “calm” never share a sentence here.
No, this was something different, I believe, more of a “laugh to keep from crying” state of mind.
And being very experienced with Greece and Greek culture for my entire life, this realization was off-putting to say the least.
I’ll forward along any additional observations during my stay and leave you with one final, personal thought.
For all the talk and preaching of the risks one takes by placing all their “flags” into the blind faith and trust of one government in the abstract, it’s nothing like witnessing it firsthand.
Greece, right here – right now, is where that all “gets real.”
But more importantly, all the benefits of a multiple flags approach also “gets real” when you’re the guy who the crisis can’t touch.
I’m able to merely observe and participate without worry, sleeping tight knowing that all that what I’ve worked to achieve in his life is out of the reach of supranational, unelected & unaccountable EU autocrats.
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I ventured out today for the first time since the capital controls were installed yesterday to have a look around.
Did you see your shadow?
These unions are only sustainable for as long as the shekels flow. Once that runs dry, all bets are off.
"Tsipras supporters are generally fed-up with 5yrs of blood-letting “from the Germans"
So let me get this straight, they are feed up with the people who have been giving them more and more money in order to pay their monthly bills, and are now going to dig their heals in and refuse any amount of free money less than their full needs.
Tell me how that works out.
Hey Simon....WTF were you doing in your apartment til you "ventured out"??? You are such a melodramatic douche
Donald Trump - "I'll sue them for a gazzilion dollars"
"all in the same boat."
Greece as the ultimate boating accident. Bet they wish they were holding a little barbaric relic in their hands right now.
The Greeks are financial rapists, using drugs. Some of them, I suppose, are good people...
That is an odd statement.
Can you elaborate?
I assumed I didn't need the /sarc tag... I was refrencing the EPIC Donald Trump interview in light of the top comment refrencing him.
2 down arrows??? I expected better sarcasim detection from ZH readers...
Oh, I don't pay attention to Trump so completely missed it.
.. and I was not one of the reds.
I asked the question seriously because your statement seemed odd and I did not have a point of reference.
Now I do - Trump. .. and that explains everything.
In case you are German you can watch what German ARD reporters have to say about the "huge money flow" towards Greece
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prU3-a8eHT8
and if you want to smile a bit here is another German parody about Greek crisis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ds8mbgRHyM
Whatever money fled from european pockets ended in bankers vaults.
They have builded a nice scheme to rob european citizens through their attack Greece,
None of the average Greek has european money in their pockets, try in swiss banks and Cayman islands.
Yeah really..get away from the video games dude....there is a real world out there....and wait until the Greeks find out you can withdraw whatever you want....you will be introduced to a gun to your head I bet
Yeah. I was just thinkin' that he had better not advertise around that he was pullin' $300 at a whack when the rest of the cue can only get $50. Good way to get a beating. Smug fucker anyway.
Bro... gun < jet pack. He'll rocket out of there carrying 1000 shiny ounces and you'll be all like, "aw, man, wish I had a jet pack..."
until space aliens fuck around with his carbonator and he has nowhere to touch down and look for space weed.
haha, the sight of a nerd being gunned down from 3 feet above ground while his jetpack sluggishly ascends
You can relax, Greeks aren't culturally looters neither own guns.
Yes, Greeks ... what was wrong and what was right .. there will be plenty of time to figure that out... right now all you need is to hold each others hands ... and not blame the Germans ... they know how to blame themselves. do not let your resolve break down ... everything else gets rebuilt easily.
Like the Acropolis ?
Actually selfbeating and selfblaiming is a national sport for the Greeks, believe or not the first we blaim is our selves disproportionately.
I want Greece to be the trigger that shoots the Plagues of Egypt, the Bastille, the beheadings...
Christine Lagardeis mine.
I want Greece to be the trigger that shoots the Plagues of Egypt, the Bastille, the beheadings...
Christine Lagardeis mine.
There will be NO GREXIT ever.
And a default is NOT Grexit. Please don't foolishly mix them up as the same.
Absolutely true and Tsipras has already said he's going to drag them into court. Since the EU intentionally left no way to escape, this'll be interesting......
That fucker Tsipras is just fooling around, being controlled opposition. His stupid referendum will be a choice between two VERY BAD options, in classic NWO fashion: they give you an artificially restricted choice that you feel you must accept, since the alternative seems worse. And that's how the psy-op works: make the slaves vote for their abuse, and they even end up 'happy' about it, 'cos they figure it could have been even worse otherwise.
