An Open Letter to Pericles

Pericles, 495-429 B.C.E.

Dear Pericles,

You’ve been away 2500 years and that’s far too long.  Greece needs another Golden Age.  Please hurry back, all expenses paid.

Protesters gathered in front of Greek Parliament.

Your incredible Parthenon still towers above Athens, though it’s missing its marbles.  Come to think of it, I think your city might be too.  Have you been following the media coverage of what’s going on here?  Or are you tuning out, as seems much of the world, tired at hearing about Greece and its problems?   There’s a war going on.  No, not with the Persians or of the Peloponnesian sort, this one is of a more civil(ized) sort.  Where it is headed is anyone’s guess and everyone’s fear.  But headed it is.

Rioters attacking businesses

This is the third Christmas season in a row that Molotov cocktail and paving stone tossing demonstrators of disparate views have mortally wounded holiday shopping in central Athens.  Perhaps that’s the truest tradition of the Christmas season in that part of town.  Deck the malls with bombs and salvos…

Police confront protesters by Parliament

This week 20,000 or so largely peaceful citizens turned out in central Athens as part of a general strike across Greece to protest additional austerity measures under consideration by the Greek Parliament for addressing the country’s financial crisis.  If you haven’t heard about that fiscal meltdown, my friend, stop reading immediately and under no circumstances leave whatever state of innocent bliss you’ve found.

That demonstration answered a question I’d been asking my friends on Mykonos all summer: Why aren’t the politicians holidaying here this year?  They always did, but this year tipota, nothing.  My informal survey yielded what I thought a flippant rather than reasoned conclusion: “Because they’re afraid the people will beat the $#!^ out of them.”   I should have learned by now not to bet against popular wisdom or vox populi (if you prefer Latin).

Costis Hatzidakis, MP

During that demonstration a current member of parliament—who’d been a minister in the government that was at the helm of Greece’s economy when it drove into the rocks under full sail—tried to exit the Parliament Building and was pelted with stones and bloodied by a crowd of one hundred.  If you’re wondering what the police and other guardians of order are doing about all the goings-on, take a number and get in line.  Your question will be answered before the next 2500 years have passed.

There is real anger in the country, a pit of the stomach sense that serious suffering waits just around the corner, and one hell of a lot of finger pointing.  Perhaps the only thing the country appears to agree upon is that “all in government are corrupt.”  The second most agreed upon point is, “nothing will change.”

There is an old saying Greeks use when a fairy tale ends happily, “They all had a good time, and we did too.”  Perhaps that’s why so many Greeks let their politicians get away with so much for so long.  Everyone was profiting.  Now that times are bad, and the people want someone to blame for the unhappy ending, they’re pointing at the politicians they kept electing.

Whatever the answer, the solution is not going to be easy.  And it will be painful. I wish there were a magic wand to wave or a simple answer to the crisis.  But there is not, and the country seems desperate for a new Greek voice to listen to and trust.

The people would listen to you, Honored First Citizen of Athens; certainly those I know who act as if they had a personal hand in all the incredible contributions you helped bring to the world.  Think of them sort of like American baseball fans that claim because an ancestor happened to be at the third game of the 1932 World Series when Babe Ruth pointed before hitting his legendary “called shot” homerun off Charlie Root of the Chicago Cubs, that they’re somehow entitled to take partial credit for Ruth’s swing of the bat.  If you don’t understand what I’m talking about, wait until someone starts talking about cricket.

The great New York Yankee Bambino calls his shot.

In fact, even I would rather talk about cricket.  It’s so much easier to grasp than the sticky wicket of a relationship Greeks share with those they choose to govern them.

Jeff — Saturday

Microfinance -- Sightings

We have heard much in recent years about microloans, most of which are provided by non-profit organizations.  These very small loans are offered at low interest and provide the tools by which entrepreneurs, a majority of whom are women, can begin to build a better, more productive life.  Like any good thing, a movement like this can see the potential for corruption and scandal.   And scandal has touched the microfinance movement, especially places like India, where for-profit entities have moved in.  So, how do we support this movement while being aware that there are wolves in our midst?  Martin Marty takes a look at the movement, its potential, and the dangers.

