LIFE GOES ON

As Obama looks for his “needle in the haystack” solution for the economy; as Republicans and Democrats continue argue about “what to do;” as Presidential hopefuls continue to try and convince voters they are more than “mediocre;” as super PACS continue to “speak money,” the world has its first “strike of 2012” in Greece (reported on Jan. 2) . . . as State doctors and pharmacists find encouragement from our own Occupy Wall Street Movement.    

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Greek doctors and pharmacists have gone on strike in the country's first walkout of 2012.  State hospital doctors have said they will treat only emergency cases until Thursday, in protest at changes to healthcare provision. Pharmacists are angry at government plans to cut the cost of medicines in an attempt to reduce state spending. 

Reported on 2-4-12 - Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos has  said Greece may default on its debts in March unless unions accept further cuts to salaries. Mr Papademos said more cuts were needed to avoid exiting the  eurozone. Analysts say the warning is to prepare Greece for more austerity measures. European Commission, International Monetary Fund and European Central Bank inspectors, known as the troika, arrive to assess Greece's progress in cutting its deficit on 15 January. 

I find all of this strikingly interesting since the word   “democracy”  was first articulated by the Greeks in the middle of the 5th – 4th Century BC.  And, hundreds of years later this birthplace of Democracy has its doctors and pharmacists striking.  But, life goes on doesn’t it?