Greeks strike on Tuesday, test government pension reform

[cory777]

Source: Reuters

Greek workers stage a new 24-hour strike on Tuesday that will gauge public discontent with government austerity measures, including a radical pension reform aimed at helping the country solve its huge debt crisis.

Transport will be disrupted while public offices, local media, schools and banks will close in the fifth joint walkout by major public and private sector unions this year. Hospitals will operate with emergency staff.

Thousands of civil servants and private sector workers are expected to march in Athens at about midday (5 a.m. EDT), as parliament starts to discuss the reform which raises the retirement age, cuts benefits and curtails early pensions.

"These measures won't help. They will only lead to deeper recession and poverty," said Despina Spanou, board member of public sector union ADEDY. "Workers will clearly answer the government and this reform which abolishes social security."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE65R67L20100628?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FworldNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+International%29

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[JDPriestly]

1. We need to prepare for some sort of action that is appropriate for

older people for use in protesting the Social Security cuts that Obama is organizing behind our backs.

Cutting back Social Security benefits for younger people will simply cause younger people to resent paying into the system to support current seniors. That is the worst thing that could possibly happen.

If the government defaults, what will happen other than that the rich will lose their investments in government bonds?

If the government cuts Social Security benefits even for future generations, the last part of the safety net for ordinary Americans will be gone -- probably for ever. And then what will happen? Dog eat dog. More suspicion. More grabbing something for yourself. More fear of poverty and the loneliness and infirmity of old age. At the end of a life of hard work, misery will await all who are not rich.

A protest against Social Security cuts is not a choice. It is a necessity. But what to do?