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Post by crojoe on Mar 1, 2013 11:55:59 GMT 1
Well, it's not nearly as bankrupt as Greece, but situation has been pretty bad for a while and government is sitting on its hands and doing very little to solve problems. What's even worse is that every attempt to reduce expenses is met by fierce opposition by the same people who complain that taxes and expenses are too high. As for organizing against "external enemy", isn't that the point of any social organization, whether it's a political party, popular movement, organized religion or human rights group? . It's like that in all countries where austerity measures must be introduced by the government. The problem of course is how did it get that way, and more often then not is was the government over time wasting money, not investing in sustainable living and business and sadly corruption on a grand scale. I find it amusing really why governments don't wake up to the fact they need to encourage business in their country, more so manufacturing. But of course all they seem to be able to do is create red tape, pass laws that hinder business, respond way to slowly & honestly not on the side of the people. Croatia has 360,000 people out of work in a country of 4.5 million counting elderly and kids, they don't pay salaries, they tax people to the hilt, governmental agencies do as they please (often not even informing the affected) so it's no wonder it's not working. The balloon is going down, just they decided to let the air out by the valve and not outright pop the balloon. Must be full of helium as they make light of the serious situation with resounding speeches of good times to come (4.5 billion gift from the EU bank coming soon).
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Post by menace on Mar 2, 2013 22:25:11 GMT 1
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Post by dragonslayer on Mar 6, 2013 0:07:47 GMT 1
A few days ago, there was a person on Facebook that was sending messages to people to organize something against the government! He went by the obvious fake name of "Hadd Enuff"...the last time I checked he had over 2000 friends when he started with 20 and the attention he got from facebook resulted in "Dnevno" printing an article about them, his/her account is now blocked for whatever reason, but really had an impact it seems. I managed to chat online to this person and seems like the aim they want is just to get noticed and not actually do anything because they are not croatian, but to encourage Croatian people to fight for their country with more extreme measures than chanting, marching and flag waving. "No rioting, just forceful protesting", as he put it. "Good luck with that" (with a grin), I typed knowing what I know about some croatian attitudes (as most of you do too). Well anyway the thing is...yesterday, there was a small protest march to the main square and I noticed someone had a placard with the same Catchphrase he used written on it "Yu fi tell dem fi stop oonu f***ry ting", ha,ha...I laughed. Is that a sign that people listened to him and his extreme hard-hitting message (if it was only for 2 days)....I hope so...and it will be really interesting to see what would happen. Croatians standing up against the government...that I would love to see, but we all have high hopes but who knows! Anyone else heard of this person...and what do you think about it? Can I say something? I am new here, so I apologize for "butting in" so quickly, especially not living in Croatia (but I have a place in my heart for the Croatian people) I have good reason to believe that this so called "Had enuff" is possibly from the "west" along the lines of "P---y Riot" hooligans in Moscow, It would be later revealed that this NGO, billed as "independent" by the Western press, was in fact funded and directed by the US State Department via the National Endowment for Democracy (NED)."(thanks to Land Destroyer blog). I would be EXTREMELY wary of any sort of troublemaker trying to start an anti-government rally, or group. Most likely it is an infiltration by non-locals, designed to weaken current administrations, a la "Arab Springs". Now, again I apologize in advance, not meaning to start a new fight here- but the infamous "gay pride" parade that was NOT welcomed by the citizens of Spilt- was in fact, peopled by Americans, who had an agenda. Now, call me a conspiracy theorist, no- call me a conspiracy "fact-ist" as I cannot say more but please just take my word for it and use your brains in this. I would steer clear of that trouble maker, even more- I would EXPOSE him for the fake that he is. I hope my advice is taken and I think the Croatian people shall not be fooled so easily. I cannot stand to hear about these groups, pretending to be good things "for the people" actually is a sinister plan to destroy something. Especially when they come from the outside, not by locals. As an American, I am ASHAMED of what our administration has done, but this is another topic for another board. Thank you.
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Post by menace on Mar 6, 2013 13:07:08 GMT 1
Hmmm...maybe!
