Start-up business in Greece gets snarled in red-tape

[andisa]

Observer/New York Times article on Sunday. Poor Greece with all its woes cannot seem to solve its bureacracy problems. I used to live there and remember the nonsense of filling in forms from one office to another and I was a teacher, not trying to export goods. Does anyone else know about the situation in Greece right now?

Betelguese "They had no plan what to do with the massive social problem - they simply ignored it. The greeks relied on family traditionally to survive and so they did not consider they should have a system like the UK."

this is spot on.

And fairly typical of Greek politics: ignore the problem in the hope it will go away or someone else will deal with it/ be blamed for it.

I find it a bit depressing to think that Greece's problems are almost in the genes past down from ancient times hence reference to the plays. The plays and other such works are what western civilisation was built upon - they reflect us all.

I also thought, could be wrong that Melbourne was the 2nd Greek city!

I also thought Papandreaou the senior was a very good orator and was well respected on the international stage.

Still enjoyed your post Betel.

I think we need to remember that Greece was not paid very much reparation money after the war and dictators were apparently kept in place with American back-up because of their hate of communism. International forces have not aided Greece

However, it is their job to be more industrious, less bureacratic and entreprenurial. I am glad to hear new laws have been passed - in what ?

Also, the technocrat PM mentioned. How does that work? Is he/she elected for terms in office?

Lots of new laws have been passed. It has become very confusing. Nobody seems to know what's going on any more.

No, the technocrat PM is not elected. A lot of people are very angry about this. He was appointed as an acceptable choice to be approved by the IMF and EU "partners". But he was certainly not chosen by the people, and a lot of people see him as part of the problem, given his background as an economic advisor to the very same governments who made so many bad financial decisions. Certainly his support of the Economic Free Zones has made him deeply unpopular. I have heard people calling him a traitor.

the new PM was not agreed by all parties, he was agreed by three parties: Pasok, Nea Dimokratia and LAOS. This does not make him elected by the people.

They say the elections might be in about 6 weeks. Can't see it happening, though!

Thankyou for your comment about my son. I didn't realise I had talked about him on this thread. Unfortunately I can't see the hypocratic oath getting me anywhere! If only it were as simple as that!

My son needs physiotherapy - I do a lot with him by myself at home as we cannot afford to pay for it any more. He also probably needs speech therapy or some kind of expert help with communications, but we cannot get a proper diagnosis (and therefore no treatmnet) until we have seen the consultant. The nearest one is now about 4 hours drive away, longer with ds2 in the car, as we'd have to make stops for him. We would have to pay to see the consultant, as well as travel costs, etc. It all mounts up.

Sorry to hear about your son too. I know how hard it is when you are waiting for a diagnosis and fighting to get decent treatment for your child.

A coincidence - my DS had SN too when he was younger - now 15 and doing very well. We lived in the right post code and had access to very good child health provision which was mainly speech therapy for us but also a statement at school. That early help can prevent later needs so I would say keep pressing on. That time in my life was very stressful and deeply worrying but all our work as parents and outside support at health centre and school helped our dear boy overcome early difficulties.

If Greece really can't offer it - come to GB [buwink] Or find the means as your DC's being okay means mum is okay. I think I read that this doctor has not been paid for ayear which if true is also tragic and difficult for him/her.

RE: American involvement. Whether release of papers reveal or not that America tried to sway policy in Greece is irrelevant because they were so visible in Greece. They may not own up to it. When I lived there mid-to late eighties, huge American tanks full of American soldiers used to steam down main avenues in Greece with no sense they should be more discreet. I think it is worrying that Greece have had such a military presence in their history both via dictatoship and foreign bases. It suggests to me that power has often been rigid and inflexible and probably not focused on wide spectrum of needs of people.

I come back to though the indigenous characteristic of almost enjoying chaos - something I talked to my older students aboutand they agreed. Their love of life and outdoor social living captivated me [busmile] though and I brought back some of these ideals into my life in UK.

Betelguese

Thankyou, you are very kind. I have in fact posted in the Special Needs section in the past, and I may do again soon, perhaps to ask for speech therapy advice. I have a lot on my hands at the moment, as my other children have broken up for the Easter holidays and are keeping me busy!

I live in Alexandroupolis, btw.

Thankyou betelguese.

I will of course take ds2 to a GP once we are in the UK and get the process started. My dh has some time left to run on his contract and then we are planning on leaving. You will probably find me starting a thread in Special Needs soon after we arrive in the UK

andisa do links with double square brackets around the URL.