(Excerpt from posted link) Greece, like Italy, espouses a historic culture of corruption and tax-evasion that may enable those countries to muddle along in splendid isolation, but disqualifies them as partners in an economic union with northern Europe. (End)
The money was there. The money is there. The problem is corruption and tax-evasion.
Their plan was to destroy any chance of implementing social programs. Rumsfeld said the war with Iraq was an option they could afford. How could they afford a war when 45,000 US citizens, per year, were dying due to their inability to afford health insurance? (Harvard study)
Why would a country declare war and then cut taxes? The only reason was to ensure the debt would be so high that it would prevent social programs from being considered. By wasting the money (war) and refusing to increase revenue (cut taxes) there was no reserve to help with the bail-out.
This idea that countries can not support the less fortunate is nonsense. Automation and technology can provide the necessities. The problem is only a handful has control and while reaping the benefits they refuse to pay proper taxes. The average person knows that and does the same thing. Sooner or later it catches up with everyone.
As the article states, “…a historic culture of corruption and tax-evasion that may enable those countries to muddle along in splendid isolation, but disqualifies them as partners in an economic union with northern Europe.”
Stated another way they have a different monetary policy. Bartering, tax evasion, corruption….Many people have a “connection”. It’s those that don’t who suffer. It has nothing to do with not being able to look after the needy. There are sufficient resources. The problem is the resources are exchanged between a select group of people. The government can not or will not ensure it has access to those resources resulting in those who require them not receiving them.
The same situation and results will occur across the world as more and more people come to realize there are sufficient resources. That doesn’t mean stealing the wealthy person’s belongings. It means playing fair. What is the point of supporting ones country when ones country will sit back and watch individuals go hungry or lack medical attention, regardless of what country we wish to discuss?