Anyhow, I bet quite a few real Greeks understand this, but ZH articles still get written as if the world were hopelessly divided into the left-wing/right-wing BS the elites wish we were still wrapped up in.
Sean: My father was an alcoholic. Mean fuckin' drunk. He'd come home hammered, looking to whale on somebody. So I'd provoke him, so he wouldn't go after my mother and little brother. Interesting nights were when he wore his rings. Will: He used to just put a belt, a stick, and a wrench on the table. Just say, "Choose." Sean: Well I gotta go with the belt there. Will: I used to go with the wrench. Sean: Why the wrench? Will: Cause fuck him, that's why.
Maybe there will not be an exit, but that does not mean that Greece will get any more financial help from outside its borders (if anyone wants to call it help).
They could be forced to live within their means - only current tax revenue to fund government. What a concept!!!
Imagine if it actually caught on everywhere.
Printing presses all inked up by now. BTFD
Greece is the leading edge and the Troika hopes that if they flog them hard enough the rest of the EU will fall in line. Of course they ignore the 'little' people at their own risk, but both the far left and far right is doing everything they can to stir the pot. Spain and Italy are destabilising and who knows what France will do....
My heart goes out to the Greek people. They were sold a "Bill of Goods" called the European Union. They were coerced into the union by Goldman Sachs. May I suggest we start hangin' these fuckers first...
Economic Darwinism is happening worldwide.
Dude, the last two decades in Greece has seen them reach a level of wealth unheard of before. Greece was and is a developing world, agrarian nation situated in Europe. They partied like animals these last years. Consuming on levels only developed wealthy nations can sustainably afford. Now the party might be over (and probably isn't) and everyone feels sorry for them? WTF? Today approx. 30.000 children died in Africa from starvation or easily treatable diseases. Tomorrow another 30.000 will die. The day after too.
Where the fuck is some semblance of perspective?
Why did your contry lend them money when it knew they were broke ? Why did Germany accept then into EU and Euro when it knew they were not qualifying economically ? Wanted to play the superpower game ? Well, now you're stuck with the bill... for the entire Euro zone contraption. Enjoy !
lol wut? I'm not German... that first....
secondly, your understanding of the € and Greece's entry is so minimal, it's actually stupid of me to enter into a conversation.
Then why don't you shut up ? You're too smart for anybody else, anyway... apparently.
Well if you count the amount of wealth by the number of ipads per citizen you could have a point but you are far from right.
I remember pre euro era my dad could afford to close his shop for the entire August and take us for summer holidays for atleast 2 weeks, with the euro there were summers that couldn't afford even 2 days. The only who made real wealth were the oligarchs that German and American companies made buissness with and supported them, even harboring them when they faced greek courts.
Argarian nation you say? When Greece entered EU had many industies that eventually where forced to close due to EU policy.
You can also keep your crocodile tears for african kids when the developed wealthy nations make money exploiting third world countries and their citizens by consuming products that came from sweat shops, child labour and abuse, are legitimising their suffering.
Greeks standing behind their government against the EU is a very dangerous model...
So was standing up to Xerxes.
I don't want to burst your bubble Simon, but if the crowd finds out you're able to withdraw 300+ EUR while they can only get 50, I think you'll learn pretty quickly that you are not in any way 'the guy who the crisis can't touch'. I suspect the crisis might begin touching you in very real and non-abstract, tangible ways at that point.
The Greeks have not figured out that the big S on his blue jump suit with the red cape stands for Simon.
I sort of wondered if he waved those banknotes around, or if maybe he stood a little closer to the ATM.
A little polar bear hunting will turn those ATM's into EBT's.
He he he he, yeah, I can just picture Simon giving the locals a lecture on why they should have global diversified accounts frittered away around the world as he waves his hundreds of euros around. I give him 3 minutes before he gets torn a new one.
Everything is fine, haven't you heard? Financials are up!
GREECE IS FINE!
:)
Just like the boneheads in Kiev were sold on the EU sales pitch. Today Ukraine is the "Somalia of Europe"
Why are Germans getting the blame for this?
Greece cheated to join the EU using the vampire squid.
Then, again, nobody pays taxes in Greece where avoiding taxes is a national pastime.
There is enough blame to go around without focusing on Germany
Whatever you do, do not mention the war.
I may have mentioned it, but I think I got away with it. .
Well, I'm a Greek and I pay my taxes (!) so it's nobody -1.
