Mate the Greeks have the first place for the most working hours per week in Europe. Also ignore the fact that when they entered the euro, their own currency was way more stable and the inflation that was caused by the change was instigated by Germany. Now for the last 10 years there is a 26% tax on everything as the minimum amount. The government ***ed up and mismanaged I agree. But don't for 1 second think that the EU was there for the loans all the way going like " come on... It's the Olympics in 2004, Germany will loan you a shit ton of many Greece to build a lot of useless stadiums...or else we may have problems "