GREECE THE TINDERBOX?

Turmoil abounds in the world. Wars, civil wars,and genocide are examples. The Middle East especially is a hot bed of strife.

 

Many think that if a third world war were to begin, the Middle East would be the place.

 

Perhaps.

 

There is another locale which might cause such a war to erupt. Greece and Germany. The battle of the euros, the repayment of debt.

I mentioned this possibility during my visit to Greece this summer and have commented on it since on my TV/Internet show the Key West Lou Legal Hour. As recently as last Friday.

 

Permit me share my thoughts with you.

 

History repeats itself.

 

Germany has a history of initiating world conflicts. Germany started World War I. Germany started World War II. Why not World War III?

 

Germany may be the richest European nation. It is also the least liked. All over money. The Euro.

 

Germany has experienced great financial success the last 20 years. When the Euro and Euro bank came into being some ten years ago, Germany was in a terrific position. It was king pin. It had the most money.

 

Germany made huge loans to the other 16 nations comprising the Euro nation. Loans were made to other nations similar to the manner in which mortgage loans were made by U.S. banks to homeowners for mortgage purposes in the years leading up to 2008. No concern was taken for the ability of the borrower to pay back.

 

Greece owes Germany a ton of money. It cannot pay it back. The debt is onerous. Greek leaders try to meet the repayment plans. Taxes have had to be raised. Companies cannot pay their employees. Better than half the stores in Greece are closed. Beggars line the commercial streets of Athens. Fathers cannot feed their families.

 

Germany does not care. It has stood hard with regard to the repayment plans. Only minor adjustments have been made. The Greek government presses the people for more money to pay the Germans.

 

Germany is the banker. It is playing hard ass. The reason is simple. If Germany does not collect, it will suffer deep economic problems. In other words, Germany must be paid or the German economy ends up in the gutter.

 

Greece is not the only nation being squeezed. Italy, Spain and Portugal are in similar situations. Though not quite as bad as Greece's.

 

You will recall that I spent five weeks in Greece last summer. I saw first hand the pressure the Greek people were under at the time. I participated in two demonstrations in Athens. Thousands of people in the square in front of the legislative building. I was an observer, not a demonstrator. I walked among the people. They were ordinary every day folk. Most conservative appearing. All ages represented.

 

Merkel was at the time and still is Germany's Prime Minister. She is the boss. Every time her name was mentioned in a speech, Greek citizens, male and female alike, spit on the ground.

 

Merkel has her own problems. She runs for reelection next year. The opposition insists she is not doing enough to collect the debt, especially the Greek portion. So she presses even harder.

 

Which brings me to today. This moment in history and what is happening. None of it good.

 

Greece consists of many islands. My recollection tells me 800. It could be more. Travel amongst the islands is by ferry boat. The ferrys carry people and necessary supplies to the various islands. Very few islands have airports.

 

Last week, the seamen who operate the ferry boats went on strike. They struck for pay arrears, payments to their pension funds, against tax hikes, and various aspects of the government's austerity program. Notice they struck not for more. Rather to get even. To merely be paid what they were owed.

 

The seaman have more than six months back pay coming. They had worked without pay in anticipation of getting caught up at some point. Catching up never came. The pension plans had not been funded for more than one year. A simple truth is involved. If you do not get paid, you cannot eat. Nor can your family.

 

The Greek seamen were on strike 6 days. The strike basically shut down Greece. The government finally got a court order to the effect that the seamen return to work immediately or get fired. Hope continues to spring eternal. The seamen returned to work.

 

Workers from other occupations then struck. In support of their brother seamen who had been forced to return to work. The hotel workers, bus drivers, trolley workers, and railway workers announced an immediate four day strike. Out they went. It is called solidarity.

 

Farmers are getting killed economically. The cost of producing the farm goods exceeds greatly what fruits and vegetables can be sold for. Six months of working and tilling the soil returns pennies. The farmers are threatening to close down Greece's highways in protest.

 

The farmers decided better to give the food away to those who were in need. Free. Last week in Athens the farmers gave out free fruits and vegetables. It was  a mob scene. Chaotic. Everyone climbing on each other to get some food.

 

A news media outlet described it best. These people were not beggars.....they were victims of an economic crisis.....which came like a hurricane and leveled families.....the people have swallowed their pride and dignity.....they will do whatever they can for free food for their families.

 

It is a bad situation getting worse with each passing day.

 

Recall Germany in the 1920's and early 1930's. The German people were economically down trodden because of the onerous financial burdens imposed on them by the Allies after World War I. Such gave Hitler the ability to  gain popularity and favor and eventually take over the German government. Whenever people hurt, especially when a man and woman cannot feed their children, people will accept any one who promises a better way.

 

The seeds of a similar experience are breaking ground today in Greece. There has been the birth of a Greek Nazi Party. It is called the Golden Dawn Party. In the national elections last November, the Nazis garnered seven per cent of the vote. Now roughly three months later, it is believed that if an election were held today, the Golden Dawn Party would come in a strong third. Making the Nazi party a decided influence in Greek affairs.

 

The members of the Greek Nazi party are similar to those who supported Hitler. They are anti-Semitic. They believe Auschwitz was good. They sing praises to Auschwitz. The Nazis are also very anti-immigration. There is not enough for the Greeks. Why share with an outsider. The Nazis chant the slogan.....Speak Greek or die. Jewish and immigrant places of business are vandalized.

 

Sound familiar?

 

Things are obviously bad in Greece. It is difficult to see any good coming out of the present situation. A head on confrontation between Germany and Greece is possible. Perhaps probable. Whatever. My point is the Middle East is not the only tinderbox that could explode into a world war. Germany and Greece are in the running. Germany would then have the dubious honor of having started World War III.