Blackmailing Bankers Now Stage A Coup In Greece

Strangulated Greece now experiences a coup by blackmailing bankers. It’s a show of bankers’ democracy, a worst form of democracy in the Age of Crises. It’s an invasion by bankers.

Honorable bankers have imposed their demands on the people in Greece. It’s their reciprocal democratic measure to the Greek people’s practice with democracy. They love to humiliate people, they love to wreck countries, they love to pauperize people. These acts make them rich and powerful.

The conditions imposed on Greece are already public. It’s a regime of measures aimed at punishing the Greek people, hurting their honor. The bankers are laughing with the pride of powerful: We can do whatever we want.

Casting away all veils of shame and hypocrisy they demanded Greek public property worth billions of dollars to be placed outside of Greece. There was a suggestion that $56 billion (about 50 billion euros) of Greek public assets be placed in an independent trust based in Luxembourg, which would be out of reach of Greek politicians, the proceeds of which from privatizations would go directly to pay off debts. An appropriate bankers’ proposal! The arrogant bankers don’t bother the way their demand actually takes shape: A robbery. Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister, has said: We averted the transfer of public property abroad, we averted the plan to cause a credit crunch and the collapse of the financial system.”

The 17-hour Brussels-bargaining shows very significant parts of a part of the world capitalism and a few facts:

1. Division within the bankers’ camp.
2. Weakness and vulnerabilities within the camp.
3. Vulnerability of the eurozone project.
4. The bankers’ brutal character.
5. The bankers’ intolerance with people’s verdict.
6. Democracy is not universal. There are bankers’ democracy and people’s democracy. Bankers’ democracy is dictatorial in case of people. Bankers’ democracy now dictates the legislative assembly of Greece. A flagrant violation. But the bourgeois democratic world doesn’t find there any trampling of democracy.
7. Limit of bourgeois democracy is narrowing down in the Age of Crisis.
8. Sovereignty of countries is defined and demarcated by bankers. Sovereign power of legislative assembly? Bankers don’t bother with it. They need money.
9. There are limit to powers of bankers. They can’t demolish all resistances. They can’t stand slightest resistance. Resistance with a politically aware, organized people under the guidance of a matured leadership and with united front is invincible.
10. Its geopolitical aspect is very significant.

The bankers had to make compromise. It was difficult for them to reach a compromise. They also had to cede a space: A 95 billion dollars (86 billion euros) aid to Greece in the next three years to keep the eurozone intact, to keep Greece within the eurozone.

The hashtag #ThisIsACoup, says an AFP report, is now trending widely among users of internet in Greece, France, Germany and Britain. They claim: “Greece was effectively being stripped of fiscal sovereignty.”

According to the AFP report KostasKainakis, a marketing lecturer in Athens comments: “Germany is destroying Europe once again”. From Britain, AllanSkerratt, a non-partisan retired soldier and ex-teacher opines: “The Germans could not do it with tanks so now they try it with banks [and are] trying to STEAL Greek assets BrITS MUST vote to get out”. Barbara Lochbihler, a member of the European Parliament for Germany’s Greens party, tweets: “They talk about trust. Only to draft a proposal that is pure humiliation. Brilliant idea.” Paul Krugman, the Nobel-winning economist, writes: “The trending hashtag #ThisIsACoup is exactly right. This goes beyond harsh into pure vindictiveness, complete destruction of national sovereignty, and no hope of relief.” “It is, presumably, meant to be an offer Greece can’t accept; but even so, it’s a grotesque betrayal of everything the European project was supposed to stand for.”

It was a bitter struggle in Brussels. There were extreme conservative forces bent on humiliating and punishing Greece for the weak economy’s stand with dignity. Tsipras said: “We found ourselves before difficult decisions, tough dilemmas. We took the responsibility of the decision in order to avert the implementation of the more extreme aims of conservative circles in the European Union.” Nikos Filis, the parliamentary spokesman for the Syriza, said on ANT1 TV Monday: Greece is being “waterboarded” by eurozone leaders. He accused Germany of “tearing Europe apart” for the third time in the past century. The observation tells the weakness within the eurozone. It’s not the German strength; it’s the strength of bankers as they fear their weakness that they like to hide with their show of strength.

A part of the Greek people’s struggle has come to a point. The episode – fight the bankers’ blackmailing and coup – is political. Its financial and economic aspects will appear in a meaningful way if its political aspect is not missed. It’s bankers’ politics. It’s bankers reign. The bankers’ politics is to be faced with people’s politics. People’s solidarity movement in countries should be widened. Bankers reign should be exposed. The most valuable lesson of the incident is political, the question of democracy. The relation between democracy and economy, and control on economy and politics are to be highlighted among the citizens.

It was a steadfast fight waged by the people in Greece although a part of mainstream media is propagating the deal as capitulation. But they deny admitting that the extreme conservative forces within the EU failed to move with their design: Grexit. They know their weak spot. Next time, the people will stand again with the lessons learned. There is possibility that the awakening will be in countries in Europe. Spain is already experiencing the trend.

Blackmailing By Bankers: People In Greece Are Going For Referendum

People in Greece are going to referendum on July 5 to deliver their verdict on the question: Shall bankers be allowed to blackmail or no?

Alexis Tsipras, the Greek prime minister, has proposed the referendum on the Eurogroup’s austerity proposals.

In an address to the nation, Tsipras referred to the Eurogroup’s proposals with an ultimatum as blackmail-ultimatum, and said: “To this blackmail-ultimatum, for the acceptance on our part of a strict and humiliating austerity (proposal), and with no end to it in sight nor with the prospect of allowing us to ever stand on our feet economically or socially, I call upon you to decide sovereignly and proudly, as the history of Greeks dictates.”

Tsipras’ address presented in brief the background of the creditors’ acts:

“For the past six months the Greek government has been giving battle in conditions of unprecedented economic asphyxiation, to implement your mandate, of Jan. 25. It was a mandate to negotiate with our partners to end austerity and to restore prosperity and social justice to our country.

“(It was) for a viable agreement which would respect both democracy, common European rules and would lead to a definitive exit from the crisis.

“Throughout this negotiation period, we were asked to adopt bailout agreements which were agreed with previous governments, even though these were categorically condemned by the Greek people in the recent elections.

“But we did not, even for a moment, contemplate yielding. That is, to effectively betray your own trust.

“After five months of tough negotiations our partners, unfortunately, concluded at the Eurogroup the day before last with a proposal, an ultimatum, to the Hellenic Republic and the Greek people.

“An ultimatum which contravenes the founding principles and values of Europe. The value of our common European structure.”

Rumors of surrender by and skepticism about Tsipras’ and the Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis’ position were spread over the last few months. There was planned propaganda to ridicule them. A part of mainstream media showed its taste as it tried to mock and vilify Varoufakis.

