Having been in Greece for three weeks after a 10 year absence, I realised many changes had occurred, some very good ones. There is an air of politeness, the metro is efficient, some neighbourhoods gentrified and there is better service.
One dangerous lapse of common sense is the maniacal way Greeks drive.
But as always, there was an overall absence of ‘common sense’ and an overabundance of individualism, theatrics and way too much discussion as opposed to action.
Common sense for Thomas Paine was about being governed by, “a national association; and the object of this association is the good of all, as well as individually as collectively.”
Greeks are not bereft of intellect, to the contrary most of my peers were intellectual, multi-lingual and highly skilled. The taxi driver, retail assistant, waiter, teacher, were well travelled and well read, aware and cultured.
Most people had a reasonable idea as to why there was an economic crisis. Most agreed that someone had to pay, particularly corrupt politicians. Yet no one seemed to agree that they, themselves, had to pay. As individuals they seem unable to take responsibility.
There was also a lack of common sense about what is to be done. Too often the response was ‘there is no solution’. Some responses included ludicrous conspiracy theories about America; forms of class hatred; ethnocentric nationalism (bordering on racism), or ‘wow is me’ fatalism. Yet, Athens was empty of Greeks who were on islands holidaying in summer.
There were some common sense responses. Some did say “we need to work harder and pay taxes.” Many of the reforms the Papandreou Government is now enforcing have much to do with ‘common sense.’ Citizens, rich and poor, should pay their rightful share of taxes; productive men and women should not retire at the age of 55; universities should be reformed to meet the challenges of now not the ideologies of the 1970s; truck owners’ associations should not have a monopoly of Greece’s road transport routes; wildcat strikes should not be the first response to a dispute; the Diaspora needs to be harnessed and finally, spending up to 7 percent of your GDP on military may not be a great idea.
Blatant lapses of common sense are evident in the mundane day to day life of Greeks. Messiness is one. Greece on the whole is not too polluted, its water and air are clean, but it’s a messy place. Municipalities clean the streets, yet many citizens litter.
Greece has littering laws which are not enforced. On-the-spot fines would add to local government income, deter Greeks from littering and help the environment – it’s just common sense. Another inexpensive idea is to place more rubbish bins, especially in areas of high tourism.
One dangerous lapse of common sense is the maniacal way Greeks drive. EU co-funded highways crisscross the nation, inducing Greeks to drive dangerously fast. If the speed limit is 110kmph Greeks drive between 130kmph – 150kmph, so if there is a car accident it will be a tragic one.
Greek style driving here would result in a police car and helicopter chase followed by stiff fines. Yet, fanatical driving in Greece receives no censure from the police. Greeks would lose fewer lives and the state could bolster its anaemic coffers if there was appropriate enforcement of road rules.
Any suggestion that Greece is Mediterranean, that passion and lifestyle do not lend to more order and more common sense fade when one goes to Spain.
Here a nation whose citizens have similar temperament have cleaner cities, drive more rationally, and know they will overcome their economic crisis – it’s just common sense.