GREECE OPENS DOOR TO POISONOUS FOODSTUFFS

 

The Greek government recently came up with a plan to help feed its millions who are without food. The plan was to take effect September 1. Two days after the plan was announced, the supermarkets slammed the door shut on the proposal.

 

Most Greeks are living below the poverty level. Fathers cannot feed their families. They are without money to buy groceries. Most of these fathers have been hard working all their lives and now find themselves in a humbling situation not of their making.

 

I believe the Greek government has been and is screwed up when it comes to money. Otherwise, the Greek people would not be in the dire economic straits they are today.

 

The Greek government announced that as of September 1, supermarkets and grocery stores would be permitted to sell outdated foods. Expired foods. Foods that were beyond the date set forth following "Best used by....."

 

Depending on the type of food, the groceries could be sold anywhere from one week to three months following the expiration date.

 

The government required the stores to set aside a special section with a sign for the aged foodstuffs.  All foods so sold were to be sold priced below what they were initially labeled to be sold for.

 

What a wonderful solution to a serious problem! Make bad food available to the public. Put the consumers at risk. Invite e.coli, salmonella, botulism and I do not know what else to poison your own people.

 

The plan was bad on its face. It did not take long for someone to raise holy hell about it. The supermarkets.

 

The supermarkets stood together. They were concerned with health and safety issues. Outdated produce especially raised their ire.  The supermarkets refused to poison their customers. A few of the smaller stores swiftly jumped into the program, but it is expected they will back away.

 

The plan backfired. Before it even got going.

 

Is the Greek government capable of doing better? I do not know. Perhaps no one knows how to do better. The economically driven Greek calamity may be without solution in every respect. The proposal itself reeked of desperation.

 

As you are aware, I have spent a considerable amount of time in Greece the past two summers. One of my friends communicated with me. On the second day of this program, she bought a bag of outdated rice at a grocery store. When she opened it, the rice was crawling with small worms.

NAZI GREECE ON THE RISE

I recently returned from five weeks in Greece. I had a similar trip last year at this time.

 

I wanted to write this column two weeks into my Greece trip. However, I was concerned. Perhaps afraid might be the more appropriate word. I feared that once published, I might be detained and interrogated. Or, interrogated and then detained. Either way, not a comfortable situation.

 

You may think I am a bit daffy at this point. You will not by the time you finish reading what I have to share with you..

 

Greece has suffered the most of the euro nations. There are 1.4 million unemployed. The unemployment rate is 27 per cent. Sixty five per cent of the 27 per cent unemployed are under 25. The Greek Stock Exchange has fallen 85 per cent since 2007.

 

Men cannot feed their families. Single mothers, their children. A new group of impoverished is visible on the streets. The Greek people themselves.

 

Demonstrations flourished last summer. Thousands would gather to protest in the front of Parliament in Athens. I was there when three occurred. I walked through them. No one bothered me. What I saw were people of all ages angry at Merkle and Germany. Every time Merkle's name was mentioned, male and female alike would spit on the ground.

 

There are no demonstrations this summer, except for a few union organized ones. Things have moved beyond demonstrations and protests.

 

Whereas last year, the people were openly angry with what they perceived as their German caused plight, this year there was almost a reverent silence. Like everyone was waiting for something to happen.

 

People are still hungry. Families still miss meals. Never the less, this quiet exists. Perhaps the quiet before the storm.

 

Hitler came to power as a result of Germany's economics at that time. The Allies had foisted unreasonable reparations upon Germany which made Hitler's ascent possible. The German people were broke because of the reparations that had to be paid. Similar to the Greek situation of today where the Greek people are economically depressed because of the euro/Germany problem.

 

There is a Nazi party in Greece today. It has been in existence in one form or another for more than  twenty years. Some years actually dead. Existed merely on paper. The Nazi party was revitalized several years ago. It is called the Golden Dawn Party.

 

Initially, a nothing. Today, it is the third largest political party in Greece. Greece has a coalition government. No administration can survive without the 18 votes of the Golden Dawn Party. Ergo, its influence is significant.

 

It has been suggested that if a new national election were held today, the Golden Dawn Party would capture significantly more seats. 

 

Now for the practicalities. As you read through the next few paragraphs, think of the similarities with what occurred in Nazi Germany beginning in the late 1920s.

 

There are blackshirts. Young good looking men. Black shirts and pants. Walk the busy streets Athens in large groups. Like 15-20 at a time. Ride mopeds two at a time, generally on two or more mopeds.

