Greece Votes Communist

[Gusington]

I did NOT see that coming. Steam: destroyer of nations.

[bayonetbrant]

Amusing graphic I found on FB today



Greeks see themselves as most hardworking and trustworthy.  The rest of Europe disagrees.
Amusingly, Italians see themselves as least trustworthy...

[Staggerwing]

Looks like the Poles are still keeping an eye on Germany as well.

[Centurion40]

Two things strike me in all of this:

1. I truly believe that classical, 19th century "communism" will make a resurgence as the middle class continues to evaporate.

2. This could be identified as of a pratical example of Max Weber's "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism".  Or least the way that I interpreted an aspect of the thesis, that people who live in colder climates work harder than people who live in warmer climates.  Historically they've had to work harder in order to survive the winter months. 

[jejo68]

Two things strike me in all of this:

1. I truly believe that classical, 19th century "communism" will make a resurgence as the middle class continues to evaporate.

2. This could be identified as of a pratical example of Max Weber's "The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism".  Or least the way that I interpreted an aspect of the thesis, that people who live in colder climates work harder than people who live in warmer climates.  Historically they've had to work harder in order to survive the winter months.

Not really, Greeks are just lazy bastards WHO has been used to live off other peoples Money for too long.

[bayonetbrant]

Looks like the Poles are still keeping an eye on Germany as well.

they voted them both most and least trustworthy

[LongBlade]

Looks like the Poles are still keeping an eye on Germany as well.

they voted them both most and least trustworthy

Perhaps the definition of "trustworthy" is what's in question here.

The Italians see each other as least trustworthy because they're all so busy cheating on each others' spouses with one another.

The Greeks see the Germans as untrustworthy because they (rightfully) fear the endless supply of loans will be choked off.

The Poles see the Germans as least trustworthy because the Germans are so efficient at invading other countries (when they so choose).

The Germans are tied between Italy and Greece for least trustworthy because the Italians, while great lovers and makers of excellent food, make such unreliable autos. The Greeks OTOH are most likely to default on debt, and so the Germans are torn between their hearts and their wallets.

[endfire79]

It's the same old story over decades.  The truth is, there is just not enough economic value in the country to support the living standards they had before the mess.  My dad went back to vist in '64, '71, '85, and then 2007, and on most occasions, he could never figure out how the country could support the changes he saw.  I think the last government made a lot of efforts to cut back and get back on track, however I think the groups that saw their jobs slashed (i.e. public servants etc) did not like that.   

It is hard to get anything done in the country sometimes due to bickering or waffling.  I find the biggest enemy to Greeks are themselves. 

To quote Churchill (actually the rest of this quote from his book The Second World War is quite flattering to both peoples, but I chose this segment specifically):

"The Greeks rival the Jews in being the most politically minded race in the world. No matter how forlorn their circumstances or how grave the peril to their country, they are always divided into many parties, with many leaders who fight among themselves with desperate vigour"

Emphasis on 'many parties'.  It's not uncommon to find 50 political parties on the ballot there.  I really wonder how things ever get done in the country.  You cannot see it through the prism of a North American perspective.

SYRIZA is a coalition.  At the moment, they do not have the required amount of seats (151) to form a goverment on their own, so they may have to cooperate with others.

It's always been like this.  They've survived a lot worse, they'll hopefully get through the mess.  I just hope they do not mess everything else for everyone around them.  The scenario I fear the most is if there is a major backlash against all this, and if some nut case party like Golden Dawn came to power.  In that case, I would really fear for my family and I would not welcome returning to such an environment. 

Haven't heard back from all my cousins yet, but the one who runs a nightclub says business is still good (definitely looking good on the facebook page).

[Nefaro]

The new Greek gov't really wants out of NATO?

These are Commie fruit loops. They probably have lingering sympathies with their fading memories of the USSR.

Seems to be a popular thing with Grecian 'Millennials'. 

The one I've seen speak candidly, currently attending school in the US, is pretty much a Commie who thought Chavez was doing a great job in Venezuela.  ::)   Oh.. and the western capitalists being the ones at fault for their devolving situation.   ::)

Judging by the way the Greek youth have reportedly been acting, I'm guessing he's the norm.

