Greece Selling Land?

[AlexanderTheGreat]

I have just arrived from Corfu which is an island in Greece. I looked at some of the headlines and saw that because Greece is in debt they are selling off LOTS of land. But they aren't selling it, you can't sell it, they are renting it out for 100 years. They have sold it to some American business men. They will build some kind of 5 star hotel resort. I talked to some of the locals who run restaurants and they say they have been fighting in court for 2 years. They say first they will be legal and then they will cut electrical cables, and then (and I quote), they will release snakes (I laughed but they were serious!!!!!).

What do you think about it?
Is it development or is this madness?

[Cygnus]

People, and in this case nations can do some crazy stuff when they are desperate.

[Stronk Serb]

Obviously, things like this happen because of a corrupt government. Yes, this is madness

[AlexanderTheGreat]

People, and in this case nations can do some crazy stuff when they are desperate.

Obviously, things like this happen because of a corrupt government. Yes, this is madness

Just to give you an idea, look at this photo: http://instagram.com/p/dHpfFrLuyR/

They are selling all that land over the sea... Yep.

[britishboy]

omg!!!!! Corfu is a beautiful island I herd, they should keep it

[Walter Powers]

At least they're doing something.

[AlexanderTheGreat]

At least they're doing something.

But is that the right thing? I admit Greece is in an economic meltdown (the most accurate phrase). I went into the town center of the place I was staying, there were so many shops, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, quad bike rentals that if there was a big fancy 5 star resort built, everyone would go there, you would get upper class snobbish people who don't want to mix with the rest of Greece because there poor or they live in a bad house. Building the resort would completely seal everyone there in a bubble, everything that they would need would be there. Local businesses would shut down and then economic meltdown. Well that's not really true, economic meltdown in the short term (30 years), but in the long term (100 years), this could work. But at a huge sacrifice that I don't think Greece should make, they call it development, I say arse. Arse to that, it's not development. You get the people who want everything to be big and tall and shining and part of the 'new world'. I would say more but I would probably get kicked out of VT for bad language :lol:

(i should really put more effort into my History homework if i'm writing stuff like this on forums)

[James Bond]

Greece has to. They need the money, if it weren't for these businessmen, the country would be in even worse condition.

[EvanGr]

Well, as you know, we the greeks were hitted by a big worldwide economic crisis; in fact we were loaded with an enormous loan because of a former prime minister called Kostas Karamanlis, who was a P.M. from 2004 to 2009. Of course, the previous governments did also take huge loans but he broke took more loans than all the other governments together! So, one day, Papandreou came, who said that trillions of euros were found(That's how this stupid person became a p.m.). after he was elected, then the austerity measures started. My father is the only one who has an income in my family for years now. When the crisis started, he had a salary of aproximately 2,000 euros. In 2011 he retired from police, where he was working. Do you know how much money does he take every month now? About 990, sometimes 1,000 euros. We also have a load of 500 euros per month. So, how do you think we can survive with 500euros each month? That's why people sell their poverty. To survive! Of course Walter was always living in amenities and wealth, that's why he says that at least we are doing something. Because he thinks that following the chinese model would be a success. NO, that's not a success Walter. Greece needs reforms in critical sectors, such as education, tax system, economic models and mch more. But these won't ever happen because our politicians become members of government and parlianment only to have an income of 10,000 euros each month. If they are members of the parlianment for at least 4 years, they can retire and take again 10,000 euros per month at least. So, Walter, do you still think that something happens. Of course not, nothing's gonna happen with the current situation. Remeber Finnland in 80's, when they were also hitted by an enormous economic crisis? What did they do? They introduced free health and education systems. No they have the best health and education systems in the world and also a very stable economy. So, what do you think Greece needs right now Walter? And James Bond, no we can't be worse than what we are now. There are other, more important problems that bringing bussinessmen here. They aren't so important as all of you think.

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Greece is in a really bad place right now, and they're desperate to turn around the economic crisis. Selling land is desperate, though, there have to be other ways to fix the economy. But hey, at least they're doing something on their own. If they keep taking loans from the EU, they'll be in a far worse place in a few years.