Thousands upon thousands of government employees take to the streets to protest the bill. Here is Greece's version of the Tea Party: tax collectors on the take, public-school teachers who don't really teach, well-paid employees of bankrupt state railroads whose trains never run on time, state hospital workers bribed to buy overpriced supplies.
In "Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World," Michael Lewis describes a scene in Greece where a massive protest erupts among government employees against a controversial bill. The unrest highlights deep-seated issues within the public sector, where many workers are believed to be engaged in corrupt practices, leading to public discontent.
The author paints a picture reminiscent of America's Tea Party movement, showcasing tax collectors accused of corruption, ineffective public-school teachers, well-paid but unproductive staff at failing state railroads, and hospital employees involved in procurement scandals. This serves to illustrate the broader challenges faced by Greece in managing its government and public services.