But they are saying that they just want the people to do something themselves and personally I think if it benefits living standards then its ok ;D
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Post by Ribaric on Mar 6, 2013 15:24:46 GMT 1
Don't apologise for being new dragonslayer, the more the merrier. I feel the need to add a little history to this thread as it followed on from another earlier version. The gist if it was that here, where people don't get their wages, where many civic society elite are jailed etc., the foreigners among our number expressed a view that it is surprising that such dramatic events fail to raise much of a noise on the streets. The comparison was made with France where, for actions far less onerous, there would've been burning buses on the streets, tear gas... the whole nine yards. There is no appetite to start a revolution (except perhaps the keyboard variety) but there does exist a clear reluctance to demonstrate in Croatia in comparison with many other states. We are well aware of lobbyists and variations of the same thing, although your comment "as I cannot say more" does little to help. Do you know something?
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Post by amatesic on Mar 6, 2013 18:13:14 GMT 1
I think from an OD perspective that in this instance demonstrating will achieve nothing. I believe that Croatia is bankrupt right at this moment and the news is being delayed until we enter the EU. I am not saying that people should not demonstrate, on a whole I believe they should if for nothing but to show their discontent with the government as a whole, and lets not limit it to this government, they inherited a disaster waiting to happen. I would like to demonstrate for some specific things that would get us on a better path: 1. What is Croatia's strategic plan ... what are we to Europe ... have there been discussions ... if so where is the documentation? Tell us if all we are going to be is a tourist destination and agricultural food producer. Why bother manufacturing for export .... unless we have a new better improved machine of some sort. If tourism is important than make it clear that golf courses have to come with development of apartments ... just keep them away (150m) from being directly on the coastline, and give concession to use land on the coastline for cafes etc but must not charge entry to beach facilities. Florida has kept the golf developments off the beach. 2. We all know that we have to restructure the government - do it, if in the long term it is better for us all. 3. Retire people over 55 in the public service but means test families - have them understand that their children need work as they cannot get married or raise families. The government will have to hire young people as this act alone will reduce the workforce by about half in the public service. If you have even two apartments to let and say the summer is only 2.5months, one can earn a good living on the coast for 2 people 60 euro/day x 2 x 75days = 5625kn per month, that is enough for 2 people to live on. And do not tax this. Lets say that the limit be upped to 3 apartments. 4. Open the immigration gates along the lines of Australia wanting to encourage entrepreneurs and investment and a country wanting to attract pensioners (Spain is giving retirees permanent residency if a property over 150,000 is purchased... naturally in Australia you cannot get any type of social security or medicare for 5 years and longer if you or your partner have not contributed by working. 5. Really incent agricultural initiatives, bring back some farming co-operatives that bought produce from small farms at predetermined prices and only export healthy eco food. Nothing else. Feed our tourists only healthy eco food. In Dalmatia we can focus on olive trees and wine farms ... also orchards will be successful I am told in Dalmatia. Maraska bought locally. Dalmatia wines bough locally. Pag cheese. Pršut co-operatives. In America I bought all my produce from high end eco friendly health stores ... www.andronicos.com/ , www.andronicos.com/ , www.deandeluca.com/ ... why all the gourmet healthy stuff I bought I get here are the local markets ... its a groumet paridise here and we can move more and more in that direction. So lets demonstrate for a proper strategy to get us out of the mess we are in. Our politicians, all of them are hopeless. We should not have elections for a party but for the best management team with the best long term strategy with short term goals that are achievable.
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Post by ray51 on Mar 31, 2013 7:55:44 GMT 1
Lovely , to read something so positive and constructive , Cheers !
2 points strike me instantly : - tourism ? After experiences on 5 continents , I firmly believe that Croats are among the world's worst for hospitality and service , politeness & linguistics , respect ...actually , mostly they are Xenophobes so : if it were not for the easy Buxxxx , they'd probably ban any & all foreigners ( except Krauts and Oesterreichers ! ) from visiting , especially those of "wrong" skin colours , "wrong" religions or "wrong" political or sexual orientation ! - agriculture ? There is far too much food & booze rotting away in the EU already , much of it : courtesy of French-won Agricultural Policy . The rules and regulations get more rigorous by the day , often in order to protect vested interests from newbies , so ?
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