Forum Post: Ode on a Grecian Radical
Posted 11 years ago on March 12, 2013, 9:01 a.m. EST by GirlFriday
(17435)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Will Greece choose austerity, or Alexis Tsipras?
I have never heard of this guy and, therefore, this is the only article that I have read about him but, from the article:
Tsipras says that Greece lacks an industrial base, making an exit from the Euro difficult, but he thinks Syriza would be more effective at renegotiating Greece’s debt with European officials because of its harder line and outsider status. Yet he is careful to impress observers with a tempered understanding of his country’s options.
He is, after all, on a world tour to gain the legitimacy with the international power elite that he has already won with much of his own public. Earlier in January, he met with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble. In Washington he met with the IMF and the Treasury Department. And in New York, he was interviewed by the New York Times editorial board, to whom he said: “They say I am the most dangerous man in Europe. What I feel is dangerous is the policy of austerity in Europe.”
Syriza may not be the first—or even second or third—choice of international capital, so Tsipras’ pitch went, but it would be able to administer a state without imploding the entire Eurozone.
[-] 2 points by DSamms (143) 4 minutes ago
GF, I understand jubilee and like it, certainly now. But what is a rolling jubilee? ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
http://occupywallst.org/forum/rolling-jubilee-live-telethon/
Someone was ahead of the curve 2 years ago it seems. +
http://www.counterpunch.org/2015/02/19/ironman-varoufakiss-revolutionary-plan-for-europe/
And a big twinkie to us all.
[Removed]
The IMF stated last year that austerity measures were more harmful.
http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2012/10/imf-report-says-austerity-great-way-tank-your-economy
But, it seems as if it is a little too late in the game and there is too much money to be stolen.
[Removed]
It only makes sense when you realise that calamity and instability is what the pushers of austerity want to create.
TRUTH =
Either that or they are cold Bastards that can't feel for other humans. Clearly the elected or appointed officials tend to be rich or wanna be rich. They are totally out of touch with how people make it to their next paycheck, social security check, pension check, ... or that people with fixed income can not pull money out of their ass to meet inflation increases and higher insurance costs.
It is a peer related illness or deficiency - they - the well to do - especially those born well to do - have no experience - no understanding of what it is like to not have enough - OF ANYTHING - it is beyond their upbringing/reality.
Yes, the only way they can see defieincy is to think of a crazy addict that spends like crazy, then doesn't correct his behavior and continues to spend his wealth.
They have no clue how a few hundered or a few thousands of dollars makes all the difference. Like they are thinking well if the man spent $50K, he has more money from his job to meet obligations, bills, house payments, tuition loans, food, electric, gasoline, car payments, parking, .... Just like if the man lost $50K in Savings in the Stock Market ... well surely the man has another $50K to meet other obligations. And if the man lost $400K in Pension or Retirement benefits ... well surely the man has another $400K to keep going ... surely these men are just compaining ... Surely it is not that big a deal. Surely a man without a house can keep working and buy another house next year.
They do not see their networked relations of who knows who etc and figure those who do not make it are lazy - they do not see the exclusions - or they don't care.
I used to hear some cynics say things like "oh, the air up there where you work must be really rarified". "must be nice to work up there where everything works out so well and all your plans work out".
If we watch the Elites, they only meet with other Elites. They don't mix with people who are the users of the system. They only react to Crisis. They only see the insiders Ideas. And of course the ideas only come from connected or wealthy or powerful like congress.
The people that use the systems, Users, are the ones who have the best input.
Like hey, there are only a few good jobs and the trend is going down on those jobs ... wages are going down ... and we can't reach the politicans ... So we will not be buying your goods, services, and products any more.
Oh that is already happening .. but it is too subtle to stop buying goods and spending in the economy. These guys are Idiots.
It seems to be a Black & White Fact/Truth - that those in power today - those with money and plenty of connections and resources - Are - INSANE.
I can imagine a plan to isolate government and corproate executives from common people. Sure, ... first if was just propaganda and public relations to twist words ... then TPTB said look in Crisis Management we need our managers to listen to us not the people and not lone voices in the press. We will take care of the press. We'll get the press under control, but let's plan to meet with our mangers in a Crisis and feed them the Bullet Points explicitly, then drill them with the reasons why we can't let the mesage or situation get out of control. We'll tell them "don't let this get out of control". And we'll say keep the message simple. And we will tell them to stress these few points. These are the bullet points and the take away ideas. Don't variate from these talking points.
And Population Control Was Born. And USA Indoctrination Was Born. And Press and Media Control was Born. And they took this Strategy and Applied this to our American Text Books. And they took this and Applied it to the US Class Rooms in K-12 and to Video Documentaries made for Public Television by US Foundations.
