Socialism

Greek Version by Capricorner Socialism International meets again in Greece, hosted, again, by its Chairman the Greek Prime Minister Mr. G. Papandreou.Socialism International stands for   progressive policies for a fairer world. Its basic principle is Freedom, Justice and Solidarity.Its annual gatherings purport, presumably, to exchange views and ideas about how socialism can improve life on this planet. On the topic of Social Justice Mr. Papandreou has a lot to say. -Relationship of voters to the Socialist party. The party is there to do whatever it can for its voters, usually to accommodate them, or their kin, in the fold of the Public sector, the Public payroll, which by extension means that all the Greeks contribute directly or indirectly to the financial security of the party’s voters. Social Justice, Greek version.-Trade unions of the Public sector confront the people and antagonize society with their aggressive tactics and outrageous privileges. They often disrupt economic activity and cause financial damage to businesses. By contrast the Unions of the Private sector have no ways to “press” for their demands and the Private sector is, therefore, generally under-paid and under-privileged compared to the Public sector. All the Greeks contribute directly or indirectly to the superior pay and outrageous privileges of the Public sector, to maintain the double standard established by the Greek Socialist party … the privileged minority of the Public sector and the under-privileged majority of the Private sector. Social Justice, Greek version. -When Private sector employees go on strike, not very common, they loose their pay for the time they are on strike, not so with the privileged Public sector, most of the time. Furthermore, courts often determine a strike from Public sector Unions to be illegal, but the Unions often ignore the court decisions with total impunity. Double standards in favor of the Public sector unions. Social Justice, Greek version. -The severe austerity the Greek Government imposes affects the under-privileged small pensioners, the unemployed, the salaried personnel of the Private sector who work longer and harder than their counterparts in the privileged Public sector, all those who have no ways to “press” for a fair distribution of the adjustment burden. This, according to the IMF, is a matter of paramount importance and the IMF expresses its concern, but the Government thinks otherwise. The Public sector remains privileged. Social justice, Greek version. - The gigantic size of the Public sector breeds corruption. Thousands, yes thousands, of “signatures” are required to build, organize and start operating a Luxury Resort which attracts the opulent tourists, significantly contributing to the local economy. If the company refuses to succumb to the expected or demanded “incentives” to secure the multitude approvals of every conceivable kind  the project takes many years to get started and many more to complete and this is but o