[JasonPratt]

To quote Churchill (actually the rest of this quote from his book The Second World War is quite flattering to both peoples, but I chose this segment specifically):

"The Greeks rival the Jews in being the most politically minded race in the world. No matter how forlorn their circumstances or how grave the peril to their country, they are always divided into many parties, with many leaders who fight among themselves with desperate vigour"

Reminds me of Mark Twain's description of the Polish Parliament in the late 1800s.

Incidentally, is Syriza an acronym or what? I know a little Greek but only enough to be dangerous in bits and pieces. ;) I can't figure out what the meaning is supposed to be.

[endfire79]

It's an acronym.

Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστερά
Synaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás (Coalition of the Radical Left)

[besilarius]

Spent only two year in Greece in the early 70s.  At that time, the Greeks were run by a junta of army colonels, and we thought that was the reason for the divisiveness within the country.
Then you had the Cyprus problem that went out of control when Greek extremists started being provocative.  This ultimately lead the Turks to invade Cyprus.
The military base had a cultural liason with the Greeks and his belief was that the centuries of Ottoman control and heavy handed rule permanently warped the Greek culture.
The devshorme' was the child tax.  To staff the Janissaries, christian boys raised as Muslims and brainwashed into adoring the sultan (think Sultan Jugend), the govenors coudl take any boy at any time.  Whole villages were left with no boy children.
As a result, Greek culture coddled and entitles the boys to an extreme degree.
In her book, A Distant Mirror, Barbara Tuchman notes how Medieval lords often acted like spoiled brats, because they were spoiled brats.  Young kids who inherited great titles and lands, and treated as royalty from the moment of birth.
Many Greeks acted and felt thiis way.

[Staggerwing]

Incidentally, is Syriza an acronym or what? I know a little Greek but only enough to be dangerous in bits and pieces. ;) I can't figure out what the meaning is supposed to be.

The Coalition of the Radical Left[15] (Greek: Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς, Synaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás), known colloquially by its acronym SYRIZA (Greek: ΣΥΡΙΖΑ, pronounced [ˈsiɾiza]), is a left-wing political party in Greece, originally founded as a coalition of left-wing and radical left parties.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_of_the_Radical_Left

[endfire79]

Spent only two year in Greece in the early 70s.  At that time, the Greeks were run by a junta of army colonels, and we thought that was the reason for the divisiveness within the country.
Then you had the Cyprus problem that went out of control when Greek extremists started being provocative.  This ultimately lead the Turks to invade Cyprus.
The military base had a cultural liason with the Greeks and his belief was that the centuries of Ottoman control and heavy handed rule permanently warped the Greek culture.
The devshorme' was the child tax.  To staff the Janissaries, christian boys raised as Muslims and brainwashed into adoring the sultan (think Sultan Jugend), the govenors coudl take any boy at any time.  Whole villages were left with no boy children.
As a result, Greek culture coddled and entitles the boys to an extreme degree.
In her book, A Distant Mirror, Barbara Tuchman notes how Medieval lords often acted like spoiled brats, because they were spoiled brats.  Young kids who inherited great titles and lands, and treated as royalty from the moment of birth.
Many Greeks acted and felt thiis way.

There is some truth to that.  The legacy of Ottoman rule took effect throughout the Balkans.  I think the coddling is there ( but European kids in France get about the same thing from what I've seen).  The political division between left & right started before the Junta (Greek Civil War after WW2). 

Be careful with calling a Cypriot Greek, they can be pretty 'fierce' about that.  I am of the opinion Greece should never have got involved in Cyprus, and it was indeed a big mess.

On a side note, one of my coworkers used to be stationed at the British air base there in the 70's.  Rule #1 - don't mess with the women.  Rule #2  - see Rule #1.  :)  Beautiful place though.

[MetalDog]

I used to do service for a man who, while in the Army, was stationed in Greece for several years.  He enjoyed his time there and often said he would go back.  He was an intelligent and interesting person and I would like to have his thoughts on this.  Alas, he sold his house and I no longer do his service, so, I am unable to solicit his opinion on this new development.