Athens in chaos as new cuts debated [View All]

[Bragi]

Source: CBC news

Tens of thousands of angry protesters turned Athens into a violent riot scene on Tuesday, as the demonstrations against tough austerity measures in the debt-laden country escalated.

The latest measures must pass in two parliamentary votes Wednesday and Thursday if Greece is to receive bailout funds from the EU and the IMF that will keep it from becoming the first eurozone nation to default on its debts.

The clashes with police came at the start of a two-day general strike called by unions furious that the government's new €28 billion ($39 billion) austerity program will slap taxes on minimum wage earners and other struggling Greeks. The measures come on top of other spending cuts and tax hikes that have battered the Greek economy, which is currently labouring under an unemployment rate of more than 16 per cent.

Hooded youths ripped up paving stones and set trash bins on fire in central Athens as police gave chase and fired tear gas and stun grenades. Earlier, about 20,000 people had marched peacefully in two separate demonstrations, while another 7,000 protested in the northern city of Thessaloniki without incident.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2011/06/28/greece-strike-protest.html

---

It's good to see that in some countries, people actually will burn trash bins and throw bricks to show how they feel about having to reduce public services and benefits to pay off bankers and bond holders.

I find there to be much more dignity in doing this than, say, sitting in one's rented living room watching TeeVee and wondering if you can make it through the month, what with your job having been exported, your pension stolen, your savings looted and drained, and your house foreclosed.

Unfortunately, Americans lack the social cohesion needed to go to the streets and make a statement. The worst-hit economic victims in America are more likely to support police beating up anyone with the temerity to protest than they are to join any protest.

Sigh...