Go Greek for a Week. Tonight, 8pm C4.

[garinda]

Go Greek for a Week

Three British families try out the tax, pensions and work practices that caused Greece's economic crisis and brought on the austerity measures aimed at cutting the deficit and qualifying for EU bailouts.

A 54-year-old British hairdresser discovers the generosity of the Greek pensions system, which still allows hairdressers, pastry chefs, radio continuity announcers and people in almost 600 other jobs to retire aged 53 at 90% of their final salary because their jobs are defined as hazardous.

A bus driver reaps the rewards of the Greek approach to state-run services, where bus drivers could be paid up to almost double the national average salary and receive extra bonuses for arriving at work early and for checking bus tickets.

And a British surgeon is delighted to discover how paying income tax the Greek way will transform his disposable income.

The personal experiences of the three main characters are supported by expert interviews that establish the patterns of tax evasion, corruption and mismanagement that have helped to sink the Greek economy.


Go Greek for a Week - Go Greek for a Week - Channel 4

Sounds like an eye-opener.



Is on 4 On Demand from tomorrow, if you can't catch it tonight.

[MargaretR]

The next in line for euro problems is Italy.
My ex's Italian uncles had their retirement dates set earlier than the general population. It wasn't because they were heroes(they weren't) - all servicemen got it.
...by how much?
(This is surreal )
...by the length of time they served in WW2.

[garinda]

Yup.

Frightening.

UK has c.74% of GDP invested in pensions, Germany just 5.8%, France 5.6%, Italy 3%.

http://www.ukip.org/media/pdf/UKIP%2...OLICY%20Es.pdf

[cashman]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

The next in line for euro problems is Italy.
My ex's Italian uncles had their retirement dates set earlier than the general population. It wasn't because they were heroes(they weren't) - all servicemen got it.
...by how much?
(This is surreal )
...by the length of time they served in WW2.

well dont suppose we can bitch about em retiring 10/15 mins earlier?

[garinda]

Originally Posted by cashman

well dont suppose we can bitch about em retiring 10/15 mins earlier?

Depends how they calculate the period of time the Italians served.

Do they count the amount of time spent fighting...on both sides?

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by garinda

Depends how they calculate the period of time the Italians served.

Do they count the amount of time spent fighting...on both sides?

One uncle spent most of his service as a POW - it counted

[garinda]

Originally Posted by MargaretR

One uncle spent most of his service as a POW - it counted

The Italian people had a truly terrible time in WWII, especially the civilians.

Shouldn't have supported Il Duce, for all them years.

[Retlaw]

Originally Posted by garinda

Go Greek for a Week

Three British families try out the tax, pensions and work practices that caused Greece's economic crisis and brought on the austerity measures aimed at cutting the deficit and qualifying for EU bailouts.

A 54-year-old British hairdresser discovers the generosity of the Greek pensions system, which still allows hairdressers, pastry chefs, radio continuity announcers and people in almost 600 other jobs to retire aged 53 at 90% of their final salary because their jobs are defined as hazardous.

A bus driver reaps the rewards of the Greek approach to state-run services, where bus drivers could be paid up to almost double the national average salary and receive extra bonuses for arriving at work early and for checking bus tickets.

And a British surgeon is delighted to discover how paying income tax the Greek way will transform his disposable income.

The personal experiences of the three main characters are supported by expert interviews that establish the patterns of tax evasion, corruption and mismanagement that have helped to sink the Greek economy.


Go Greek for a Week - Go Greek for a Week - Channel 4

Sounds like an eye-opener.



Is on 4 On Demand from tomorrow, if you can't catch it tonight.

Surely them Idiots in Belgium knew all this before they invited them to become spongers on the rest of the EU. Them as let them in should suffer for it.
Retlaw.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Retlaw

Surely them Idiots in Belgium knew all this before they invited them to become spongers on the rest of the EU. Them as let them in should suffer for it.
Retlaw.

This is just a slow, intense, painful, revenge attack.



For having the strength, steely determination, and gritty pluck, to have had the audacity to have been the victors in two World Wars.

[Tealeaf]

Is it no coincidence that that the most famous landmark in Brussels is the Manneken Pis? (or to translate, little man ****ing). It just about sums up what those bastards in that city are doing on us in the UK.

Monitors - please note I had to have one bit of strong language in here after this computer machine would not give the full translation.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by garinda

This is just a slow, intense, painful, revenge attack.



For having the strength, steely determination, and gritty pluck, to have had the audacity to have been the victors in two World Wars.

Sorry, missed out an important bit.

Should read...

'to have had the audacity to have been the victors in two World Wars, against Internationalist enemies, with their expansionist border policies, and desires to create empirical super-state nations'.

[garinda]

The facts presented in this film are too ludicrous to post.

Suffice to say, corruption is rife, and the generous benefits the Greeks have enjoyed, thanks to us, their European Union bretheren, are jaw dropping.

When the programme is available on 4oD I'll add the link.

You can see for yourself...if you have the stomach for it.

[jaysay]

Its just an example of how the federal states of Europe can never work, it was bad enough when it was just a trading market place, it seems to me that the Germans (who twice tried to take over Europe in two world wars and failed)are the main protagonists, strongly backed by the French. I remember my father saying that whats happening now is that GB is being taken over by a German led EU something that Hitler failed to do, in the 1939/45 war, they are now being served up Britain on a plate, I have to say I think he was right

[garinda]

Now available to watch online, on 4oD.

Go Greek for a Week - 4oD - Channel 4

[mobertol]

Originally Posted by garinda

Now available to watch online, on 4oD.

Go Greek for a Week - 4oD - Channel 4

Can't watch this either -typical!