But it appears, unprincipled compromise has still not been made. On the contrary, theirs is a position of upholding the interests of the people of Greece.

Tsipras’ address details the bankers’ blackmailing proposals:

“The Greek government was asked to accept a proposal which accumulates unbearable new burdens on the Greek people and undermines the recovery of Greek society and its economy, not only maintaining uncertainty, but by amplifying social imbalances even further.

“The proposals of the institutions include measures which lead to a further detribalization of the labor market, pension cutbacks, new reductions in public sector salaries and an increase in VAT on food, eateries and tourism, with an elimination of tax breaks on the islands.”

A statement by Varoufakis makes it clear. “Over the past days and weeks”, said Varoufakis in an interview, “the Greek government has been making concessions continuously. Unfortunately, every time we make a concession and we get three quarters of the way, the institutions do the exact opposite, they toughen their stance.” On another occasion, he said Greece has bent over backwards in order to accommodate strange demands of the creditors. He was talking to Irish radio station RTE.

The situation led the Church of Greece to appeal to all concerned: “[W]ith enlightenment by Our Lord Jesus that it is possible to find a mutually accepted solution.”

But the creditors’ hearts are enlightened only by money, not by the Lord Jesus. Creditors not only want flesh; blood, heart and the whole body and soul are their demand. Panos Skourletis, the Greek minister for labor, said: Every time we are about to reach a solution they come and say bring some more pensioners to execute.

The Greek prime minister, in his address, identified the creditors’ proposal:

“These proposals clearly violate European social rules and fundamental rights to work, equality and to dignity, proving that the aim of some partners and institutions was not a viable and beneficial agreement for all sides, but the humiliation of the entire Greek people.

“These proposals prove the fixation, primarily of the International Monetary Fund, to tough and punitive austerity.”

So, the all-powerful IMF is there with its cruelty, with its indifference to life and dignity of people.

But Tsipras’ position is the opposite of the IMF as he addressed the people:

“My fellow Greeks, we are now burdened with the historic responsibility, (in homage to) to the struggles of the Hellenic people, to enshrine democracy and our national sovereignty.

“It is a responsibility to the future of our country. And that responsibility compels us to answer to this ultimatum based on the will of the Greek people.”

After concluding the inconclusive negotiation with the Euro bosses the Greek prime minister returned home, convened meeting of the Greek cabinet, and suggested the “referendum for the Greek people to decide in sovereignty.” The suggestion was unanimously accepted by the cabinet. Within a short time, he addressed the nation. The cabinet decided to ratify the July 5 referendum proposal in the plenary of the Greek parliament.

The referendum will pose the question of the acceptance or rejection of the proposal by the institutions. Even, before addressing the people, Tsipras communicated the Greek cabinet’s decision to the French president, the German chancellor and the ECB president. The Greek prime minister informed: “[T]omorrow in correspondence to the EU leaders and institutions I will formally request a few days extension of the (bailout) program so the Greek people can decide, free of pressure or coercion, as is dictated by the Constitution of our country and the democratic tradition of Europe.”

So, the move is clean, transparent and fair. There’s no ambiguity, no backdoor deal, no attempt to keep people in dark. Tsipras’ address to the nation emphasizes a number of issues relevant not only to Greece, but also to other countries facing the world masters, bank bosses. He said:

“My fellow Greeks,

“To this autocratic and harsh austerity, we should respond with democracy, with composure and decisiveness.

“Greece, the cradle of democracy, should send a strong democratic answer to Europe and the world community.

“I am absolutely certain your choice will honor the history of our country, and send a message of dignity to the whole world.”

It’s the message of democracy and dignity, which is sold out by leadership, lackey in character, in countries although democracy and dignity are the “tools” to fight command, dictation, and authoritarian rule of the world bosses.

Emphasis on people, sovereignty and dignity is clearly spelled out as Tsipras addressed the Greek people:

“I call upon you all to take the decisions worthy of us.

“For us, future generations, for the history of Greeks.

“For the sovereignty and dignity of our people.”

In the struggle for building up a prosperous life, for asserting rights over public properties and defending those, dignity and democracy are the cornerstones. For building up a prosperous life for the people, claiming public properties are essential as essential is asserting the rights with the sense of dignity. In today’s world, two trends are visible: undignified acts by a group of political leadership in a group of countries, and strivings for a dignified life by another group. Today’s Greece teaches dignity. It shames those political leaders without any sense of shame. Sense of dignity tells not to capitulate. It tells not to surrender people’s sovereign space. It’s one of the essential elements in the struggle against usurpers of public resources. Greece is showing this still.

In the case of Greece, Tsipras’, Varoufakis’ and their comrades’ stand is significant in two ways:

(1) In this Greece, bankers dictated and successfully made a regime change. In this Greece, bankers imposed whatever they liked. And, in this Greece, Tsipras, Varoufakis, the Spartan finance minister, and their comrades are standing on people’s mandate; they are bargaining on the strength of people’s mandate; they are going back to people to review their mandate through the proposed referendum. Bankers have not succeeded in toppling Tsipras and his comrades still.
(2) In the countries with austerity-bitten people, the struggle Greece is waging today will have implications. One of the implications will be political. Another will be in mass-psyche. The rest implications include lesson for a part of political leadership in those countries.

Bankers will also learn from a political leadership’s practice with democracy and dignity. Their first attempt will be to subvert similar leadership and politics in the austerity-battered countries.

Greece, it’s hoped, will be studied by political scientists as incidents in and related to the country are connected to a number of aspects of bourgeois democracy, state and people. A few limits, connections, roles are starkly visible. The incidents are not limited within its borders. This perspective generates serious questions.

The compromise question needs emphasis. Possibilities of compromises are always there. Compromises vary on the basis of principled stand, and its opposite. Limitations of circumstance compel, at times, to compromise. Sweeping comments regarding compromise, as adventurism resorts to, leads to a wrong place: isolation from friends, all sorts of inactivity but slogan-mongering, misleading people, and handing over opportunity to foe. In today’s Greece, both examples are present.

Moves by Tsipras, Varoufakis and their comrades are an example of political fight. The people are also participating in the fight. It’s an example of political fight against bankers. It’s meaningful. It’s meaningful as it’s Greece. Its past, history, present, its types of relation with bankers over times, its geopolitical position, size of the economy, Greece, and power of the parties on the other side of negotiation table make the ongoing Greek incidents meaningful.

The developments show it’s not possible by masters to intervene all the time or any time, and it’s not always possible to confuse people. Still the Greek people have not sent their trust to masters’ vault. It’s a lesson for people of other countries.

In an interview to the German radio station Deutschlandfunk the European commissioner for energy Gunther Oettinger warned: Greece may be forced out of the Eurozone, unless the Greek government and its creditors can reach an agreement by the end of the month.