The final pieces were only to classify documents about War and government Finances ... and establish policies where government does not respond to FOIA Queries or Questions from Voters and Media. All Military Projects are Secrets and .. . this transfered to all Federal Offices where TPTB began providing specific guidance and Instruction. And so it was.
The war of acquisition for control - the growth of diversified monopolies - removing the average/independent individual and replacing with a company/dependent individual.
And alternatives to their plans need to be struck down with a vengeance, like in Libya. There can be no other way, but their way.
Such is the nature of greed/possessiveness/control ( greed is not just an illness of money ).
I can't help but believe the theory that there's a master plan that's been "in the works" for many generations now, and we are all just bit players, and dispensible.
All the World is but a stage?
I suppose to an extent - that this is so.
And the games techniques strategies - "have" - been developed for ages now.
The directors of this game are what concern me.
The devil makes work for idle hands.
And I believe - that there is more to that statement then many are willing or able to face - believe - accept.
Austerity forced on the masses - by the wealthy/employers - to whose benefit? - no ones - as society comes crumbling down. INSANITY on display - in - action - World Wide.
I agree. It is a national security issue. There were a lot of articles on how Greece did not want to be under the control of Germany. I have also read that it may be initially harder but better in the long run for Greece to exit.
Given the number of protests that have occurred in Europe, I don't think it's a question of will from the people.
Simply stop using their money.
It's only monopoly cash. The North Koreans print billions of it for their own use. So does the federal reserve crooked crew.
Go back to grass roots, and start swapping bottles of shine for bags of wheat.
That's easier said than done. Look at Egypt. Which is really funny (in a psychotic way) because it is almost as if they are being bullied into taking it. Then look at the bamboo growing crap in the countries that is promoted in indirect ways by the World Bank which will need water. Then look at the limitations of the water. Then look at Egypt's refusal to sign the treaty.
Then look at taking a deep breath, and realising that life goes on, no matter what else happens.
Sure, but it's the quality of life.
I'm up with that.
How can we affect that outcome?
It depends on the area. Many things we have in common world wide as noted in the article: capital v labor. Too, austerity measures. When you break it all down we are looking at the same group of world wide thugs because we are dealing with multinational corps and multinational banks. On a human level we all share the same basic needs, however, our geographical locations may require different methods of obtaining them.
First, recognize that palatable land grabbing is still land grabbing. I would like to say uncover the relationships that lead to this but it's not like it's hidden. I think that this is inherently important when we have pieces that are in the New York Times promoting that agenda. We need to know who these people are. We should be as comfortable remembering these people as we are remembering our own politicians, advisers, etc. They impact all of us as well.
Before I go on, I want to ask you something. What do you think of micro-finance organizations?
Micro-finance, as in investor-owned credit unions?
Are you familiar with kiva? http://www.kiva.org/
I am now. Thanks.
Mother sponsors a Sri-Lankan student, and has done for seven years. It's been interesting reading her letters and seeing her progress through the school system.
Well, although they put a little pic and info on what the loans are for.....less about that and more about the loans
I recall a documentary (30 yrs back) about a tribal region near Borneo, where a corporate-logging company loaned the tribe the money to build infrastructure, in return for logging rights. When all the trees were gone, the tribe had no money to pay for the loan, so the corp built these micro-factories that made cotton reels. Every shrub and stick down to the size of your thumb was cut and turned into cotton reels, until the whole region was bare dirt. And then the miners stepped in. The people were literally devastated, and left with no choice but to slave in the mines to feed their children.
That was pretty-much when I realised that capitalism was, in intent, a dead-end street peopled with greedy selfish pricks.
I wanna say some time after the peso crash there was a guy that said that micro loans were the way to go and what was needed. Well, the problem is exactly as you say---greedy selfish pricks. See here.
Now, I was flipping through some of the people and I have come across a guy that is in Latin America that is asking for a loan for some $4,000+. He is using that money to pay for the seeds for 2 crops and the rent for the land. I don't think this was his first loan. So, it's like a never ending cycle and no escape.
Now, one of the greatest thing that has ever happened, imo, is the rolling jubilee. It is smart. So, one of the things that I have been looking at is the set up of places like Kiva. How it is laid out. Where it is successful and where it fails. I should be clear that I am not thinking in terms of loans.
Yes, I've become quite the snoop when it comes to new website concepts. Having seen how easy it is to establish a charity org, with websites, donation options, and the rest, I tend to do some thorough digging, to find out all I can about the people behind the scenes, pulling the strings.
Some of the more well-known charities shelve (take) 87 cents out of every dollar donated to run their org. Hell, those TV commercials aren't cheap, you know. The used clothing industry in Australia has evolved from a useful charity fund raiser, into a major employer and commercial entity. Big bucks involved. Their "products" are no longer in the bargain category, either.
Keep us posted on what you find with Kiva. Thanks.
GF, I understand jubilee and like it, certainly now. But what is a rolling jubilee?