Let the Games Begin

During Roman times many gladiatorial games were held in the coliseum in Rome. These games were held for many reasons: for victories by the roman army, Emperors Birthdays and to keep the populous distracted, under control and quite.
Now that our games, the World Cup is ended, the populous are now turning their attention to other more economic matters. Spain and Greek governments, amongst others, have announced strict austerity measures to get their economies brought into line with EEC rules. Now they have to implement them.
Meanwhile, Spanish unions are planning strikes for after September this year. Why so far in advance; they don’t want to upset the holiday season which runs from August through to September! Their main gripe: that of redundancy pay for laid off workers being reduced to 33 weeks from 48 weeks for each year of service.
Reform of many of Spain’s employment laws are needed to bring the austerity plan to fruition. However,the courage to enact change can be costly. Then-Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder loosened Germany's heavily regulated labour market as part of social spending reforms he undertook in 2003 and implemented for the most part by 2005.
Economists say the changes helped get the German economy on track before the recent financial crisis. But they hurt Schroeder and his Social Democrats politically — in 2005, voters dumped him and Angela Merkel became chancellor.
Will Spain (and the Greeks) do it? Maybe if we can bring the Olympics forward a couple of years!