A friend of mine went to Greece last year, and when he came back he said he hadn't seen any evidence of the "crisis", as they call it. He told me that the people he had asked (friends of an elite Greek mutual friend he was staying with) about the economic crisis had replied "It's not us that's poor, it's the government." (Presumably whilst sipping their 7 euro Freduccino in Plaka or Scoffing lobster spaghetti on some beach in Mykonos.)
It's a sad but true example of one of the reasons Greece is in such a mess. Snobbery. Greeks are some of the absolute worst snobs I know, and I have lived in the UK. While in other countries it may be acceptable, or even cool, to wear for example 2nd hand clothes, for the vast majority in Greece it is literally anathema. Admitting to not having money is never ever allowed, and the competition to wear "markes" (brands) is outstanding, and starts at a very young age. This meant that in the late 90s, when the age of credit and borrowing hit Greece, Greeks lapped it up. A society that once passed on its wealth through property began to borrow at a phenomenal rate; new cars, second homes, travelling abroad, and, of course, long summers with the ubiquitous range of designer clothes, bags, and sunglasses.
The willingness to spend, spend, spend could be seen in another light. It is this very "carpe diem" or "joy-de-vive" (I can't think of a Greek way of saying it!) that lends Greece it's charm. It's something hellenophiles have fallen for for centuries: the feeling of promise, that everything is possible, that tomorrow doesn't matter and that the wine will flow without end.
Well, unfortunately the wine has stopped flowing. It is in times like these you would expect such a family based and seemingly proud nation to gather together and face the economic winter.
But society has become more and more fragmented; the people don't trust the government, the government have ceased to represent the people. The responibles at the top have not faced any of the corruption or overspending accusations, no heads have rolled.
There is another unsaid issue too, which is the unwillingness of most people to admit that everyone is responsible, not just the government, that each person has had their part to play. After all, if the government have overspent and cant pay it back, so have the people. If the government have been corrupt, so have the people.
Corruption is absolutely endemic to the population. It is not something just the rich do, or just the private sector. When my yaya goes to get her cataracts done on the public health service, she has to "oil" the doctor with 250 euros. This is a PUBLIC doctor in PUBLIC hospital. If she doesn't, she may end up with the trainee operating on her, which at worst could cost her her sight, like the uncle of a friend of mine who refused. When my Albanian friend went to give birth, she had to oil the (half Albanian, so not a racist issue) doctor 800 euros. That's probably at least 2 months wages for her and her family, who live on absolute pittance, being Albanian and all (don't let me go off on that rant!).
Everyone avoids tax when they can, and the richer you are the easier it is. A well known private doctor was in the papers recently for tax evasion: he had declared his earnings as 10,000 euros per year. He earned probably more than 10 times that amount. Cash in hand rules, if you ask for a receipt, you are scowled at.
So, yes, the rich can afford to think the crisis doesn't affect them for the moment: they have grown fat off tax evasion and easy work from their uncles. But as Greece gets poorer, as people get more desperate, can they avoid the notion that they too may be sinking with the ship, or will they be like the rats they are and leave?
Disclaimer: I am Greek, so I am allowed to criticise!
No comments:
Post a Comment