But, from his end, the Greek prime minister clearly conveyed his message on the Euro position:

“In these crucial hours, we must all remember Europe is the common home of its people. There are no owners or guests in Europe.

“Greece is, and will remain an indispensable part of Europe and Europe an indispensable part of Greece. But Greece without democracy is a Europe without identity or a compass.”

Euro bosses will not lend their ears to this assertion: “Greece without democracy is a Europe without identity or a compass”. But the people of Europe should stand to defend democracy in Greece as it will be a part of defending democracy in home. And, brutal austerity-dictation by authoritarian bank bosses can be fought out with democracy only.

With the message, Tsipras is standing for Europe, a democratic Europe, the Europe bankers fear as democratic practice always stands as a bulwark against authoritarian rule. Bankers’ choice is a docile, fragmented Europe, a Europe to be ruled only by bankers. Tsipras has signaled: Leaving Europe is not the choice of Greece. The crisis that bankers have created is, as Tsipras said, “threatening the future of European unification.”

More interesting incidents are going to happen in Europe, and in Greece, the economy 2 percent of the eurozone and smaller than a number of cosmopolitan cities in the world metropolis. There’s a deadline now: June 30, payment of euro 1.6 billion to IMF.

Enough Of Erdogan: Verdict In Turkey Election

Tayyip Erdogan’s dream of turning an all powerful president has been stalled by the Turkish voters. The just concluded parliamentary election experienced the voters’ negation of a dreaming sultan. To many, it’s a victory over political corruption. Erdogan was seeking a two-thirds majority to turn the country into a presidential governing system.

The voters’ voiced, as the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtas told journalists in his first post-election speech: All people who are for freedoms, all the oppressed, all workers, all women and all minorities, had won together. He said: “It’s a joint victory of the left.” HDP’s crossing of election threshold – 10% – was a major victory for the left-leaning party.

The Turkish president Erdogan’s plan of assuming all encompassing powers received a major blow in the election as his conservative Justice and Development Party (AK Party) failed to win a clean majority in the election. The electoral hurricane has destroyed the AKP’s authoritarian rule for 13 years. The party was hopeful of a smooth win, and impose a stronger strangle on the Turkish life. But the party failed to secure 276 seats, the requirement for single-majority in the parliament.

The election, hopefully, is going to begin a new phase in Turkey-politics as it jolts the draconian domination. The main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP)’s leader Kemal Kılıcdaroglu told his supporters: The election results mark the end of an era in Turkey. “We ended an era of oppression through democratic means. Democracy has won. Turkey has won,” said the CHP leader. The same expression was made by the CHP spokesperson Haluk Koc: “Erdogan was the real loser of the election. The real winner of this election is democracy. Turkey has won, Erdogan has lost.”

The AKP with its single-party majority in parliament was imposing its repressive and divisive policy. It was tearing down fundamental values the society nurtured for long. Its arrogance was throwing out every consideration.

The election was not fully peaceful and fair. HDP was made target of violence since campaign days. Its workers and supporters were victims of scores of physical attacks during campaign days. One of its campaign bus drivers was murdered. A bomb attack killed the party’s three supporters in Diyarbakır.

The ruling party – AKP – used, it was alleged by HDP, all state powers. Ann-Margarethe Livh, Sweden’s housing and democracy commissioner said there were “blatant instances of fraud” and international election observers had been threatened before the election. Election observation team from Sweden was threatened at gunpoint by “soldiers with automatic weapons” in the southeastern province of Bingol. According to Livh, the Swedish election observation team was told they had two minutes to leave the area. Livh said having international observers threatened was also a huge threat to democracy.

During counting of votes coming from abroad, a group claimed that some ballots were thrown into the garbage at the Ankara Chamber of Commerce. Police had to intervene to stop a resulting fist-fight between party officials. Cars without license plates were found waiting. Police said the cars belonged to them. But Istanbul Governor Vasip Sahin confirmed the cars without license plates cannot belong to police. The opposition camp claimed that there was fraud in the vote counting process.

The country’s Human Rights Association has issued a preliminary report on incidents of electoral fraud during the election. To some observers, Turkey’s election system is “the world’s most unfair election system”.

Reports of widespread fraud across have emerged. Observers detected many attempts to commit electoral fraud. There were allegations of unfair means in a number of provinces including Istanbul, Izmir, Diyarbakır and Bursa. An official in charge of a polling station in İstanbul was caught for placing pre-sealed votes for the AKP in a ballot box. A police officer in Ankara was caught while allegedly attempting to vote for the third time. A group of people carrying pre-sealed ballots for the AKP were detained in Izmir. HDP supporters and polling agents were detained. No lawyer and reporter were allowed into a number of polling stations, and ballots having no official seal were recovered.

But the assaults, threats and other unfair means failed to stop the voters’ rejection. Issues of economy and ideology cast their shadows on the election. Playing religious card in politics is an old AKP-game. But that didn’t paid back dividend.

Funny issues also cropped up. There was allegation that Erdogan had golden toilet seats at his new lavish presidential palace. However, the Turkish president denied the claims and angrily asked the main opposition leader whether he had been cleaning the palace’s toilets. Mehmet Gormez, head of the Directorate of Religious Affairs had to return the 1 million Turkish Lira ($435,000) official car, which was purchased for him. Public and opposition parties strongly criticized the religious leader’s car-affair. Erdogan sent him another Mercedes from the his fleet. Erdogan slammed his political opponents during campaign although the presidency is a non-partisan position.

At a number of public events Erdogan used religious book as campaign material. He routinely slammed national and international media outlets, and threatened journalists. He recently attacked The Guardian and The New York Times and German newspaper Die Zeit. He said Die Zeit “went berserk”. He misquoted The Guardian. To him The New York Times is ruled by “the Jewish capital.”
Erdogan once threatened a journalist that the journalist would have to pay a “heavy price” for a news story. A number of reporters were sent to prison. Hundreds of persons including cartoonists, students and even a model were prosecuted for “insulting” Erdogan since he was elected president in August 2014.

But economy was playing against Erdogan. Massive infrastructure projects, roads and airports failed to save the Turkish leader. The world’s 17th largest economy was worsening. The economy expanded at an average annual growth rate of 4.5%. The 2008 and 2009 were bad years. In 2010, the annual growth rate was 9%. But it slowed down to less than 3% last year. Unemployment has increased. It’s now more than 10%.

The working people in Turkey are facing harsh condition. There is demand for raising minimum wages. There is need for increasing employment and export in the worsening economy. And, there is demand for freedom of expression.

The election results may push for an early election. The ruling party may go through a leadership change.

Two important questions are to be dealt with: the Kurdish question, and the foreign policy. The Kurdish issue is undeniable.