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Sightings 12/13/2010

Microfinance

- Martin E. Marty

Sightings has no difficulty focusing on microfinance, which manages to be in the news, for better or worse, more days than not. Nonprofit microfinance is one of the biggest stories of religion-in-action around the world. If it deals mainly with the “poor world,” as it naturally would and should, it also involves people down the block or in religious institutions nearby. Religious leaders are engaged in producing funds for extremely low-interest loans to the poor who have extremely little opportunity to secure bank loans.

Microfinance is a concept and reality that was unfamiliar to most publics in America until a few years ago. It began to become newsworthy and familiar when Muhammad Yunus, who as much as anyone else can be called its founder, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Philanthropedia, which spreads news in this field, likes to quote him: “One day our grandchildren will go to museums to see what poverty was like.” That day is as far off as one can imagine, but its coming is conceivable.

Stage Two in the news has been the linking of words like “corruption” or “scandal” to microfinance as it unfolds in parts of the for-profit world. Martin Assogba, President of the Association Against Racism, Ethnocentrism, and Regionalism in Benin, noted to the news organization IRIN that “where there is a large infusion of money [into situations of great poverty] a ‘mafia’ soon develops around it.” Crooks, often relatives, intervene in the lending process, at the expense of borrowers and the good name of microfinance. The Economist, focusing on crises in India, questions whether microfinance in such circumstances is even a good idea. Non-profits work to keep their vocations pure.

These seasons, call them the times of “Stage Three,” a good deal of sorting is going on, and the nonprofits are winning back their good name. Philanthropedia examined 131 nonprofits and picked a top dozen, including FINCA. I’ll make a case study of the one I know best, Opportunity International. Too many years ago two Martys visited fourteen projects in which we had interests in Guatemala. The vision, experiences, and lessons stay with us. (OI takes supporters on tours, not to luxury resorts but to the bad scenes where good things are happening.) Opportunity International, number five in the Philanthropedia rating, like so many other nonprofits, is Christian-based, but loans to people of all faiths.

Picture this: The annual report lists 1,357,828 active loans, so clients can be entrepreneurs and make a difference. Many of these microfinance agencies have had to start banks in places where banks are out of reach of those who could use them best. Number of savings accounts? There are 562,101 of them alongside 1,016,507 “microinsurance policy holders. OI now fosters Trust groups,” who help assure that weaker members can pay back in worst times. A $136 loan is all that first-time clients need to get started, and 95% of them pay back, soon, so others can get started. Of these clients 84% are women, and 99% of the 11,501 staffers in 20 countries are nationals. Whoever has met some of the borrowers pictures faces and families ever after, not dollar signs and statistics. While the mannequins of state scheme about billions in our world, some of us believe that $136 here and there might make great humane differences that are just as important. Take a look.

References

Editorial, “Under Water,” The Economist, December 9, 2010.

“Ranked Nonprofits: International Microfinance,” Philanthropedia, 2009.

Opportunity International, “Microfinance-A Working Solution to Global Poverty,” 1 min., 23 sec video on YouTube.

IRIN, “Microfinance Industry Breeds Corruption,” SperoNews, January 8, 2009.

The website of FINCA can be accessed here and Opportunity International is here.

Martin E. Marty's biography, current projects, publications, and contact information can be found at www.illuminos.com.

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Sightings comes from the Martin Marty Center at the University of Chicago Divinity School.

Tom DeLay Convicted in Corruption Case - Headed to Prison

I don't think they have "Dancing with the Stars" in prison...or perhaps that should be "Dancing with the Corrupt Politicians". He may have to dance, duck & dodge to survive in Texas though. I don't think Texas has any "nice" minimum security prisons. My guess is, there will be a deal to house him in a Federal facility or he will end up getting some sort of community based supervision. Although he could get 99 years, the actual sentence won't be anything close to that unfortunately.

Justice took too long in this case. Being rich and powerful affords you the ability to delay Justice. The case should have been concluded a long time ago. The country (the small percentage of people who actually pay attention to this stuff...10% perhaps) has forgotten about Tom DeLay.... but this is still a good story because it sends the message that these jackasses don't always get away with it. Sometimes they go to jail. And it could be the starting point for a serious discussion about reforming the inherently corrupt political system.... I know... that's not very likely to happen. I am more likely to find a great job, find the woman of my dreams and actually live a wonderful, fruitful life as a Black man in America, than I am to see any significant reform of the corrupt U.S. political system during my lifetime. It's definitely not going to happen with Republicans in charge - the GOP is one big brothel full of corporate whores. But this case could at least add to the debate about why the system needs to be fixed. DeLay wasn't some greedy character who acted on his own or operated outside of the cultural norms of Congress. Instead, his quid pro quo activities were encouraged and facilitated by the system in place at the time.

