Funny thing is that each small increment in progress seems right thing to do at the moment. i.e. Whatever driving economy growing eventually becomes a cause of economy collapse. It's like our digestive system. The digestive system made us grow, but eventually byproducts of the digestion will wear us down.

>The digestive system make us grow, but eventually byproducts of the digestion eventually wear us down.

As far as I know it is one of the theories. But I do not agree with it.

@stonebat

http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/2269#Comment_2269

Most Americans would not say that democracy rules in Greece. It may have been the birthplace of democracy, but these days, the people there expect the State to take care of them, effectively voting themselves right into collectivism. Surprise, surprise...pretty soon, there's not enough people working to support all the benefits being handed out by the State. Greece is a failure of socialism and big government spending, not a failure of democracy.

@MrAnthony

Do you know Greece, the people, the history? The territory?
It 'true that the Greek policy was very "happy" for many years, but Greece has many other bigger problems. There are 10 million people over a vast territory and made ​​up of thousands of islands. They had a disastrous recent history, since the second world war, until the "regime of the colonels."
Germany, which refuses to give aid to Greece, did not pay the war debts from World War II, and must give to Greece more than Greece would need.
I am Italian, but I work in Greece, and I know the Greek people. Many times what you read in the newspapers it is written by people who do not even know where Greece.

>... like comparing Greece and US economics structure, crime rates, narcotics spreading, healthcare coverage

It is nearly impossible for a USA citizen to understand this facts. In Greece, the crime is almost non-existent, apart from political corruption. You can leave the house, or open the car for days and nobody will touch anything, for example. You can say the same in the U.S.?
Do not talk about health, we know what Obama had to suffer to make a reform that seems epochal, but it is not at all comparable to those in Europe, including Greece. And do not talk about the Italian one.

Ok, I'm sorry if I'm hot for this topic. And I'm sorry for my English, also...

Here is California:


Using this standard, the Controller’s analysis found that the recently-vetoed budget committed the State to $89.75 billion in spending, but only provided $87.9 billion in revenues, leaving an imbalance of $1.85 billion.

The largest problem involved the guaranteed level of education funding under Proposition 98. The June 15 budget underfunded education by more than $1.3 billion. Underfunding is not possible without suspending Proposition 98, which would require a supermajority (2/3) vote of the Legislature.

The budget also counted on $320 million in hospital fees, $103 million in taxes on managed-care plans, and $300 million in vehicle registration charges. However, the Legislature never passed the bills necessary to collect or spend those funds as part of the State budget.


Source - http://www.sco.ca.gov/eo_pressrel_10078.html

Ha! California is just like Greece--overspending by the government for social services.

And no, it's not socialism and social structure that's to blame. It's overspending--spending money without income that is to blame. They have to cut their debt. The Greeks are perfectly nice people and I loved visiting there (other than the guys who kept trying to steer me to certain bars with overpriced liquor and prostitutes). But a government shouldn't be spending money it has no way to repay. Whether that's California, Greece, or the U.S., it doesn't matter. Other countries have plenty of social services, but they also have tax structures to support it.

What about Sweden ? Maybe problem is not a system but people ? Morality ?Maybe it is attitude to the world around us?Maybe it is the differences in thinking about other people: fuck them cause I'm better than them or help them because I am better than myself in the past? Maybe the question is what you got at home? From parents?

Greece has had the Nazi occupation in World War II. Immediately after, he had a civil war that has caused economic damage of more than 20 years.
Then, he had periods of growth from 1950 until the coup d'etat of the colonels dictatorship, (supported by the U.S.) in 1967.
The absurdity of this economic policy regime has led to another military coup in 1973.
In all this time, there have been problems of relations with Turkey, and dozens and dozens of earthquakes that have repeatedly destroyed many areas.
What should be the story of a troubled country because you might think that it is not a sin if they need help?

@ Mihuel: Sweden was the first country that came to my mind as well.

>That is a great video.

Indeed. It contains many oversimplifications, and only one pov, but otherall it is quite good.