JOE DOE WOULD LIKE TO TELL THE PM
You gave the Greeks some hope, please do not let them down.
A big investment was announced recently. Europe’s biggest Photovoltaic Facility which will give Greece 200MG of Electrical Power. It will be located in the Kozani area in Northern Greece.
Well, you are beginning to come across with your promises for Green Development ? or is this another tale of Greek Political Practice ? Only if this investment begins to materialize quickly will your announcement be believed. You are, presumably aware of the fact that your Government lacks credence, false promises etc. The latest fiasco is the thousands and thousands of Euros spent by Farmers who were told to prepare projects for the installation of Photovoltaic systems to produce Electricity to be sold to the Public Electricity Enterprise which is unable to carry on its grid their planned output. So what do they do now ? Farm their land? They do not like the idea. They are accustomed to money from Brussels, not work; and what of the money they have spent? Who will reimburse them?
Greece’s newfound friends, the Israelis (bless them for Greece sorely needs friends nowadays) are, reportedly considering Mammoth Investments in Tourism that could equal the sum due by Greece to its lenders. If it comes to pass it will be a milestone in the history of Greek-Israeli relations. It will take years to complete but if the start of the projects studies begins within weeks from now it will send a powerful message to all and indeed those who consider Greece a problem. The same for all the other projects considered. A quick transition from talk to action will also begin to assuage the fears of the Greeks who seem to fear the worst for their country.
All Cabinet members watched a Video presenting what is wrong with school education. Evidently you are of the same mind as the speaker in this video. Thanks from the heart to you. Time someone rocks the boat, if you would also kick a few butts so much the better. If you can put the educational system of this country on a different course you will go down in History as the reformer who put Greece on the path to development, social, economic. As you know development begins with educated people who can discern. You will, in all probability, receive valuable assistance from your Minister of Education who seems intent on educational reform, at all levels.
That you have also asked your cabinet to write down their comments on what their cohorts present is also of immense importance. It obliges them to participate, not stand aloof on matters that are unpopular, or do not concern them.
You have spoken truthfully in Thessaloniki saying that your primary duty was to come to grips with the dismal fiscal situation and that now you can devote the required energy to d e v e l o p m e n t . You well know there is no other way out of the currently precarious position and no way to bring down indebtedness other than surpluses, possible only through increased economic activity and the mechanism that ensures the Government gets its fair share of it, to thus pay down the National Debt.
Nobody wants you to succeed more than I do in your effort to move Greece forward, but can you ? Articulated thinking and smart talk are not enough. You are surrounded by old fashioned politicos, with a few notable exceptions. Not all of them seem to have fully realized the position this country is in and what it takes to handle its perilous situation. How then do you believe that you can charge up your Government? You need a “doer” who is accustomed to making things happen. Perhaps a recently retired Business Executive who has spent his active years managing by objectives, setting goals, devising strategies, measuring progress. Chances that he be accepted as your unofficial supervisor of your ministers work ? Zero. So please consider sessions with your ministers where you exhaustively discuss every issue, set goals and deadlines. Please inject to them the required sense of urgency. Tell them in advance that the people of Greece have a right to know who can run with the ball and who wallows in complacency, so you will make no secret of it, you will let the Media know what you have asked and what they have delivered. In other words, the people will be supervising them. In view of the fact that the country will be saved, but that it will accept the rigid fiscal discipline imposed to it (a gift from heaven come to think of it) and make a strenuous effort to d e v e l o p at the same time, what are your options ?. Greece is in a do or die situation and its people expect you to play hard ball with everyone, to deliver the desired results.
You started your premiership on the wrong foot, but lately the bad impressions are fading. Two weeks after the holidays you began showing that you are not afraid to think out of the box, you seem to have a vision. Please share it with the people, come out and talk about it, explain “what” “how” “when” and tell the people how they can support it, where you need their understanding, their help, even volunteer work. Give them goals and they will respond. It will also be a cure for their frustration, currently exhibited in negative ways, in response to the calls from the malevolent opposition parties.
You gave the Greeks some hope, please do not let them down.