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sometimes a little honesty pinches
Feb. 12th, 2012 12:32 amI was listening to a piece on NPR (I think it was planet money) not too long ago on the whole economic crisis with Greece. One of the things I took away from it was the ridiculous importance of honesty in relationships. Not just the ones between family and friends but on the international level. When Greece was trying to join the EU, there were concerns all around. And no one was really being honest with one another about the reality. The EU kind of knew that Greece really didn't have their act together on the financial end of things but no one was really saying anything. It was considered impolite or awkward. (Undiplomatic if you will.) Greece was not prepared for the kind of fiscal obligations that were being asked of them but damn they wanted into the Eurozone.
Yes yes yes money is a gauche subject. Even I find the discussion of money to be unpleasant but sometimes you do have to sit down and have a frank discussion about finances. Otherwise bills won't get paid and things will end up a complete and utter mess.
The other thing that came to mind when listening to the piece was when assorted Greeks were talking about what things were like when they were living the high life. I recalled a conversation when we were looking to buy our house. Our real estate agent was driving us to a couple of houses and we were talking about how much we disliked George W. Bush. Our agent said, (our agent was gay and gay rights/Bush administration came up) "My gay friends, HATES Bush and won't vote for him but they have mixed views because of all the tax cuts and assorted refunds under Bush has meant some of them have made a TON of money and the tax rate they pay is really really low." We had a laugh about it.
And while a lot of people in the states have a legitimate beef with assorted financial services and our elected officials, there is that slightly uncomfortable subject that we the people had a hand in it as well. A lot of people gleefully ate up the de-regulation, the refunds, the lower rates, because of that promise of good times never ending. And again there wasn't a lot of honest talk about what might happen when (and things don't always go on a high forever) things aren't so good.
Unfortunately the people that tend to suffer the most are the vulnerable members of society and in Greece we see The health of the people is falling apart.
Odd stuff. That promise of wealth and riches.
Yes yes yes money is a gauche subject. Even I find the discussion of money to be unpleasant but sometimes you do have to sit down and have a frank discussion about finances. Otherwise bills won't get paid and things will end up a complete and utter mess.
The other thing that came to mind when listening to the piece was when assorted Greeks were talking about what things were like when they were living the high life. I recalled a conversation when we were looking to buy our house. Our real estate agent was driving us to a couple of houses and we were talking about how much we disliked George W. Bush. Our agent said, (our agent was gay and gay rights/Bush administration came up) "My gay friends, HATES Bush and won't vote for him but they have mixed views because of all the tax cuts and assorted refunds under Bush has meant some of them have made a TON of money and the tax rate they pay is really really low." We had a laugh about it.
And while a lot of people in the states have a legitimate beef with assorted financial services and our elected officials, there is that slightly uncomfortable subject that we the people had a hand in it as well. A lot of people gleefully ate up the de-regulation, the refunds, the lower rates, because of that promise of good times never ending. And again there wasn't a lot of honest talk about what might happen when (and things don't always go on a high forever) things aren't so good.
Unfortunately the people that tend to suffer the most are the vulnerable members of society and in Greece we see The health of the people is falling apart.
Odd stuff. That promise of wealth and riches.
