The ancient Greeks invented the word chaos to describe
complete disorder and confusion. They did not think they would be living
with it for so long.
Greece is the economic basket-case of Europe, gone from junk status to even
"junkier". The country's debt is 145 per cent of GDP and it is the ordinary
people who are paying the price.
One-third of Greeks live below the poverty line. Anger has turned into
violence and despair, and suicides have increased by 40 per cent since the
crisis began.
Plummeting salaries and pensions, never-ending tax hikes and ever-deeper
spending cuts have pushed the country to the brink of economic and social
collapse. Queues at soup kitchens are lengthening, the number of homeless
people is mounting, and critical medical supplies are in short supply.
The Greeks also invented democracy, but inconclusive election results with
no outright majority could simply prolong the crisis.
Some say the Greeks have brought it all on themselves, and call for harsher
measures. But can the latest government cut further and deeper? Can Greece
survive the euro? Can the euro survive Greece? Or is this the end of the
European dream?
The Cafe travels to Athens to find out what the future holds for the
birthplace of Western democracy.