 

My Athens hotel was in the downtown area near Parliament. I am not ashamed to admit I felt intimidated each time I walked past such a group. Even when the mopeds drove past me. Sometimes they starred like they could see every part of my being.

 

There is a Youth Movement. The young  wear only black shirts with the Party's insignia. No black pants.

 

The Golden Dawn Party has a flag. It has an insignia that appears to be a swastika. Not exactly. Close enough however so there is no question.

 

Hitler needed a scapegoat. Someone to blame for Germany's ills. He picked the Jews. The Golden Dawn Party, immigrants. Greece has had a massive influx of peoples from all over in recent years. Most escaping wars and/or tyranny. The claim is the immigrants took jobs that should have gone to Greeks and that the Greek government is broke because it cannot afford to support dependent immigrants.

 

Several years ago, Greece started a program of arresting and deporting immigrants. For no reason other than they were immigrants. In 2010, Parliament passed a law granting citizenship automatically to second generation persons. It was almost immediately repealed. A new law replaced it. The new law gave police the power to detain people for HIV testing and sex identity. Many immigrants had become part of the sex industry in order to survive economically. Once arrested, most are never released. They are kept jailed for months or forever. No judge, no nothing.

 

Hitler's Jews of yesterday are Greece's immigrants of today.

 

The Golden Dawn Party is not to be outdone, however. They are negative about Jews as well. They claim Jewish bankers internationally are partially to blame for Greece's economic woes.

 

The Greek police and Golden Dawn Party members have an informal affiliation. It has been reported that at least one half of the Athens police force are members of the Golden Dawn Party. The blackshirts carry weapons illegally. Nothing is done.

 

One of the reasons for the police support is that during the early demonstrations, no one came to the aid of the police. The mobs  were incensed and the police many times could not contain them. The blackshirts came to help. They stood with the police.

 

During recent demonstrations, the police have supplied the black shirts with batons and radio communication equipment.

 

There are beatings. Openly on the streets of Athens. Of immigrants. The police stand by and do nothing. Store fronts of businesses owned by immigrants have large X's painted on their doors and windows. Plus signs saying..... Do Not Do Business Here. Again, the police do  nothing.

 

The government does not interfere either.

 

It is claimed that at least half the judges are supportive of the Golden Dawn Party.

 

The Party continues to experience growing influence and power in Athens itself. It is spreading its tentacles to the suburbs. It wishes to capture the hearts and minds of the middle classes living in the suburbs.

 

The Golden Dawn Party's new member gathering techniques speak volumes. If you are hungry and can feed neither yourself or your family, the Party will give you food. Bags of food. If you are in trouble with the police/charged with a crime, the Party will resolve the problem to your satisfaction.

 

All that is required in either instance is allegiance to the Golden Dawn Party. In writing. Coupled with open participation in the Party's activities.

 

Frequent bags of free food are handed out at various intersections to those who are hungry. Immigrants of course are precluded from receiving this help. A person must first prove he or she is not an immigrant in order to qualify for the free food.

 

Party members are viewed as Robin Hoods. Not my description. The label given to them by the Greek people.

 

The Party has frequent rallies. The organization has a theme song. Auschwitz. The lyrics are anti-Semitic. One line goes.....F--k Anne Frank. Another.....Juden rous, Jews out.

 

Strangely, the Golden Dawn Party denies the Holocaust. An inconsistency.

 

American and Israeli flags are burned.

 

The party's hero is Adolph Hitler. He is viewed as a great social reformer and military genius. They believe in "Hitler for a 1,000 years!"  They believe the Golden Dawn Party will succeed where Hitler failed.

 

They greet and otherwise recognize persons with the Nazi salute.

 

There are moneyed people who support the Golden Dawn Party. Their identities are unknown.

 

All of the preceding results from the poverty and despair brought on the Greek people by  euro/German inspired austerity programs. Ironically, the Greek people blame the Germans for the euro and austerity problems. Yet they are leaning the way of Hitler's Germany in order to survive.

 

While all this is going on, the Greek people and government stand silently by. The people because they are eating or are afraid. The government because it wants to stay in power.

 

Why do I have to tell you what is happening in Greece? Where is the media? Isn't a growing Nazi party in Greece worthy of consideration? Why are we not being made aware? Why the silence?

 

History does repeat itself. It is happening again.

 

Scares the hell out of me!

 

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.