From the New York Times

AUSTIN, Tex. — Tom DeLay, one of the most powerful and divisive Republican lawmakers ever to come out of Texas, was convicted Wednesday of money-laundering charges in a state trial, five years after his indictment here forced him to resign as majority leader in the House of Representatives.

After 19 hours of deliberation, a jury of six men and six women decided that Mr. DeLay was guilty of conspiring with two associates in 2002 to circumvent a state law against corporate contributions to political campaigns. He was convicted of one charge of money laundering and one charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

As the verdict was read, Mr. DeLay, 63, sat stone-faced at the defense table. Then he rose, turned, smiled and hugged his wife and then his weeping daughter in the first row of spectators. He faces between 5 and 99 years in prison, though the judge may choose probation.

A few minutes later, Mr. DeLay said outside the courtroom that he would appeal the decision. He called the prosecution a political vendetta by Democrats in the local district attorney’s office, and revenge for his role in orchestrating the 2003 redrawing of Congressional districts to elect more Republicans.

“This is an abuse of power,” he said. “It’s a miscarriage of justice. I still maintain my innocence. The criminalization of politics undermines our very system.”

The verdict ends the latest chapter in a long legal battle that forced Mr. DeLay to step down. The trial also opened a window on the world of campaign financing, as jurors heard testimony about large contributions flowing to Mr. DeLay from corporations seeking to influence him, and about junkets to luxury resorts where the congressman would rub shoulders with lobbyists in return for donations.
Read more

More from the Huffington Post

When Will The Feds Go After Ken Cuccinelli?

Ken Cuccinelli, The Attorney General of Virginia, is not even trying to hide his unethical activities. Rachel Maddow destroyed him tonight.

Are the Federal Prosecutors in Virginia asleep? This guy has done just about everything except wear a sign that reads "Feds... please investigate me".

Whistleblower Says BP Had History of Cheating on Blowout Preventer Tests

BP apparently had a history of falsifying safety tests, particularly on their blowout preventers, which are designed to prevent gas pressure from rushing up the well and causing explosions. To save money, BP and some of its subcontractors, cut corners.

Glauco is Dead

Glauco Villas Boas was a cartoonist, as known and beloved in Brazil as Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts.
In the early morning of Friday, the 13^th, Glauco, and his son, Raoni, were shot to death. I’m not going to dwell on the senseless act of violence, or the grief of the family, or the sad story of the young man who’s been apprehended for the crime. I’d prefer, instead, to share a little of Glauco's work.


To know there isn’t going to be any more of it fills me with a profound sense of loss. 

 

Many of Glauco's cartoons were made for humor alone, but some had a political or social underpinning. The examples I'm showing you are all of the latter type. 

To appreciate the one above, you have to be aware of this: most Brazilians know it doesn't do much good to complain to the authorities about anything. And those who do often find it backfires. Prefeitura means city hall. Reclamações is complaints. The guard is saying "Next!"

 

Brazil's prisons are terribly overcrowded. The guard, arriving with a new convict, is saying "Everybody take a step back!"

The sign on the side of the ambulance reads "Leeches". The people tumbling out are politicians.

Glauco often used cigars to identify politicians. A lion, in Brazil, is widely recognized as the symbol for the tax authorities. There was an instance in which a certain politician was accused of cheating on his tax statement. (Nothing came of it.)

Parlamentares are congressmen. And the Brazilian congress has a long history of corruption.
When several lawmakers vote together on an issue it's called a "bloquinho". The guy on the 'phone is talking to his wife, as if he's reporting from the supermarket:
"Honey, they were so cheap I bought several."

T

This politician's wife is asking, "Isn't there some other place you can hide the money?"

 

This last one is a commentary on the government's response to a popular demand to lower juros, interest rates: The guy (representing an official) has just cut off a paper-thin slice and is saying, "Is that okay, Madam?"

I'm going to miss Glauco. I truly am.

Leighton - Monday