Greece:shuts down, more violence feared

[Sapiens]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081210/..._greece_unrest

THENS (Reuters) – A general strike shut down Greece on Wednesday, grounding flights, closing banks and schools and restricting hospital services in action that piled pressure on a conservative government hit by the worst riots in decades.

Workers chanting anti-government slogans gathered in central Athens before a rally called by Greece's two main union federations against economic policy. Authorities braced for a fifth day of violence since police shot dead a teenager on Saturday.

"Participation in the strike is total, the country has come to a standstill," said Stathis Anestis, spokesman for the GSEE private sector union federation.

On Tuesday, scores of youths clashed with police near where the funeral was held of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos, whose killing ignited anger over government scandals, unemployment and high poverty levels, worsened by the global economic slump.

The opposition socialist party has said the ruling New Democracy party, which has a one-seat majority, has lost the trust of the people and has called for elections.

...

We have seen nothing yet!

[Chris]

Re: Greece:shuts down, more violence feared

Eurozone's weakest links start to crack - a related pieced, well worth the read.

At least the US doesn't have the mass immigration problems we do in Europe.

[skidder]

Re: Greece:shuts down, more violence feared

Eurozone's weakest links start to crack - a related pieced, well worth the read.

At least the US doesn't have the mass immigration problems we do in Europe.

Not "yet" we don't but it isn't for lack of trying. I've never figured out why both parties are so resistent to enforcing our immigration laws and so eager to reward illegal behavior.

[Adeptus]

Re: Greece:shuts down, more violence feared

Hmm... Makes me wonder what will happen to the 22 other European countries whose citizens earn even less than in Greece:

If I was in Europe, I'd be reading this little anectodal Argentina survival story, right about now.

[mcgurme]

Re: Greece:shuts down, more violence feared

Not "yet" we don't but it isn't for lack of trying. I've never figured out why both parties are so resistent to enforcing our immigration laws and so eager to reward illegal behavior.

Simple: because it costs a lot less for a business to hire an illegal alien than a citizen. The pressure was especially acute when unemployment was very low, and so good workers very expensive. Since politicians generally seek to keep business happy (since it pays for re-election campaigns), I have no doubt that lots of behind-the-scenes anti-immigration reform has been going on.

Note that, despite my cynical view, I am definitely not in the minutemen camp by any stretch. I do believe we should enforce the laws, but I also think the laws can be made more rational (like, when unemployment is low, allowing people who want to work to come here legally to do so, on a temporary basis). But, my cynical view also tells me that as unemployment heats up, the anti-immigrant fervor here in the US could explode, and be a very bad thing.