3 ms·

My guess would be that Microsoft's Greek office didn't want to pay protection money to some or other criminal racket -- or something else along similar lines al

by cs702 14y ago

My guess would be that Microsoft's Greek office didn't want to pay protection money to some or other criminal racket -- or something else along similar lines also involving criminals. This kind of violent activity tends to become more prevalent and audacious when grown men and women can no longer provide food and shelter for their families. Greece is truly in the midst of a Great Depression. According to official statistics published by the Greek government, the country's rate of unemployment is now nearly 22% -- that is, one out of every five people looking for a job can't find one; and more disturbingly, the unemployment rate for young people is 53% -- one out of every two can't find employment.[1] [1] http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06/D9V87S5G0.htm http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2012-06/D9V87S5G0.htm

panacea 14y ago
The thing I've always had in the back of my mind regarding Greece's current woes, is that, despite being the cradle of democracy, the parthenon, the diaspora etc... they're just a short boat trip away from Northern Africa. And beyond that, just subsistence Africa, the Sahara etc. They may have the trappings of a "Euro" country at the moment... but things could quite concievably get way worse for them and a lot closer to their neighbours than it's easy to imagine.
- ktizo 14y ago
  And the US is right next door to Mexico and South and North Korea are, well, you get the point. Geographical proximity is not an accurate economic indicator. Also, Africa is not some homogenous blob of poverty.
ronnier 14y ago
I have a feeling most grown men there do not have families.
- cafard 14y ago
  Huh?
  - ronnier 14y ago
    Greeks have one of the worlds lowest birth rates.
    - _delirium 14y ago
      It's fairly low, but not uncommonly so. There's a lifetime average of 1.4 children per woman, which is the same as Germany, though lower than France's 2.0, or the USA's 2.1.
planetguy 14y ago
> "This kind of violent activity tends to become more prevalent and audacious when grown men and women can no longer provide food and shelter for their families." I doubt there's much overlap between "people who would commit armed extortion against a giant company" and "people who can't feed their families". This isn't a crime of desperation, it's a crime carried out by organized criminals who have been in the business for a long time.
- cs702 14y ago
  planetguy: during periods of extreme economic suffering, there is an increase in all kinds of criminal activity as many people are driven to desperation -- regular folk as well as professional criminals. Consider the case of the US during the Great Depression, which "brought a rapid rise in the crime rate as many unemployed workers resorted to petty theft to put food on the table. Suicide rates rose, as did reported cases of malnutrition. Prostitution was on the rise as desperate women sought ways to pay the bills. Health care in general was not a priority for many Americans, as visiting the doctor was reserved for only the direst of circumstances. Alcoholism increased with Americans seeking outlets for escape, compounded by the repeal of prohibition in 1933."[1] Some of the most audacious criminals in US history, like John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde, rose to fame during the Great Depression of the 1930's. [1] http://www.ushistory.org/us/48e.asp http://www.ushistory.org/us/48e.asp

by cs702 14y ago

panacea 14y ago

The thing I've always had in the back of my mind regarding Greece's current woes, is that, despite being the cradle of democracy, the parthenon, the diaspora etc... they're just a short boat trip away from Northern Africa. And beyond that, just subsistence Africa, the Sahara etc. They may have the trappings of a "Euro" country at the moment... but things could quite concievably get way worse for them and a lot closer to their neighbours than it's easy to imagine.

ktizo 14y ago
And the US is right next door to Mexico and South and North Korea are, well, you get the point. Geographical proximity is not an accurate economic indicator. Also, Africa is not some homogenous blob of poverty.

ronnier 14y ago

I have a feeling most grown men there do not have families.

cafard 14y ago
Huh?
- ronnier 14y ago
  Greeks have one of the worlds lowest birth rates.
  - _delirium 14y ago
    It's fairly low, but not uncommonly so. There's a lifetime average of 1.4 children per woman, which is the same as Germany, though lower than France's 2.0, or the USA's 2.1.

planetguy 14y ago

> "This kind of violent activity tends to become more prevalent and audacious when grown men and women can no longer provide food and shelter for their families." I doubt there's much overlap between "people who would commit armed extortion against a giant company" and "people who can't feed their families". This isn't a crime of desperation, it's a crime carried out by organized criminals who have been in the business for a long time.

cs702 14y ago
planetguy: during periods of extreme economic suffering, there is an increase in all kinds of criminal activity as many people are driven to desperation -- regular folk as well as professional criminals. Consider the case of the US during the Great Depression, which "brought a rapid rise in the crime rate as many unemployed workers resorted to petty theft to put food on the table. Suicide rates rose, as did reported cases of malnutrition. Prostitution was on the rise as desperate women sought ways to pay the bills. Health care in general was not a priority for many Americans, as visiting the doctor was reserved for only the direst of circumstances. Alcoholism increased with Americans seeking outlets for escape, compounded by the repeal of prohibition in 1933."[1] Some of the most audacious criminals in US history, like John Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde, rose to fame during the Great Depression of the 1930's. [1] http://www.ushistory.org/us/48e.asp http://www.ushistory.org/us/48e.asp