Greece faces "the spectre of bankruptcy" (again)

Sve

Rubbish, youth unemployment is running at an all time high and is getting worse year on year. Tax receipts are continuing to fall year on year, unemployment is rising year on year.  Holiday makers are continuing to fall and it is projecting to be only 20% of what it was 6 years ago due to the Euro. Take yourself over to Greece and have a chat with the ordinary Greek people, the majority of Greeks I have spoken too want out of the euro and a return to the drachma. A very high percentage of Greeks are now living on less than 1k a month and cannot pay their everyday bills.  Utility companies have stopped cutting people off as there are many owe them money.

domtheone

On this occasion i find myself agreeing with Rasczak

The polls that i've seen (read) point to support for the euro.

Sometimes you have to wonder why though (perhaps they don't poll young people over there) as it has been a disaster for this generation.

The Greeks seem to want their cake and to eat it too though.  And how a country with just 10 (ish) million people can get in so much **** is staggering.

Personally they should leave and be done with it.  Just does not make sense to have the same currency as the Germans.

I'm guessing the only reason they're not gone already is the house of cards theory.

Rasczak

I initially accepted your tourism comments assuming you had done your homework - then I found these (from 2014):

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cda98386-fd41-11e3-bc93-00144feab7de.html#axzz3SSYJTS00

Greek Tourism Set for Another Record Year, Industry Body Says - Bloomberg Business

Record Number of Tourists in Greece This Year | GreekReporter.com

...so perhaps not quite as doom and gloom as you suggest Sve.

Regardless Sve I would put this to you - if the majority of the Greeks don't want to be part of the EU and Euro, why the long talks to try and find a solution? Why don't they just tear up the debts and go their own way?

As for 'taking myself to Greece', my work actually takes me to Crete quite regularly - at least once a year. I see more EU flags there than here and haven't picked up on any anti-EU sentiment although when I was there in June last year Germans definitely kept their heads down.

Enki

Greece cannot leave the EU, what message would that send out? The EU has to look strong and together as much as it can.  The beast in the east, loves the EU frenzy themselves over debt and responsibility.

pragmatic

Isn't it this sort of thing that brought down the USSR?
History can repeat itself.

Trollslayer

The new guy knows game theory, the others know game practice.
Let's see what happens next.

Cliff

Greeks aren,t happy with the eu for sure. But they were very happy adopting the Euro. Suddenly they were members of the european rich mans club. Expensive German cars were possible (on credit). That was unimaginable before. Not sure the idea of going back to the Drachma is that popular?

Trollslayer

Spain was similar, so many unfinished captial projects.

Rasczak

Crunch time for Greece this morning as their proposed reforms are scrutinised by the EU Finance teams.
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/feb/23/greece-drafts-three-page-menu-of-reforms-to-appease-Eurozone

BBC News - Greece bailout: Government unveils reform summary after press leaks

Of note I see the proposed plans to "reverse privatisation" and reinstate every sacked civil servant have been shelved.

Courtjezter

Corruption at the top level, is what i believe.  The last Greek government was in the same family for a number of generations and its only interest was looking after it's family members.