When accessing the media these days there is one theme above any
other that seems to haunt us. Austerity! We're bombarded with it. We
all have to cut back, we're all in this together. Some have to take a
pay cut or a cut in their pension, while others have lost their jobs.
Services are being cut: healthcare, benefits, policing; every area of
society is to be examined and cuts made where possible. We all have to take it on the chin and pull together as a society,
the country's broke and so is Europe. Politicians love to talk about
the need to come together and tackle the debt as a society, claiming
that nearly everyone is negatively effected by the austerity
measures. The problem is, most people see it for what it really is;
an attack on the poor and most vulnerable in society.
People who had absolutely no hand in causing this mess are the ones
who are truly suffering. But of course, this is nothing new. In times
of recession it's usually the case that the poorer and more
disadvantaged suffer, while the wealthier and elite segments of
society have very little to worry themselves about, except the
constant complaining and whining of the majority. It amazes me that
instead of raising tax on the wealthy, we're cutting the safety nets
from under the poor. I know all the economic arguments that are used
to justify lower tax rates on big business. Governments often believe
that by implementing high tax rates, they run the risk of
discouraging businesses from setting up in their respective
countries, especially when other countries can offer a lower rate of
tax. I believe this to be a somewhat genuine concern, but it just
reflects the general attitude of the worlds wealthy – money and
short term gains over people. It does appear that governments are
often at the mercy of big business, but they also seem unwilling to
challenge the status quo. And why would they, many politicians
benefit hugely from their relationships within the business world.
Some make massive financial gains whilst still in government, while
others are a little more cautious and cash in once their political
career is over. That's not to say all politicians are selfish and
corrupt. There are many that are trying to change the system from
within but find it almost impossible to make any headway,
accomplishing only small victories for fairness and equality.
There are signs that people are fighting back, with Francois Hollande
and The Socialist Party winning the recent French presidential
elections, and the anti-austerity politics of the Syriza party
gaining popularity in Greece. Within the Euro-zone it is Greece who
is suffering more than most. With massive unemployment and cuts to
services such as healthcare, many Greeks have fallen below the
poverty line, relying on handouts from NGOs and other charitable
organisations. Is it at all surprising that the level of anger among
large sections of Greek society is so high? To be told that the cuts
will need to go deeper before a bailout can be agreed does not sound
like something that would placate your average Greek citizen right
now. There's much speculation surrounding the implications of a Greek
government that wouldn't accept the bailout conditions that are being
proposed, but whatever happens I sincerely hope the people are put
first, and not the multinational corporations who are just foaming at
the mouth at the thought of buying up state-owned assets on the
cheap.
One positive to be taken out of the current climate of austerity –
people are uniting and fighting for a fairer and more just system.
People have become more aware of social issues and social justice;
the more that the inequalities between the rich and poor become
apparent, the angrier and more determined the people become. Lets
just hope that this wave of discontent can be turned into an ocean of
change for the better.