Virtually ever newspaper carries headlines of the Greek debt crisis. Even friends have contacted us and asked if we will be OK on a personal basis living here!  Now whilst I accept this is a drastic situation for the country and in past years Greece has been overspending, lets put this debt in prospective.

The budget deficit as a percentage of GDP is LOWER than that of the UK, but of course the UK is not in the Euro Zone of currencies, so UK news reporters together with politicians have the audacity to criticize; the overall debt as a percentage of GDP is LESS than Italy.......so lets not get too excited!  What is now required is for Greeks to "bite the bullet", whatever the government propose is rebelled against by unions that are far too powerful and hold the country to ransom. 

Current proposals of raising the retirement age from 60 to 63....so what? It is that in many countries.........

Personal tax levels are extremely attractive, people earning below 12000 Euro pa. are tax free (subject to some minor requirement), yet tax evasion rules, its almost a national past time! Heavy fines for tax evasion are required.

Unions need to realize if they really care for their members they will support the basic policies the government are trying to implement, their current actions have the potential of causing mass civil unrest.....The Greek prime Minister perhaps should look back in history and make a phone call to Margaret Thatcher..