Peter's Viewpoint

When we think and speak about Europe many think back to the days of old and bold, castles, sea battles, royalty, and gallant soldiers on horses with lances.

Europe has moved into the 21st century exchanging royalty with pompous do nothing politicians, horses and lances with Lamborghini, Bugatti, Ferrari, Porche parading with money, castles with condominiums and skyscraping office buildings.

So what is it that separates the United States from the de-united states of Europe?

America constructs theme parks and separates them from daily life.

While living in Europe the one thing that Europeans can be sure of is that they have been paying taxes to the state of Brussels since their inception to see that nothing has been accomplished except for the establishment of a single currency.

Europe shows no signs of any unity or continuity except for collecting taxes as in the days of kings and queens.

While the world turns it is obvious that economies are worsening in the western nations.

The Financial Times provides articles that summarize the failures of Europe while at the same time American cities are starting to display signs of bankruptcy.

Once again we are all becoming entangled in the web of financial abuse that is the delayed failure of the Bush administration.  Governments must end the illegal acts of financial terrorism that are bringing world economies to the brink of disaster.

Its time to take the bull by the horns!

Ban all CDS and hedge fund transactions now the same way that stock markets can place into effect an immediate shutdown!

I think that the latest uproar regarding the change of strategy on the payment for use of Facebook displays a failure by the originators to see the fault in their logic.

If they thought of this beforehand, then it is obvious that they simply wanted to take the money and run before investors changed their minds.

Just about everyone has registered on a social website.  They offer an easy alternative to having a personal page that you can load pictures, music, and video.  Most of all they give you the advantage, or disadvantage depending on how one looks at it, of being connected with friends and business colleagues.

Funny how everyone fights for privacy laws and yet at the same time will go to one of these social sites and write anything on the “wall” of their own page or of someone else’s.
What most people do not consider is that the social sites are the owners of the very same data that you put on your page.

Today’s digital age not only offers the opportunity to be connected with people and businesses but also provides an incredible amount of sensitive information by those of you who do not consider the possibility of future shock.

It doesn’t take a sleuth to understand what kind of life one lives or to follow a chain of friends to discover the where and when people are and what they do, just some common sense logic and social websites.

As a consultant, business development is always a primary thought after all we all need to eat but shouldn’t social websites be broken into personal and business?

As I see it, the main motive of a personal social website should be completely limited to you and your friends and family and completely closed off to the rest of the world.

In contrast, a business networking site, I dislike the term social in this use, has a main motive to reach out and make money.  There is nothing really social about that.

Here is a good example of what kind of market analysis is deduced from participants of social websites that provide interesting information for businesses and individuals.

A blog by the Brand Strategist Valeria Maltoni

Diaspora, the name of those Greeks who immigrated to other countries to save themselves and their families from poverty and famine has been called upon numerous times to help save Greece.  They have helped Greece many times but like a doctor administering the wrong medical treatment, they only manage to prolong and strengthen the disease that continues to proliferate.

Today’s financial crisis and problems in Greece are not something that happened overnight.

Greeks are not thieves by nature; it is the Greek government that forces them to become tax evaders because of the mismanagement of the country.

If you had civil employees that worked have a day but collected full salaries, tremendous benefits, and higher pensions that those working in the private sector, would you mind paying taxes?

Would you mind paying taxes to gov’t agencies that strike every chance they get to add extra days to the holiday weekends?

When you build a home, do you have to do it illegally because the government does not advocate land laws on purpose so that you will build it illegally to provide a constant circle of illegal penalties?

If a government employee of any status or level were to commit a crime, accept graft or Baksheesh, how would you feel if they never go to jail?

There are too many stories to be told by both the locals as well as the foreigners who live and survive battles with government bureaucracy everyday in Greece.  These are the conditions that modern Greeks have to endure due to the form of democracy that is in effect.

I received an excellent video that explains what various forms of government are about and what role democracy plays within them.

Someone from the Greek government should watch this to learn the differences.

If you are one of the Diaspora, it’s time you convey your disappointment to the Greek government, otherwise feel free to continue supporting the leeches.