Economic crisis: Views from Greece

I asked some Greek professionals about the crisis in their country on behalf of Hanna Intelligence's CEO, Mr. Jose Navio:

dear sir, I got some questions for you, if you have the time:

1  could you please make mention of effects in the citizenry like more children abandoned in hospices because the family cannot maintain them?
2  do you know of lack of food/medicines or lower quality of them?
3  is it better in your opinion to get out of the Euro and use again the old drachma (or any other new currency)?
4  is it better in your opinion to default and to reject the troika bail-outs?

thank you very much in advance,

xxx

The answer of one of those professionals:

Date: 2/27/2012
Subject: RE: Greece and the economic crisis

Dear Mr xxx,

thank you for asking about my country's present; my comment should focus on two issues:

The first one refers to the huge "brain drain" that is in progress during this period in Greece, even to a greater extent than the period after the WWII, which was the greatest immigration period in Greek history. People of all ages and professions are migrating in foreign countries around the world seeking for a job and better living conditions, in all financial, communal and governance/ infrastructural terms.

The second one refers to the sharp rise of homeless people and unable to sustain their families' every day living, dignity and income, due to the unprecedented percentages of unemployment, wages' cuttings and increase of the prices of almost all commodities. In cooperation with the church and under the coordination of various entities and NGOs, citizens are gathering food and clothing to assist all those who suffer the "human insecurity" that prevails nowadays in Greece.

I can't say what could have been better for Greece in economic terms, since it's out of my area of expertise, and I don't want to follow the paradigm of all those who suddenly became experts in economic strategies, options, terms and conspiracy theories. I can confirm though that this situation is the result of bad Greek governance for the last thirty years and that although Greece didn't loose sovereignty through wars in it's modern history, it did through economic procedures and EU norms; in any case Greeks are experiencing a very hard austerity policy, humiliation from various (mostly) European governments and states, and most important, instead of facing a hopeful future and prospect, they see things getting worst every day, even after all this inhuman behaviors.

I don't know what the plan or EU's "Grand Strategy" might be for Greece, but definately the proud and cultural Greeks don't deserve what they experience during these years, not even what is yet to come. The civil society is a "boiling pot" due to the downgrade of the every day living standards, unpunished and "untouchable" politicians responsible for this situation,explicit inequalities and non-existing options for the future generations. Let's hope at least that we'll not experience also a bloodshed or Egypt-like uprisings..

I hope I gave you a brief and indicative picture of contemporary Greece, and been of some help to your questions.

Best regards,

xxx