Greece - Not just bankrupt...

Discussion in 'Blazers OT Forum' started by MARIS61, Jan 9, 2012.

  1. MARIS61

    MARIS61 Real American

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    Morally bankrupt also?

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/09/greece-pedophilia-disability_n_1194578.html

    ATHENS, Greece -- Greek disability groups expressed anger Monday at a government decision to expand a list of state-recognized disability categories to include pedophiles, exhibitionists and kleptomaniacs.

    The National Confederation of Disabled People called the action "incomprehensible," and said pedophiles are now awarded a higher government disability pay than some people who have received organ transplants.

    The Labor Ministry said categories added to the expanded list – that also includes pyromaniacs, compulsive gamblers, fetishists and sadomasochists – were included for purposes of medical assessment and used as a gauge for allocating financial assistance.

    But NCDP leader Yiannis Vardakastanis, who is blind, warned the new list could create new difficulties for disabled Greeks who are already facing benefit cuts due to the country's financial crisis.

    "What's happened is incomprehensible. I think there is some big mistake. The ministry should have a different policy on disability," Vardakastanis told the Associated Press. "The list contains major changes to disability quotients, which could effectively remove many people from access to benefits."

    The new list gives pyromaniacs and pedophiles disability pay up to 35 percent, compared to 80 percent for heart transplant recipients.

    "It's really not serious to grant Peeping Toms a 20-30 percent disability rate, and 10 percent to diabetics, who have insulin shots four or five times a day," said Vardakastanis.

    Greece has been fighting to avoid bankruptcy since 2009. Public spending on health and welfare programs has been sharply cut under austerity measures imposed as a condition for receiving emergency loans from the International Monetary Fund and other countries using the euro currency.
     
  2. BLAZER PROPHET

    BLAZER PROPHET Well-Known Member

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    I didn't know the democrat party was in Greece.
     
  3. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    C'mon BP...even the most hard-core D's draw the line at kleptomaniacs.
     
  4. EL PRESIDENTE

    EL PRESIDENTE Username Retired in Honor of Lanny.

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    they are disabilities. mental disabilities.

    of course, 20 years ago, homosexuality was seen as a "disability" as well. and 20 years before that, being black was a disability.
     
  5. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    So they have different disability pensions for different psychological problems.

    Seems weird, but I have to agree that those compulsive gamblers need a raise. The next week they'll need another one, the week after that another one...
     
  6. ucatchtrout

    ucatchtrout Well-Known Member

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    As I understand it the government in the Netherlands also sponsors trips to houses of prostitution for those confined to mental asylums. The thinking is that its the humane thing to do and that mental illness shouldn't mean the end of your sex life.
     
  7. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    Wouldn't it be cheaper to just tell the housewife next door that a virgin wants some sex? No money or travel required. The government could charge her and lessen the deficit.
     

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