"This is Sparta" - In Reverse

We are all familiar with the concept of ancient Sparta and the symbolisms behind it. For those who do not remember, just watch the movie "300" and you will get the idea. No matter how seizable the enemy, no matter how bad the odds, no matter how terminal the risk, there seems to be a higher cause and a driver inside everyone that renders all of the above hardships immaterial. Of course, our current predicament fell upon us as the direct result of our own mismanagement and consequently there is no obvious external enemy or threat. But as we live in modern times, and under the sleepless eyes of modern hyenas in the form of stock-brokers, economists and all other types of gamblers out there who have found a formula to profit from ones downfall, we fail to see that our real enemies are not the ones who run to our rescue but the ones who want to profit from our destruction. In this open chaos and confusion, if we want to maintain the higher ground, we need to demonstrate that we have the ability and clear vision to distinguish between friend and enemy. And the criteria for this determination cannot and must not be how soothing to our ears or how aggressive to our ears demands placed upon us sound. I find it very hard in this context to understand why we all riot against Germany, the IMF and whomever else, when we are told that our public sector needs to shrink in order to become viable. And while we all protest against this "impertinent intervention into our private affairs", I cannot think of anyone who lives in this country and with whom I have exchanged views, who has not openly admitted that he was annoyed one way or the other by one public servant at a given situation, who was either rude, or ignorant or both. Equally, I cannot remember how often we have said in our private conversations that all these incapable people must be removed as they present a major threat to any foreign investor who wishes to become part of this economic jump-start of Greece. And yet, when a German points out the obvious he is the enemy. In a similar manner, over the last five years we keep hearing about the necessity to create fiscal stability and legal predictability. I seriously ask myself, people when we talk about these things, do we really understand what they mean? I am sure that if I asked my father, who has worked his entire life as an economic immigrant in Germany, he would tell me that what he loved most about his objectively speaking "tough" life in Germany, is that he was equal under the law to any German citizen, and his affairs with the German State were transparent, predictable and streamlined at all times, irrespective of government in power or specific political figure. And I compare this with my reality in Greece. Working here as a lawyer I have a close view on the fact that we are definitely NOT all equal under the law. Justice is a "commodity" in this country with a specific price tag on it. There are factions in this country that are above the law, as there are factions that cannot afford the law. In terms of my affairs with the Greek State, I feel totally exposed. One year it is ok for people to go buy bigger engine cars because the government is enabling access to "luxurious goods" - (i.e. a car with an engine size of 2.000cc is the Greek definition of luxury), the next year people are being overtaxed because of the purchase they made by entrusting the government that no harm will fall upon them. The one day banks literally throw credit cards at you, the next day the state eliminates the protection granted on your home and banks execute against you and confiscate your home. This is looting on both sides, and the generation of distrust. And with such a resume, it is very difficult for this country to convince any serious investor. Yet, the most disturbing thing is that our politicians know the cure but for their own personal reasons (and probably benefits) refuse to implement it, blaming all fault on the rescuers. The evil ladies and gentlemen is deeply rooted and it is rooted within this country, not in Brussels, Washington or elsewhere. And if you ask me, any reference to our ancestors with a view to blind our senses and boost our national pride is abusive at this stage, where we are at a crossroad where we need to maintain clarity at all cost. We need to admit openly that we have treated our friends badly and against any rules of hospitality for which we are famous to be known for. We run around the corridors of our friends in Brussels who run out of patience for our playground attitude and when they tell us the obvious, that "beggars cannot be chosers", we build up a wall made of arrogance and false pride to prove them otherwise...This are Spartan values - in Reverse!