Monday 14 November 2011

A Greek fable

With this piece of news, coupled with recent events in Greece, the following story - whilst not new - is worthy of repetition:
"Some years ago a small rural town in Spain twinned with a similar town in Greece.
The Mayor of the Greek town visited the Spanish town. When he saw the palatial mansion belonging to the Spanish mayor he wondered how he could afford such a house. The Spaniard said; "You see that bridge over there? The EU gave us a grant to build a four-lane bridge; but by building a single lane bridge with traffic lights at either end this
house could be built".
The following year the Spaniard visited the Greek town. He was simply amazed at the Greek Mayor's house, gold taps, marble floors - it was marvellous, beyond imagination. When he asked how this could be afforded the Greek said; "You see that bridge over there?"
The Spaniard replied, "No."

3 comments:

The Gray Monk said...

Pretty much sums up both countries economic attitudes ...

WitteringsfromWitney said...

TGM: Agreed - which is why I repeated it.......

andy5759 said...

Hah, I've been telling that story for years and it never fails to make people laugh. Though recently reactions are quite different, more growls of outrage than chuckles. Did I read it here first?

Yes, we know they have been neck deep in the trough but were they encouraged to do so? Were the arch federalists hoping for just this scenario where they can impose their own puppets? Should we support the people of Greece and Italy (Spain soon too). or leave them to hang on their own gibbet?