While reading the news lately I am humored by three articles that caught my eye. The first details the name being applied to Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain: PIIGS. The second offers an explanation, though jokingly, for the reason these countries are in trouble: too few Jews. It's the third one that makes me shrink back a little though. It detailed how Hedge Funds were now targeting the PIIGS because of the returns they can make on higher yielding bonds as the countries are forced to pay higher and higher rates to get funding. There were no less than 700k search results presented when I googled Hedge Fund and Greece.

Results included everything from the above article to Greece’s Prime Minister blaming hedge funds for the crisis. Hedge funds are not to blame for the crisis. They are simply responding to a country that thought it could continuously spend on social programs while ignoring the consequences. There is ALWAYS a bill to be paid at the end of the party. Do you ever walk into a restaurant expecting a great meal, and then want it for free as well. Though it happens once in a while, the majority of the time the check comes after desert.

These countries, as well as the US, UK and other smaller blocs like California need to be reminded of this. The people of those countries need to be reminded that sooner or later the bill must be paid in full. Greece’s economy is on the brink of collapse and a 24 hr. strike has been instituted by several public and private sectors. They are protesting job cuts, wage decreases and later retiring ages. What will they have to protest when the government just doesn't send out checks at all? This situation may be a microcosm of things to come as countries begin to take notice of their debt and start tightening their belts.

The locals might not like it, but sooner or later the waiter will arrive and expect to be paid. If they reach for their credit cards they better be ready to pay the interest.