Despite bailout payments and draconian austerity measures, economists forecast Greece’s debt is likely to remain at crisis levels for at least another decade. Each quarterly visit to Greece from representatives of the European Commission, the IMF and the European Central Bank (otherwise known as the troika) brings further layoffs, tax increases, strikes and civil unrest. Public sector salaries and jobs have been particularly hard hit – overturning a century long constitutional provision that public servants have lifetime job security. As unemployment rises, income tax revenue decreases.

At the economic level, Costas Tsirikas, head of the half-million member strong ADEDY union, argues the austerity measures will only exacerbate the recession and prevent growth, rather than promote it. Alternative economic strategies have been postulated, including by outspoken Athens University economist Yannis Varoufakis in his recently released book The Global Minotaur, but the Papandreou government remains set on holding national bankruptcy at bay by meeting the troika’s requirements to receive further bailout funds. As one commentator remarked, Greece is “saving itself to death”.

The social consequences are plain to see, as citizens and police face off in increasingly violent demonstrations in Syntagma Square and elsewhere. Transportation, tourist sites, government offices and businesses are often closed, and hospitals function on skeleton staff. Without the most recent financial aid payment this week, there were fears that funding for police wages would run out by Christmas. For protestors, less police presence wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

George Pontikos, representing the labour group PAME has reported “threats, blackmail, intimidation by employers and government” against individuals who object to the measures being applied against them, particularly the Greek workers. For many of these, there is nothing left to lose. For many, the only form of resistance that remains is to use their voice and their feet and march. At a recent football match, protestors unfurled a large banner which said, in essence, that the corrupt officials and wealthy tax evaders would get their comeuppance, sooner rather than later.

These demonstrators were later arrested but not before their message was seen by people all over the world. As one commentator puts it, the Greek people are sick to death of “sacrificing for the plutocracy”.

The incident between the renowned Athenian general, Themistocles (who led Athens to victory against the Persians) and the people of Andros is worth remembering in the context of the current Greek crisis. Themistocles became rather unpopular amongst the Allies as he did his rounds of the islands, demanding taxes and contributions from the citizenry. On arrival at Andros, he declared that he had come with two great Gods on his side – Peitho (Persuasion) and Ananke (Necessity).

Therefore, he argued, the good people of Andros should put their hands in their pockets and cough up the cash. The Andrians responded, according to Herodotus, as follows: ‘It is then but reasonable that Athens is great and prosperous, being blessed with serviceable gods. As for us Andrians, we are but blessed with a plentiful lack of land, and we have two unserviceable gods who never quit our island but want to dwell there forever, namely Penia (Poverty) and Amekhania (Helplessness). Since we are in the hands of these gods, we will give no money; the power of Athens can never be stronger than our inability.”

The Greek people could plead a similar case today, and many do. Is anyone listening?

* Joanne Lock is an independent writer based in Australia. To contact Joanne or to read more of her work, please visit www.joannelock.com