The European Union is  fast approaching an historic decision as to whether the organization which lacks a strong Federal center is in need of  greater  concentration of power or whether it should fracture itself and  go the way of   individual national rights.

Greece and its financial collapse raise issues concerning the importance of  developing greater Federal control over individual states or whether the Union  eventually will disintegrate under financial pressures.

The current requirement of unanimity is simply unacceptable for a modern economic organization. Someone has to be in charge.

Unfortunately, for the people of Greece most Europeans have heard stories about Greek workers retiring at age 55 with high retirement pay. We do not know if this is correct, but this is a common belief in the western world. No one feels sorrow for the Greek people. The government will not receive a loan without sharp cut backs in spending and retirement pay.

Perhaps, it is time to install the Rule of 10. This means no one can obtain more money as pay that exceeds 10 times the average salary. If these are times of austerity, lets make all suffer.

First, Billy buys Greece, next Billy purchases the USA and we can all look forward to national health insurance and a much healthier political life.

In other words, a Swedish woman subjects herself to ridicule by making charges of false rape? An interesting theory and it would be helpful if those making such claims would produce evidence. For example, could we see a copy of the insurance policy which they take out prior to false claims or rape?

Of course, speaking of rumors regarding sexual behavior, we have heard that Greek men………

The rich, in all societies, never pay the full tariff while the poor and middle class must comply with government regulations. Certainly, in the United States every dollar earned should be taxed at the same rate. Enough, with people retiring “too early.” Let’s make the upper middle class and the wealthy pay at the same rate as do the poor and middle class!!

The psychology of the early years of the twenty first century was dominated by the culture of borrowing. Unfortunately, one did not borrow for a rainy day, but borrowed for a future that was always getting better. Welcome to 21st century reality.

We believe there is need for systematic changes in the manner of police work that leads to less resort to weapons and greater resort to dialogue, peace, and working to avoid destructive conflict. If each year there is an outbreak of violence to remember the death of an innocent young man, nothing is accomplished except more broken heads. The issue resides in changing police, changing their attitudes, and changing the manner in which they confront demonstrations.

Ironically, the Greek Police union has been urging diversity because such action they believe will assist in dealing with crime. Hristos Fotopoulos, head of the police union, says, “we believe immigrants should be employed as police officers, just like Greeks.” Hopefully, at some point in time, he will refer to immigrants as Greeks.

Neighbors complained about the mosque which they disliked because it led to the gathering of large crowds of people anxious to get into the small area. For years, many bodies and the European Union have complained about the absence of a legal mosque for Muslims, but for some strange reason city authorities just can’t get around to granting legal permission to pray.

Perhaps, it is time for the African Union to sit down with the European Union in an effort to organize the process of immigration. This is not an issue that will disappear. In fact, as the economic crisis deepens we can expect even more violent demonstrations and anger on the part of all involved in the immigrant problem.

Historically, the United States of America was among the few nations which grant citizenship automatically to anyone born in the country regardless of the status of their parents. Greece apparently claims a child’s citizenship follows the status of their parents. The American model is an inclusive one which recognizes that once born in the country, one will be regarded as a citizen.

The government is now investigating the possibility of recruiting more police from the ranks of immigrant groups, particularly among those who received a Greek school education and are familiar with the law. Christos Fotopoulos, head of the Panhellenic Confederation of Police Officers, said it was time to expand those who are in the police. “As long as the state refuses to deal with the new reality, there will be more incidents of racism, and the police will suffer the consequences when others are actually to blame.”

Unfortunately, a survey of the police revealed they are bigots since most oppose recruiting children of immigrants into the force.

In days gone by, most Europeans were Christians, but these days, Europe includes peoples of very diverse backgrounds and religions. It is time to end the use of a religious oath and allow those who do not feel comfortable taking such a position due to their own religion, the right to just take office and promise to obey the Constitution.

Youngsters are protesting against a corrupt government, and against attempts to institute changes in an education system which has scant meaning to contemporary students. In a sense, the students reject change and are protesting in order to maintain the status quo even though they dislike the status quo.

France has all the ingredients for a riot. Students are not pleased with the current political system, they don’t like the university system, they don’t like globalism and they recognize their are deep seated problems in dealing with multicultural groups. European youth want change but oppose change. In a sense, they are rootless and without a vision about the future.

There were sit-ins at about 100 universities in which it was apparent students were not only concerned about the boy’s death but about education “reforms” proposed by the government. There is abundant evidence web sites were providing directions as to the location of protests and providing Internet followers with information on how to join the demonstrations.

Perhaps, future historians will identify the Greek protests as among the first examples of the Internet fostering riots in many places.

At the Athens Polytechnic, a center of youth, men and women broke up marble slabs and prepared fire bombs and promised to turn the unrest into “an uprising the likes of which Greece has never seen.” One young man commented, “this is not just about the kid, it’s about our dreadful education and economic situation. It’s our belief and hope that this is the beginning of a rebellion against the system.”

Union leaders are prepared to strike and close down airline flights and ferries. Is this the first example of young men and women rebelling against the system which has created an economic mess?

Prime Minister Costas Karemanlis publicly apologized to the father of Alexandros Grigoropoulos who was shot by police. Most probably the outburst of youth anger is deeper than the death of a single boy by police, but may reflect a feeling the government of Greece is still run by the “old boys network” and is not responsive to the need for a modern, honest government that is in tune with needs of the 21st century. According to Professor Thanos Dokos, “there are a lot of disoriented young people who feel they don’t have much to expect from the future and are very disconnected.” We can expect more such outbursts of anger as the recession continues to spread.

Other students argued Greece has a lot to learn from foreigners. Eletheria Tsaknaki, sad, “I want to appeal to the government to listen to political refugees and not abandon them to an uncertain fate.” Sometime the words of children are more meaningful than the hate that comes from adult voices.

The study of successful integration is titled, “The Integration of Repatriated Greeks and Immigrant Children into Secondary Education,” allowed many teachers an opportunity to discuss issues of multiculturalism. The author of the study stated bluntly, “most textbooks do not take account of the multicultural nature of our society.”

The law allows a couple living together who are not married to enjoy many rights of married couples since either individual could obtain social benefits from the partner as a married couple currently are able to secure.

We are witnessing a new global awareness in which individuals leave a country to work and live elsewhere on the planet, but still maintain feelings about their homeland. In a sense, this is creating a new concept of a world citizen who is involved regardless of where they are physically located.