The AKP’s 7 election manifesto said: “Turkey’s foreign policy has been successful in an incomparable way with those of previous governments.” But there is debate on the policy. The AKP’s policy has not made Turkey a determining power in the region although it tried to that direction. The country experienced isolation.

The journey began in the Taksim Square. It began with the question of a few hundred trees, an environmental issue. Repression, and use of force beyond proportion failed to deter the forces of democracy in Turkey. But still there is a long way to go as the election is an intermediate stage in the politics of Turkey.

Greece Faces French-German Pressure And Mounting Human Crisis

Casting away all confusion related to “socialist” stance the French and German bankers’ interests unite to press down Greece while the Greek people face human crisis.

Echoing the German chancellor Angela Merkel’s voice the French president “socialist” François Hollande has told the Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras, in a meeting in Paris, to wait for an EU-IMF-ECB troika inspectors’ report on progress Athens has so far made in privatizing public resources, changing labor market and imposing austerity measures. “There’s no time to lose, […] and the sooner the better,” Hollande said. He offered no concessions to the Greek leader.

Only a few weeks ago Evangelos Venizelos, the leader of Greece’s socialist party Pasok, pinned hopes on the election of Hollande as the best guarantor of the growth policies. In an interview with the Guardian, Venizelos said: Hollande is “by far the best solution.”

But now, with Hollande’s backing Merkel has rejected pleas from the debt-pressed Greek leader for a two-year repayment extension. She said: Germany would await “reliable evidence”, a reference to the Troika report.

Germany is the single largest contributor to two Greek bailout packages. Earlier, Merkel and Hollande met in Berlin and agreed to take a uniform approach: No extra time to Athens, and Athens has to meet commitments of privatization-belt tightening measures in return for the bailout money.

Samaras’ meetings with the French and German leaders have failed to bring anything for Greece but renewed pressure and humiliation. He promised voters that he would request extra time to make additional cuts.

Samaras had to face mocking, humiliation indeed, by a section of the German press. Bild, one of Germany’s most popular tabloid newspapers, interviewed Samaras and asked him to sign a letter of guarantee that Greece will pay back its international loans. It included provisions that he “vows personally” to ensure repayment. The letter mentioned that financial aid provided to Greece will not cause trouble to German tax payers, and Athens will take any necessary measure to exit from the crisis including sales of uninhabited islands if needed. On the question of returning to drachma, the Greek prime minister had to swear in the name of god: “For God’s sake, no. The consequences would be catastrophic for Greece.” It was not a dignified show for a prime minister of a country. But bankers’ power tolerates dignity of none but its. Bild has already published articles mocking Greek politicians, football players and singers.

Leading German politicians, sections of German finance-political elites are not willing to grant more time and money to Greece in its fifth straight year of recession. Parts of the German mainstream media reflect the interest. The German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble also rejected Samaras’ plea for extra time.

The Troika bosses are due to reach Athens within days to assess Athenian efforts to appease the creditors, virtual owners of Greek life, honor and sovereignty. The bosses will report to the Eurozone finance ministers’ Oct. 8 meeting and the ministers will decide whether to release a $38.8 bn installment, the last in a first series of $152 bn in bailout loans while a second for $173 bn is in limbo until Athens imposes more austerity.

Uncertain Greek economy is annoying many others. Possibility of a Greek default is making the US president Barak Obama anxious as the default could negatively affect his re-election result. Obama and the British prime minister David Cameron discussed the Eurozone crisis during a conference call on Aug. 22. Citing British sources The Independent said: “The Obama Administration is fearful of the fall-out on the US economy if Greece tanks and the ripples affect the Eurozone and world markets.” Obama is “reportedly squeezing European leaders not to do anything that could force Greece out of the Eurozone before the American elections in November.”

Capitalism is really delicate! A far-flung smaller economy can impact politics of a bigger economy.

Continued pressure to slash $14.16 bn and accelerate privatization process is being faced by the unstable conservative-Socialist coalition government in Greece.

To meet the demands of its international creditors, the Greece government, promise-bound to the lenders, have slashed pay, trimmed pension and increased taxes on everything, which have worsened recession in Greece. The draconian measures accompany bailout money loaned to Greece. Without this loaned money Athens would not have enough funds to pay salaries and pensions. Athens has already stopped paying its bills. Recapitalization of Greece’s four largest banks will not be completed until the end of the year, or in early 2013.

State of the German economy is playing a role behind the inflexible German position of bankers and politicians. Concerns about the German economy’s future are increasing. The German Federal Statistical Office recently informed a surplus of $10.4 bn for the first half of the year, which is 0.6% of GDP. In 2011, Germany had a budget deficit of 0.5%. The German labor market remained strong and revenues from wage and income tax increased by 6.3%.

However, economic growth of Germany is largely stagnant. According to the FSO, the German economy grew by 0.5% in the first three months of the year against just 0.3% in the second quarter. Amidst high state and municipal budget deficits the euro crisis has affected Germany’s exports. “Faith in German state finances are an important factor for stability in the current crisis, but that faith is not unshakable”, the Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, said in its monthly report released in August.

On the other pole, with declining wages, condition of the Greek people has turned unbearable. The face of a human crisis in Greece is coming to public view.

Archbishop Ieronymos, the head of the Greek Orthodox Church, has described austerity measures demanded by creditors as “lethal medicine”. In a letter to the prime minister, Ieronymos wrote: “Homelessness and even hunger – phenomena seen during the war – have reached nightmare levels [....] We must all understand the feeling of insecurity, desperation and depression in every Greek home. This, unfortunately, is continuing to lead to suicide among those who can no longer stand the drama in their family and the suffering of their children.”

A recent central bank of Ireland study has found that the Greeks are making deeper cuts, measured according to GDP, than all other crisis-hit Eurozone countries. Since 2010, Greece has responded to pressure from the IMF-EU by cutting down expenditures and increasing taxes worth the equivalent of 20% of GDP that represents the most brutal austerity program in the EU-history.

“Greece is bleeding”, a Bild headline said. Ta Nea newspaper describes the Greek society as a “society on the verge of a nervous breakdown.” The living condition the creditors created for the Greek people is making deep changes in the Greek society.

In the last three years, quality of life in Greece has fallen down by 30% while pensioners have lost one-fifth of their monthly benefits. Charity funds are being organized in the US and Australia to aid the poor in Greece. With these funds, food is being supplied to scores of Greek homes.

Citing a recent survey by Thessalonica University BBC reported 76% of Greeks would like to emigrate, but for those who cannot afford to start a new life abroad, going back to farming the land is an increasingly attractive alternative. (“ Greeks go back to basics as recession bites”, Aug. 20, 2012) In the face of financial crisis Albanian immigrants, in thousands, seem to be leaving Greece. Their destination is Australia.

