What happens to a society when the economy collapses? How does this affect the day to day lives of the people within that society? What happens when the government does not have the money to keep everything working as it once did?
We can see this process happening in Greece, as the nation is effectively bankrupt, and the government is fast running out of options. Greece’s financial woes are largely of her own making. A society based on socialism, with a large proportion of the population employed in public sector jobs, a generous public retirement fund, and national tax avoidance. For years the country has lived far beyond her means. This addiction to debt has been compounded by Greece abandoning her currency, the Drachma, to join the single European currency, the Euro. Being part of the Euro has seriously hampered Greece’s ability to take the necessary action to avoid the economic catastrophe the nation now faces.
Greek’s have a reputation for being loud and gregarious, however, behind this exterior is a generous and civil society built on a strongly matriarchal family unit. The Greek grandmother is a poignant symbol of the nation: the old widow lady dressed in black, with immacualte hair, is a figure which commands the deepest respect from every sector in society. However, a British journalist living and working in Greece observed such a lady begging on the streets of Athens – this was a scene utterly unthinkable a short time ago.
Greek’s are also very civilised and generous, however these attributes are becoming harder to see. Hostility is growing in Greece towards a large immigrant population, with a real fear that the Neo-Nazi movement could make serious political in-roads. Crime is also increasing drastically. In the past Athens was quite a safe city where you hardly heard of muggings, but now muggings are common place. Areas of Athens are becoming no-go areas as crime and drug abuse increase.
Despite the crime and drug abuse on the streets of Athens, behind closed doors the majority of Greek families are simply trying to survive. Many have seen their salaries drop by 25%, whilst taxes increase and basic food prices soar; simply putting food on the table is becoming very hard. There are more tax rises and job cuts to come and as the recession deepens, the coming year is likely to bring further hardship to the people.
Greece has a troubled recent past, after the second world war Greek’s faced tremendous hardship, with people starving to death. Out of this, civil war ripped the nation apart resulting in a brutal military dictatorship until 1974. People again fear a return to the bad days of Greece, as Communist groups call for revolution. Many can see this as a distinct possibility as more and more people become increasingly desperate.
The way the economic crisis is dealt with in the coming months will determine the outcome for Greece, as well as the rest of Europe. America is not immune from these economic woes. The entire western world has lived on borrowed money for years, we have all grown used to a lifestyle funded on debt, and not on hard earned cash. Many in Greece see the removal of their lifestyle as a loss to their rights, and the rest of Europe and America will be no different. If the rule of law and the political system collapses in Greece, anarchy will ensue and hardship become much worse.
However, we do not need this to happen. God raises up Prophets to take his mantle into regions to protect them from destruction. Poverty, hunger, or anarchy are not what God would have for us, but He needs His mantle to be in these key regions, so they can be steered away from trouble and faith and wisdom be restored. Support Prophet TV so the mantle on this ministry can return to Europe. If the economic system collapses, what we see in Greece today will be America tomorrow.