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Those Greek Riots
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200812u/greek-riots ^ | December 19, 2008 | Robert D. Kaplan

Posted on 12/26/2008 7:02:50 PM PST by Lorianne

"Pay close attention to Greece; at a time of world-wide economic upheaval, it might eerily presage disturbances elsewhere in 2009" ___ reece has been torn apart by the worst riots in decades, now entering their third week. Bands of self-declared anarchist youths have rampaged through the streets of Athens and other major cities causing hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage, setting off a spiral of unrest in which the nation’s unions, among other groups, have taken part. Both shops and hotel lobbies have been ransacked, and hospitals, airports, and transport have been brought to a standstill. What sparked the riots was the accidental police shooting of a 15-year-old boy, Alexandros Grigoropoulos. But as usual in such cases, there was much more in the way of causes lying beneath the surface.

Youth unemployment is high throughout the European Union, but it is particularly high in Greece, hovering between 25 and 30 percent. With few job prospects, rampant poverty in the face of nouveau riche prosperity, a public university system in shambles, a bloated government sector in desperate need of an overhaul, and a weak, defensive conservative government with only a one-seat majority in parliament, it is a ripe period for protests, which have had as their aim the fall of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

Greece could now be at a crossroads, which requires a bit of history to explain.

[...]

(Excerpt) Read more at theatlantic.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: anarchists; anarchistyouths; anarchy; athens; greece; youths
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1 posted on 12/26/2008 7:02:51 PM PST by Lorianne
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To: Lorianne

Change you can believe in.


2 posted on 12/26/2008 7:07:45 PM PST by yorkie01
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To: Lorianne
I have been to Greece several times.

Insane socialism, no incentives to work, all-powerful unions that make the UAW look like Sunday School kids...

No one in their right mind would start a business there and the ones that do exist spend at least 50% of their time figuring out ways to get around/avoid the government.

3 posted on 12/26/2008 7:09:38 PM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: Lorianne
Pay close attention to Greece; at a time of world-wide economic upheaval, it might eerily presage disturbances elsewhere in 2009"

You know what? The gawddamn lockstep media is reciting this line so freaking often that I'm guessing it's a done deal.

Anarchy in 2009. Lock and load.

4 posted on 12/26/2008 7:10:42 PM PST by the invisib1e hand (revolution is in the air.)
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To: Lorianne

it is the inevitable end when you get socialism and state control with only a window dressing of free enterprise.

It’s where we may be heading. Public/left wing control of universities, the state controlling most major industries, with resulting cronyism and high unemployment


5 posted on 12/26/2008 7:10:58 PM PST by PGR88
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To: Lorianne; eleni121

I don’t always agree with Kaplan’s assessments of the situation in the Balkans, but he’s on the money with this one in my opinion.


6 posted on 12/26/2008 7:11:42 PM PST by Kolokotronis ( Christ is Born! Glorify Him!)
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To: yorkie01

Coming to a town near you....Circus and bread...circus and bread...circus and bread...


7 posted on 12/26/2008 7:13:56 PM PST by rightwingextremist1776
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To: Lorianne

Socialism, my foot. These are full fledged communists. Greece has had a problem with communists since they kicked out the fascists in WW 2.

It’s up to the Greek people what they want to choose for themselves. They aren’t fighting these people back the way they should.


8 posted on 12/26/2008 7:14:10 PM PST by deannadurbin
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To: All

BLOG - Winds of Jihad

http://sheikyermami.com/2008/12/09/greek-riots-watch-yoots-with-hoots/

“Greek Riots Watch: Yoots with Hoots”
(Posted December 9, 2008)


9 posted on 12/26/2008 7:15:05 PM PST by Cindy
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To: PGR88

“it is the inevitable end when you get socialism and state control with only a window dressing of free enterprise.”

Greece was and is full of true free enterprise. What is going on in Greece is the result of the introduction of the Euro and the globalization brought about by unrestrained international capitalists who owe allegiance to nothing but money far more than to the actions of any socialist bogeyman.


10 posted on 12/26/2008 7:18:27 PM PST by Kolokotronis ( Christ is Born! Glorify Him!)
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To: Lorianne
"Following World War II, Greece had a civil war ...The civil war left scars for decades on the country’s politics, pushing left- and right-wing parties into ideological barricades, inflamed further by personal hatreds arising out of the war years."
A concern of mine about a civil war here.
11 posted on 12/26/2008 7:19:06 PM PST by sionnsar (Iran Azadi|5yst3m 0wn3d-it's N0t Y0ur5 (SONY)|http://trad-anglican.faithweb.com/|RCongressIn2Years)
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To: the invisib1e hand
The allusions to widespread disillusionment may portend upheaval, by design.

One can only hope this smoldering argument between order and reason on the one hand, and entitlement and anarchy on the other, soon goes to "the streets".

12 posted on 12/26/2008 7:25:01 PM PST by Mariner
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To: Kolokotronis
and the globalization brought about by unrestrained international capitalists who owe allegiance to nothing but money

LOL. Congratulations, Greece ranks ahead of Kenya and behind Kazakhstan in the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom Link

13 posted on 12/26/2008 7:25:56 PM PST by vbmoneyspender
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To: 2banana

Wanna bet that those rioting anarchists want Communism as a cure to the woes of Socialism? Despite the evidence, they look to Government to solve their problems.


14 posted on 12/26/2008 7:29:18 PM PST by rbg81 (DRAIN THE SWAMP!!)
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To: Kolokotronis

I kindly suggest you go start a business and hire some employees in Greece and get back to us. You have no idea what you are talking about.


15 posted on 12/26/2008 7:31:44 PM PST by DB
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To: Kolokotronis

“...What is going on in Greece is the result of the introduction of the Euro and the globalization brought about by unrestrained international capitalists who owe allegiance to nothing but money...”

This is the same old left-wing cliche - capitalistss and the unkown/unseen money-men stealing bread from the mouths of poor mothers. Oh yeah, and “globalization” is always thrown around too.

Face it - it is left-wing cronyism, high taxes and a basic lack of respect for personal freedom and property that is destroying the economy of Greece.


16 posted on 12/26/2008 7:32:14 PM PST by PGR88
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To: vbmoneyspender

“Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom....”

Figures! Real bunch of credible geniuses working there. I’ve always found it prudent to take and assess opinions whence they come! I wouldn’t believe those bloodsuckers if they told me it was Friday.


17 posted on 12/26/2008 7:33:29 PM PST by Kolokotronis ( Christ is Born! Glorify Him!)
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To: vbmoneyspender
Hmm. Ireland. Weather I like. And they're pro-life (for the most part) and pro-family.
18 posted on 12/26/2008 7:33:54 PM PST by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Abortion has become little more than the New Left's execution of political prisoners.)
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To: PGR88
And don't forget, as the article points out, the failure of the public-education system, which can in no way be less Leftist than the US system of indoctrination.

Let's face it, these youths are little more than collectivist pit bulls that have been raised on ropes dipped in chicken blood.

19 posted on 12/26/2008 7:36:01 PM PST by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Abortion has become little more than the New Left's execution of political prisoners.)
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To: Lorianne

My take:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7xlriHxbKI


20 posted on 12/26/2008 7:36:26 PM PST by Liberal Bob (looneyleft.com)
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