Capitalism is a depopulating force. It deports populace. It makes people restless. Its old practice is still being upheld.

In 2011, the BBC report said, the Greek economy shrank by 7% and 2012 could make a similar slide busting thousands of businesses and lying off tens of thousands of people. Around 1,000 Greeks a day are losing their jobs and already the percentage of the population not working is higher than the employed. The present unemployment benefit in Greece is now around $431 a month for only one year, but only those who have up-to-date national insurance contributions are eligible.

Hardship imposed on the Greek people is getting reflected in the number of suicides.

From Athens, Barbara Hardinghaus and Julia Amalia Heyer wrote: “Greece, a country whose Orthodox Church does not condone suicide, has always had one of the lowest suicide rates in Europe. But now, there were 350 suicide attempts and 50 deaths in Athens in June alone. Most of the suicides were among members of the middle class and, in many cases, the act itself was carried out in public […]” (“Troubled Times Wave of Suicides Shocks Greece”, Aug. 15, 2012)

Referring to rising suicide rate in Greece, Wall Street Journal wrote: “The social impact of the economic crisis has become increasingly apparent on the streets of Athens and other cities, while suicide rates have jumped.” (“Greek pensioner commits suicide in central Athens”)

Citing police data WSJ said: “[T]he number of suicides in both 2010 and 2011 surpassed 600 each year, a 20% jump over the rate in 2009, the year before the start of the Greek debt crisis.”

“Painful austerity measures and a seemingly endless economic drama”, the Guardian wrote in late 2011, “is exacting a deadly toll on the [Greek] nation. Statistics released by the Greek ministry of health show a 40 percent rise in those taking their own lives between January and May [2011] compared to the same period in 2010,” This surge in suicides was the highest in Europe during that time period.

The Greek Orthodox Church, it was reported, denies church burials to people who have committed suicide.

There are reports of school students unable to afford food. A program has been initiated in February to distribute early-morning snacks to them in a school. A municipality has documented about 1.9% of all students in the municipality arrive at school without having breakfast. This figure is higher among primary school and middle school students, 2.8% and 2.16% respectively. The education ministry has to introduce similar program in 18 state schools in greater Athens. The program has been introduced following reports by teaching unions that children of unemployed parents were showing signs of malnutrition and are even fainting in class rooms.

Reports of primary school students fainting during classes due to starvation in downtown Athens surfaced in 2011. Primary school teachers union from the districts of Ampelokipi-Erythros-Polygonon in a statement depicted horrifying condition of students. Dimitris Margiolis, a teacher, confirmed that students came to school with torn shoes. In school canteens the number of students buying snacks has decreased.

“The incidence of HIV/Aids among intravenous drug users in central Athens”, citing Reveka Papadopoulos, the head of Médecins sans Frontières Greece the Guardian reported, “soared by 1,250% in the first 10 months of 2011 compared with the same period the previous year […] while malaria is becoming endemic in the south for the first time since the rule of the colonels.” The extraordinary increase in HIV/Aids among drug users is due largely to the suspension or cancellation of free needle exchange programs. (“Greece on the breadline: HIV and malaria make a comeback”, March 16, 2012)

Reveka informed: Following savage cuts to the national health service budget including heavy job losses and a 40% reduction in funding for hospitals, Greek social services were “under very severe strain […]” There was a 24% increase in demand for hospital services “largely because people could simply no longer afford private healthcare. The entire system is deteriorating.” Cases of transmission between mother and child surfaced for the first time in Greece, a phenomenon usually found in sub-Saharan Africa, not Europe. There is also a sharp increase in cases of tuberculosis among the immigrants. Nile fever caused 35 deaths in 2010.

Capitalism is really powerful. It can push down a capitalist society in Europe to the level of a continent ruthlessly exploited and kept dispossessed for centuries by colonial powers! Capitalism also carries a backward force.

Mark Lowen of BBC reported from Athens: Hundreds of citizens queuing in front of municipal soup kitchen is not an unusual sight today. The number of food-seekers has increased. Homelessness has increased by an estimated 25% since 2009. There is the “new homeless” – well-dressed and well-educated. Until 2011 the “new homeless” had a good flat or a nice car, but now they have nothing. Some homeless people lie buried behind subway tunnels and in parks. (“Meeting the ‘new homeless’ on Greece’s freezing streets”, Feb. 4, 2012)

Mark quotes Vicky Kolozi, a former journalist with the state broadcaster ERT, and one of the new regulars at the soup kitchen as Vicky lost her job a year ago and now can’t afford to feed herself and her daughter: “It is hard to feel that I have to depend on this now. I have dreams and when you come here, the dreams go out of yourself. You must accept reality - and the reality is very difficult.”

Capitalism snatches away dreams of ordinary people.

The BBC Aug. 20, 2012 report refers to a young Greek working as a cleaner, but making barely enough to feed his family: father, mother and his fiancé – all unemployed and depend on food handouts to supplement the little they manage to grow in their garden. He and his finance are unable to plan a future together. Starting a family is completely out of the question. (“Greeks go back to basics as recession bites”)

Capitalism takes away future of common people.

The last winter with freezing temperatures was brutal for the poor in Greece as snow blanketed almost all around. An intense, harsh cold intensified the human crisis “gifted” by the finankers, financers and bankers, speculasters, and their ruling system – capitalism. Today’s Greece is a live example of capitalism’s catastrophic power – connected through ideology, economy and politics – that creates havoc in civilization.

“United” They Fall: Grexit Haunts Conflicting Eurozone

Conflicting eurozone is searching conciliation while being haunted by the specter of Grexit – Greece 's exit from the eurozone.

At the just concluded G-8 summit the conciliation effort produced an ad hoc understanding, and the witness was an isolated Angela Merkel. A deeper dividing line ran through the communiqué the summit produced.

Now, as the specter of Grexit appears larger Merkel and co. is airing a plan for a smaller divide and a stronger union. Jörg Asmussen, the former German deputy finance minister and, at present, the German board member at the European Central Bank, a Merkel-voice, has floated the idea of a federalized political and financial union within the EU: a politically integrated eurozone splitting the Union into two, with the core forming a “banking, fiscal, and political union”, temporarily abandon its expansion plans in the Balkans and Turkey, and the European parliament wielding more extensive powers.

Is it the dream of the German capital? The idea simultaneously shows aspirations and limitations of a section of capital in Europe that aspires to be all dominant but lacks the power to dominate. Materializing the plan is an almost impossible task now.

Merkel finds herself increasingly isolated, a show of disunity, while she represents a capital adamant to impose its diktat on the weak – prey to powerful capital. In the G-8 summit, Barak Obama kept a hand of friendship on the shoulder of François Hollande, the socialist French president.

