Greece Paralyzed by Nationwide Strike

[ellenrr]

Source: Europe Business News

ATHENS—Greece was paralyzed by a nationwide general strike Wednesday as hundreds of thousands of workers, shopkeepers and civil servants walked off the job in a 24-hour protest over the government's austerity program.

The strike affected public services, with government ministries, local government offices, courts and schools all closed, and hospitals and many state-owned enterprises running with reduced staff.

Mass transit around the capital ground to a halt as bus, trolley, tram and subway operations were suspended, and Athens's electric rail operated on a reduced schedule. More than four dozen domestic flights were canceled ahead of a four-hour walkout by air traffic controllers, and ferry operations to Greece's islands were also suspended.




Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703775704576161783867019502.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

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Great pic at the site.
Also live coverage (right now) at Presstv

[lunatica]

1. That's what happens when people have had enough

For those who want people in the streets, this is your opportunity to see how drastic it is.

[PoliticAverse]

3. From the linked article...

"This year the government is making a special effort to crack down on widespread tax evasion - one of the major reasons for its revenue shortfall."

The problem with Greece is massive tax evasion by the populace. People want benefits but don't want to pay taxes for them.
In that respect the Greek protesters are similar to teabaggers calling for less taxes while holding up "keep your government hands off my Medicare" signs
riding around in their Medicare supplied scooters.

Greece’s Efforts to Limit Tax Evasion Have Little Success:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/21/world/europe/21greece.html?_r=1

[bemildred]

4. You have to go where the money is, poor people (obviously) have no money.

So taxing them doesn't do much good. So, the point of all this, is that the people who are evading taxes are the people with money, and generally the more money they have, the better they are at evading taxation. And those people are not the same thing as "the populace".

But otherwise, I agree.

[maddezmom]

2. Greece general strike: Clashes erupt

Police have fired tear gas to disperse dozens of stone-throwing demonstrators in Athens as a 24-hour general strike grips Greece.

The violence erupted during a rally by more than 30,000 angry workers near the Greek parliament. They object to the government's far-reaching budget cuts.

The strike paralysed public transport. More than 100 flights were cancelled.

Many schools are closed and hospitals have reduced services. Small businesses have joined in, closing many shops.

It is Greece's first major labour protest this year, as the government sticks to austerity cuts demanded under the terms of the country's international bail-out.

more:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12551636