Socialism, It's whats for dinner! (esp. when you have no Euos to buy food)
Riiiight. It couldn't possibly be Casino or Crony Capitalism, could it?
Because that would mean you'd have to direct your anger/indignation or rage at the true culprits.
Greece blame your worthless politicians that got you into this mess and then yourself as a nation for subscribing to socialistic policies.
When there's only one loaf of bread on the store shelf and five people are starving and want it, it doesn't matter how many Euro notes you can withdraw, or how many you got in your pocket.
I betcha the guy that has a shiny in his pocket gets the loaf.
Stack On
Nickle plated shiny wins.
It always infuriates me to read about "journalists" getting better treatment than the people they are covering.
TV crews broadcasting images of starving Somalis before cruising back to their 5-star hotel room service. That sort of thing.
And this is that sort of thing.
I have self-righteously decided to live on 300 Euros a day.
300 Euros a day!
Meanwhile, everyone else is stuck with 50 or 60.
Plus, since the physical supply in an ATM is limited, every 300 he draws out means that 5 other desperate people who waited in line for a long time go home with NOTHING.
POS disaster tourist.
"I’m able to merely observe and participate without worry, sleeping tight knowing that all that what I’ve worked to achieve in his life is out of the reach of supranational, unelected & unaccountable EU autocrats."
EU autocrats, perhaps, but not out of the reach of the largest global economic collapse in history.
http://www.globaldeflationnews.com/anatomy-of-a-bubble-how-the-federal-r...
"Tsipras supporters are generally fed-up with 5yrs of blood-letting “from the Germans”."
Some Greeks are like this.
My next door neighbors 30+ years ago were a family named the Themy's.
Mrs. Themy loved to cook. Being in school at the time, I was home in the afternoons. She would come over several times per week to borrow a cup of milk, sugar, shortening, flour, salt, etc.
One day I was out of bread, and hungry for a sandwich. When she came for shortening, flour, and salt as I handed her a bag with the things she requested, I asked her if I might get a couple slices of bread in return for the things she borrowed. She stiffened noticably, and replied a little tersely that she hadn't made any bread and didn't have any. So I did without, and thought no more of it... until later that evening.
That night Mr. Themy came over to 'make an arrangement' with my mother. And by 'make an arrangement' he meant that we should pay him.
Why? Well he ought to be paid if I was going to be sucking his blood and eating the food from his table!!! This, despite the fact that all the food was going the other direction...and despite the fact that his wife had actually refused.
So...After that episode when Mrs Themy came over looking for ingredients, she knew better than to ask me.
And after one such visit, where I rather than another answered the door, she tearfully accused, "Why are you so tight-fisted? Do you want to see us starve? Haven't you had enough of our blood yet?"
My reply?
"No Ma'am. I am out of blood today."
Good story but I will tell you another story. There was a city longtime ago, a Las Vegas of northern Europe, gambling, entertainment, prostitution, SM,occultism, drugs, alcohol, casual killings and rapes, anything you wanted and was prohibited in fatherland as immoral and when you walked the streets and approached locals they under the death penalty were obliged to leave sidewalk and take their hat off and nod.
That was all fun occasionally disrupted by stink of rotten or burned human flesh when wind came from direction of ghetto area populated by 500 thousands starving people.
I think that kind of treatment would be preferable to German tourists or managers today but they are slowly getting there.
Apparently borrow means something different over there.
30 years ago, in a small town in Ontario, my mother loved to bake, and sometimes would send me to the neighbors for a cup of sugar, or some flour. But in the evening, I would always return to the neighbor with a pie, or loaf of bread.
Can you spell Hypocrisy
This is what I see wrong with the whole narrative.
Where were the critics crying bloody murder when Greece embarked on this insane accumulation of debt? So now that it is a yoke around their necks, it is odious, unfair, and Blood thirsty. And while I agree with some of this, the fact is that you had an option. Greece opted for the free lunch[knowing full well it was not free]. Now, after the money was accepted and spent you want to cry foul.
The Banksters are not victims here either but they claim we gave you the money[feat as it may be] you accepted so we own you.
The problem has many sides but the moral and ethical behavior on the part of Greece is as reprehensible as the predatory practices of the Banksters.
Sounds like this reporter is really "living the experience".
What a fucking jerk.
Love the asshole leftists who make Germany out to be the villain in this debacle. None more apparent than the CNNMoney website.
THE VOTE IS RIGGED, THEY WILL VOTE TO STAY IN . THIS IS THE WHOLE POINT OF HAVING A VOTE.