In the coming formal and informal meetings in Europe , Hollande will stand closer to Mario Monti, the Italian leader. And, David Cameron will play the second fiddle, which will be, at times, insignificant, and at times, will not sound sweet to Merkel's ears.

Hollande will push the Germans to accept the idea of growth measures and eurobonds. But that's not acceptable to the Germans. Herman Van Rompuy, the European council president, appeared to lend support to the German agenda while Italy and Britain  are expected to back Hollande.

These testify Merkel's further isolation in Europe , fractures in the continent, and conflicting interests that dominating capital fails to unify.

The G-8 summit found a seemingly adamant Merkel. But Obama's choice was conciliation as he was in need of that posture. The German position carries risk of aggravating European crisis that in turn may push up the US jobless number. Obama can't afford the number ahead of his election travel. Cameron tried to act as a conciliator between contending parties. The Anglo-American alliance jointly encountered the Merkel position. She had to make a retreat.

The German leader considered that it was not the business of the G-8 to tell the EU states the way to handle their economy. But the summit communiqué iterated the right of the super-group to discuss the state of the European economy, and the German opposition was by passed. The super-group signaled: Europe is yet not a German domain.

The communiqué committed the G-8 to “take all necessary steps” to strengthen their economies. It said: “ Greece should remain in the eurozone”.

The official document declared in its opening paragraph: “Our imperative is to promote growth and jobs.” For the time being, the communiqué stands as a document of victory for Obama and Hollande. However, differences on policy issues persist.

Trans-Atlantic interests and power equation thus got reflected in the communiqué. But Grexit continues to rock the boat.

Grexit is an interesting issue! It unites, and it divides, it makes unsure, and it makes stubborn. Behind closed doors, the prime actors threat Greece to evict while publicly they assure Greek's membership in the zone. A section is scared of Grexit while another section calculates possible losses in case of the exit.

The interests differ as they are not sure of the way to deal with the issues emanating from a sick economy that is threatening the continents' economies. A weak scars a strong! The fear of chain-reaction of the Greece syndrome is now haunting eurozone politicians.

All bank-interests have united to threat the Greek voters. They are now warning Greece , and manipulating Greek politics so that pro-austerity politicians turn winner in the coming election. Their message is point blank: Voting for Syriza, the radical left coalition opposing austerity and bankers, will be a dangerous gamble.

In the task of warning the Greek voters Cameron has lent his voice to Merkel. He has issued a warning. In Chicago , he said: “We now have to send a very clear message to people in Greece : there is a choice – you can either vote to stay in the euro, with all the commitments you've made, or if you vote another way you're effectively voting to leave.”

A drama of denial and assertion preceded the Cameron-warning. It was reported that in a telephone conversation with Karolos Papoulias, the Greek president, Merkel suggested Greece hold a referendum on euro membership as part of the general election. But Merkel's spokesperson denied the report. However, the Greek interim Prime Minister Panagiotis Pikrammenos's office stated that the chancellor had presented the proposal during a telephone conversation with Papoulias. “It is true”, said a Greek government spokesperson.

Cameron and the German leader stood together. Grexit has united.

Jens Weidmann, the Bundesbank president, warned Europe 's central banks not to increase their exposure to Greece because of political uncertainty there before the elections. Is it a banker's way of bargaining or putting pressure on client?

Wolfgang Schäuble, the German finance minister, said Greece had to elect a government that continued to adhere to the international bailout program. “If Greece … wants to remain in the euro then they have to accept the conditions. Otherwise it isn't possible. No responsible candidate can hide that from the electorate”, Schäuble said. Ken Clarke, the British justice secretary, has warned: Greece will face a disastrous future, and may be forced to leave the euro if it votes for “cranky extremists”. A direct instruction to voters!

More threats to the Greek voters are there. Martin Schulz, the European parliament president, said a €130bn rescue package reached with international creditors in March could not be renegotiated. “ Greece […] shouldn't self-destruct”, said the German politician. “We want Greece to remain part of our family, of the European Union,” said Jose Barroso, European Commission president. “That being said, the ultimate resolve to stay in the euro must come from Greece itself.” The EC is insisting that Greece must honor the austerity measures. Juncker, the prime minister of Luxembourg , said: The coming election would be Greece 's last chance. If Greece fails to form a government that respects the conditions for previously agreed to financial aid to Greece set by the EU, IMF and the ECB, “then it is over”.

Jean-Claude Trichet, the former European Central Bank president, argued that eurozone states should be able to declare fellow members bankrupt, and take over their tax and spending policy. But the idea was dismissed by economist Nouriel Roubini as “totally undermining national sovereignty”. Roubini has missed the already undermined national sovereignty in Greece and Italy . [One can now easily perceive the way poor countries in the periphery are dictated, threatened, and manipulated, the way their sense of national honor is trampled. Junior employees from countries in center ask these peripheral countries: “Do it.”]

The threats, warnings, etc. reveal the higher level of stake in Greece with about €400bn in external debts. “Officially”, a press report says, “eurozone governments say they're not talking about a Greek exit. But it's a different story behind closed doors. Finance ministers meeting in Brussels last Monday threatened to evict Greece .”

Exact Greexit-chain reaction is unknown to all. There are assumptions and fears: From market melt down to political backlash to bankruptcies to recession, and a lot will follow.

The European sovereign debt crisis has also become a banking crisis. Spain is on the brink. The country can uncork bigger problem. The crisis has been exacerbated by the revelation that the Spanish deficit is larger than previously feared, putting pressure on its sick banking sector. Merkel summoned her Spanish counterpart, proud, conservative Mariano Rajoy, to meet her.

Banks in Italy and Portugal are in “solidarity” also. All of them are facing risks. They may drag down the German banking system. Britain is heavily exposed to the crisis. The US will not be immune to the Greek disease. The US Fed is becoming increasingly concerned about the situation in Europe .

Rating agency Moody's has already downgraded 26 Italian and 16 Spanish banks. Spanish banks were sitting on €148bn of bad loans in March. The proportion of bad loans of Spanish banks has risen to an 18-year high.

Fitch has put three Cypriot banks on rating watch negative. Fitch warned that Cypriot banks remain highly sensitive to Greece-risk.

A loss of confidence in the banks will be catastrophic. Fear of a full-scale bank run is high. The consequences will be serious.

Deposits in Greek banks have already come down by almost a third. Greek savers are withdrawing euros from their bank accounts. Recently, in a single day, about €900 million was withdrawn. The Greek banks, according to an analyst with Moody's, have become “economically insolvent”.

The European Central Bank has confirmed that a number of Greek banks have now been cut off from its refinancing operations.

Wealthy individuals in crisis-hit countries are moving billions of euros to areas they consider safer. There are signs that section of French rich are moving to London .

