After Greece Cuts a Quarter of Its Budget, WaPo Asks if It’s Willing to ‘Trim Spending’

[KamaAina]

Not The Onion!

http://fair.org/home/after-greece-cuts-a-quarter-of-its-budget-wapo-asks-if-its-willing-to-trim-spending/

The Washington Post‘s Griff Witte and Michael Birnbaum (7/6/15) report on what Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras might do in the wake a resounding anti-austerity vote in his nation’s referendum:
Tsipras also is expected to present new proposals to a tough audience: seeking to persuade European partners that Greece can be trusted to trim its spending, and get fresh bailout funds in return.

Hmmm…. Can Greece be trusted to trim its spending? Let’s take a look:



So from 2010 to 2015, Greece has cut government spending from roughly 13 billion euros to 10 billion euros–a cut of 23 percent. Unsurprisingly, this has had a devastating effect on Greece’s economy, with unemployment stuck above 25 percent since the end of 2012.

In the Washington Post‘s eyes, though, Greece has not yet demonstrated the willingness to “trim its spending” that would merit a bailout.

[daleanime]

1. K&R.....

[Travis_0004]

2. I can understand why some European countries are upset

Greek has a lot of professions where one can retire as early as 50, if the position is considered arduous and unhealthy.

That wouldn't be so bad if the list was coal miners, etc, but bakers, hairdressers, waiters, and tv personalities are also on the list. Perhaps universal retirement at 50 is something we should all aspire to, but I can understand germans being upset for funding early Greek retirements when their retirement age is much higher.

[hifiguy]

3. Austerity on top of austerity

is much like doubling the bleeding on a patient who is already suffering from anemia. The "cure" is effected when the patient is completely exsanguinated and in a state commonly referred to as "dead."

The real cure is to remove the leeches and other assorted parasites, a/k/a "bankers."

How in the name of Celestia herself is SHRINKING AN ECONOMY drastically supposed to make it able to do anything to save itself? This is the fucking madness of the Washington Consensus: "we don't give a shit if your arms are broken, breaking your legs will get you good for nothings up and working again or else.

To quote Mr. Natural, "The whole universe is COMPLETELY INSANE!!!"

[msongs]

4. isn't not paying off its debts a form of "trim spending"? nt

[EL34x4]

5. A few things Greece could do...

For starters, they might want to consider an income tax that taxes the income people actually earned, not the income they simply reported earning. Lots of doctors, lawyers and businessmen in Greece are living in palatial estates while "self-reporting" annual incomes of 12,000 Euro, just enough to avoid paying an income tax.

They might want to consider giving disability payments to people who have actual verifiable disabilities. There's a lot of "blind" taxi drivers in Greece.

When Greek pensioners die, Greece might want to consider ending their pensions instead of continuing to send them checks, which are then cashed by their offspring.

Greece should install turnstiles in the subways so that people who use the subways have to pay to use them instead of relying on the honor system.

When Greeks buy luxury items, like swimming pools for the gated mansions they live in on 12,000 Euro annual incomes, they should charge a luxury tax at the point of sale instead of, again, relying on the honor system.

Just a few ideas.

[KamaAina]

6. Or hire fare inspectors.

Last edited Mon Jul 6, 2015, 11:40 PM - Edit history (1)

Greece should install turnstiles in the subways so that people who use the subways have to pay to use them instead of relying on the honor system.

Most rail transit systems in the Bay Area are proof-of-payment, the major exception being BART, which has turnstiles. Others like Silicon Valley's VTA have fare inspectors boarding trains randomly to check up on passengers.

[MFrohike]

7. I can't even be surprised

It's WaPo, after all. It's Fox News with a better rep.