“And now”, Paul Krugman writes, “comes the moment of truth.” (“Apocalypse Fairly Soon: The Moment Of Truth In Europe ”, The New York Times , May 18, 2012 )

Terming the euro as a “grand, flawed experiment in monetary union without political union” Krugman assumes: “[T]he euro as a whole would blow up. Things could fall apart with stunning speed, in a matter of months, not years. And the costs — both economic and, arguably even more important, political — could be huge.”

He echoes the already widely expressed fear: “[A] euro breakup would have negative ripple effects throughout the world. For the biggest costs of European policy failure would probably be political.”

Euro was one of the biggest projects of capitalism in Europe . Now, a significant portion of capitalism in Europe – the eurozone – is struggling within, with self. Its intricate inefficiency is now coming out to view of the common persons. It's not its tragedy, it's one of its attributes. It dreams to encompass all and everything but it doesn't know to control the forces it nourishes and unleashes. Contradictions it is confronting now were created by none, but itself. It has widened the extent and consequences of the contradictions, to far flung areas, crossing oceans.

In the continent, it is barbarously waging a class war not only against labor, but also against broader society, not only in a single country, but in countries, and crossing the continent, it is endangering not only poor countries, but also its class allies – the uncouth rich – in those poor countries. It's its capacity that undermines its legitimacy. It's its power, a power that can try to survive only at the cost of others, class enemies and class allies.

It is intervening in countries' political system, and it is propagating non-interference. It is dictating countries, and it is propagating democracy. It's standing on fault lines, and it's sure of its destiny.

Grexit , Spain , Italy , Portugal , and euro-disunity and euro-unity are facilitating further shifts in the continental plates.

Protests In Spain Greece France And Britain

Eurozone is in turmoil. Protests in different forms, from election verdict to marches, against bankers are razing countries in Europe while an indefinite-Greece is making euroscape scene blurred.

Bankers are uncertain with the Euro-situation as they train the continent appearing sick. There is voters rejecting bankers, there is near-unprecedented police protest questioning profit, there is politics of people standing opposed to politics of bankers. It is like a torch alighted with the Parthenon Marbles in Greece and being relayed to Britain while the bankers yet don’t know the equation of politics with debt and austerity. The Euro-financial crisis and Euro-political problems are reacting with each other.

Peoples in France and Greece have rejected austerity measures in national elections, local election in Italy has conveyed the same message, Greece is nourishing its democracy in a political deadlock, people including police in Britain have demonstrated opposing austerity measures, Indignados are marching in Spain shadowed by banking crisis, a government in the Netherlands has collapsed, financial measures in Ireland and Portugal are being questioned, French economy is ailing. This is the reality in the continent.

Each political move and whisper, peoples’ each expression in Europe is making London’s FTSE 100 index, New York’s Dow Jones Industrial Average, Germany’s blue chip DAX index, the Paris stock market, the European EuroStoxx, Asian markets, Greece’s exchange jump or dance or sleep. None of these likes the political developments in France and Greece. Uncertainty dominates the continent.

Klaas Knot, governing council member of European Central Bank, said the risk of a double dip recession had become reality in Europe. De Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank, in its latest semi-annual risk report on the Dutch financial sector has warned that with an unresolved eurozone crisis Europe faces a lost decade: a longer period of stagnation. Weak economic growth, lower consumer spending, inadequate investment could create the scene. Countries in the periphery are turning vulnerable with weak public finance and economic performance, and frail banking sector. The Bank of France in its latest economic forecasts has warned that the French economy is part-way through a six-month period of stagnation.

Citing a poll, Bloomberg reported that 57% of its 1,253 investors, analysts and traders assumed that at least one country will abandon the euro by year-end. However, a Reuters poll found 35 of the polled 65 economists hoped that Greece will be in the euro at the end of 2013.

But the Greek-eurozone situation is near-hopeless. Public and politics often nullify pundits.

Concern over the Greece stalemate has been expressed by the Institute of International Finance. The IIF represented Greece’s creditors in its debt deal. If Greece were to quit the euro, the IIF’s members would be hit with huge losses. French bank BNP Paribas has calculated the impact of a Greek exit on its economy: an assumed Greexit would wipe out 20% of Greek GDP, push up inflation by 40-50%, and send the country’s debt/GDP ratio jumping to over 200%. A Greexit would be bluster to the Euro banking sector.

Now, it seems, Europe’s central bankers are preparing for exit of Greece from the eurozone. German central bank chief Jens Weidmann has warned: No new aid to Greece if bailout commitments are not kept by Athens. The Irish central bank chief Patrick Honohan doesn’t consider a Greexit would be fatal to the euro. EU Economic and Monetary Commissioner Olli Rehn is confident: Europe is “more resilient” to a possible Greexit.

Greece: People against creditors

Verdict of the Greek people suffering under creditors’ command has been proclaimed in the last election: Reject the arrangement of making bankers richer.

But, the mainstream politicians, mostly rejected by the people, are united in opposing the people’s verdict: reject creditors’ conditions – austerity. Under warnings from the IMF, the German Chancellor and the European Commission these politicians are exhausting their energy to form a coalition that would toe to the creditors. The deadline is May 17. Karolos Papoulias, the Greek president, is now striving to forge a coalition so that an immediate election can be avoided. This exercise – overturn people’s verdict – is the bourgeois democratic practice. Already three bigger parties – the centre-right New Democracy, far-left bloc Syriza and socialist Pasok – have failed to form a government.

A fresh poll, almost inevitable, is expected to be held by June 17 at the latest. A second election would change the Greek political dynamic that in turn would react in bankers’ headquarters.

Creditors in no phase of human history are concerned with plight of common persons. Greece is losing 922 jobs a day. The unemployment rate rose to 21.7% in February. In terms of number, it was more than a million. In the 15-24 age group, the rate was a record high: 54%. In February 2010, it was 15.2%. This forms a mirror of bailout-austerity measures imposed by creditors, and one of the central issues shaping politics in the country.

The European Financial Stability Facility, the €700bn bailout fund, has agreed to pay out the scheduled €5.2bn to Greece. As part of the bailout deal more than half of it will effectively be returned to the European central bank and other eurozone central banks within a week. Athens also lacks cash for salaries. As first installment, €4.2bn will be delivered and the fate of the rest will actually be decided by political development in Greece, a warning to the people: behave as the creditors command, otherwise, salaries and wages will be withheld.

Creditor created panic is driving the actors in the on-going political drama in Athens. But the people have defied the EU-IMF lordship. Aleka Papariga, the Communist Party general secretary, has called for new elections “to put an end to the mockery of” forming coalitions. While reiterating her party’s position to stay out of any government that might be formed she accused Syriza of irresponsibility and of undergoing continuous mutations. She added: “Under a leftist disguise it attempts to convince the people that workers and capitalists can coexist and prosper.” Syriza avoids taking a clear stance on NATO membership and major foreign policy issues, said Aleka. Adventurism sometimes is a powerful attraction.

Coming days will intensify political turbulence in Greece that will be nervously monitored in Brussels, and in eurozone capitals.

France: Aspiration will be compromised

Compromise will be the political mantra of Francois Hollande, the new socialist avatar of France. His jubilant supporters around the Palace de la Bastille thought history was in the making as he once declared the world of finance was his “real enemy”. But the reality under capital’s command is different.

Hollande will make his promised visit to Berlin within hours of his swearing-in for talks with Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor. Merkel is ready to welcome the moderate socialist with “open arms”. She said Franco-German cooperation was “essential for Europe”. The French leader also perceives the reality. Bank interest will enforce a compromise. Agenda of the Berlin meeting is nothing new: the old eurozone crisis and reaffirmation of the Franco-German partnership, which will flow along the undercurrent of competition.

Hollande adhering to status quo will turn Merkel’s competitor-ally. His election promise was: renegotiate the eurozone’s fiscal pact, the Merkel-Sarkozy brainchild. But the German leader is stubborn: no re-opening of the pact. Hollande favors joint EU investment in major projects while Merkel’s choice is structural adjustments to labor markets and pensions. Hollande prefers boosting growth with more funds to the European Investment Bank. Volition of the stronger economy shall prevail.

However, bankers are going to consider the issue of growth along with their loved austerity. Voters have alerted the bankers.

European Council President Herman Van Rompuy has invited EU leaders to a special summit on growth this month. It will be followed by a “growth pact” to be adopted at the EU summit in June. Merkel and Hollande will join together. It’s not only a compromise of the two leaders; it’s also a compromise with reality. It’s a lesson all bosses everywhere decline to learn; but, reality isn’t obedient to bosses’ dictates.

With the electoral promise to “change the destiny of France” Hollande now faces an ailing economy in home: faltering growth, coiling public debt, sick industries, record unemployment. The French voters rejected rightist policies. It was their protest. The French socialist’s electoral promises include creating 60,000 new jobs in education, tax those earning over €1million euros a year with a 75% rate. But he will have to encounter obstacles difficult to circumvent.

Britain: For public, not for profit

In England and Wales, police officers held one of the biggest demonstrations in recent times. Their demand: halt cuts and privatization of the service, and full industrial rights. There banners proclaimed: “Police for public, not for profit”. Their number: More than 30,000, claimed the Police Federation. Family members also joined the marchers.

Citing the participants, the British press said: There is anger as the rank and file officers face cuts to their pay, pensions and changes to their working conditions. A press report quoted one detective constable: “Our problem is we don’t have a union, so this march is the strongest action we can take. I think there are a lot of us wanting full industrial rights, and the right to strike.”

The incident is significant as it shows the way anger accumulates, fault line appears, expression gets organized, and expression denies to getting subdued. It’s a process within society. It’s not that Lenin was there, and he sent Bolshevik agitators there. Rather, there is an incident, now exposed, of “love” and betrayal – police officer infiltrating environment movement, etc. acting as falling into love with activists and continuing with following phases, provoking novice activists, then, betraying, and, then, getting exposed, then, at last, finding himself abandoned by all his loved, and, standing before a court of law. Elites and their lackeys in all lands are incapable to learn from incidents of “love” and betrayal, incapable to learn from struggle of the masses, which is not dependent on individual’s wishes.

There in Britain the emerging issues are, as one writes, mammoth wealth, the forgotten section of the society, “growing gap”, “democratic deficit”, “the cabinet stands accused of being divorced from normal people”, “fractures run deeper”, “the worsening plight of swaths of our society [flying] under the national radar”, eroding support for the homeless, victims of domestic violence, those with mental health problems, the elderly and alone, children in broken homes, “the spectre of a forgotten Britain becoming reality”. Serious questions shall emerge if one adds the way a section of media played with public mind by hacking telephones, by collaborating with powerful politicians, the way it made money and propagated its ideology. A careful scrutiny of the incident may impress upon that Lenin told very little about shameless, corrupt bourgeois press. But the revolutionary told brute facts now being confirmed by the incidents in Murdoch’s empire.

These incidents are influencing the British society, influencing the common people’s perception; but the bankers are training their might for further plundering, for further cuts.

Spain: Indignados again

Indignados are again on the march. Their slogan: “We need to take back all the wealth and redistribute it fairly”. They are in tens of thousands. Scores of cities across Spain are holding protests against politicians and bankers. It is one-year anniversary of the movement.

There is government crack down on the protest. Police is not going to tolerate encampments of the protesters. The time period for protest has already been dictated by the authority. One shouldn’t forget: It’s bourgeois democracy.

With youth unemployment at 50% in Spain the movement’s call for social justice, wealth distribution, human rights and peace is universal. Stop proposed budget cuts in health and education is one of the major demands of the Indignados. The demand has deeper root in the society. But, bankers and their political friends decline to recognize the root.

People in Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Germany, the UK are also participating in the movement.

However, the Spanish elites have their agenda. Promoting the collaboration between bankers, real estate lords and state further Bankia, the country’s fourth largest bank, has partly been nationalized. Most shares of Bankia were once sold to ordinary persons. Now, the ordinary share holders face large losses. Spain’s banks have already consumed about €16bn of public funds. Within the next few months they will hopefully consume another €50bn. It’s bankers’ boon.

It’s not a footnote: Nazis in Greece

Near-economic-disaster, common persons’ desperate condition, servitude by mainstream political leadership, sale out of democratic principles, weakness in political education, are fuelling rise of Nazis in Greek politics.

History tells capital, at times, needs help of Nazis, and capital embraces the help. At times of crisis, capital takes draconian steps. Nazis/fascists act as capital’s obedient tool to impose these steps. The Nazis create an environment of fear. They threat press as a step of muzzling down freedom of expression. At times, Nazis are taken casually, are considered tactical ally, and are appeased, only to get annihilated by the Nazis.

With 21 seats and 7% of the votes the Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn is now threatening journalists, demanding that journalists should stand up when its leader enters a press conference, wanting to seal Greek borders with landmines, and promising to “rid the country of their stench” – immigrant workers. The neo-Nazi leader Mihaloliakos praises Hitler while his followers use an ancient symbol resembling the swastika as its logo, learn from books on Aryan supremacy, and are linked to racist attacks on immigrants. Greek journalist Xenia Kounalaki wrote that Greeks should ignore Golden Dawn. She has been threatened: She should “watch her back”. The mayor of Nemea Vangelis Andrianakos has also received threats from the Golden Dawn.

But, all these are not the concluding parts of the incidents in the continent as capital there still occupies space for manipulation. A lot of dramas still are to be staged there as contradictions are yet to sharpen further.