Free Crete

During the summer, a few elderly Cretans started talking to me about this "contract" Mr. Venizelios made with the Greek government a couple hundred years ago.  Back in the 1900s, it seems Crete's then president closed a deal with the Greek government in which Crete would become part of Greece for the duration of this contract. According to my aging friends, this contract is supposedly ending in the year of 2012. Well, very interesting you might think, but what's that gotta do with us?

A lot. See, if this so-called contract ends in three years, we Cretans might want to vote to become independent. Now, that's what I like!

So, FREE CRETE! A new political party, herewith under construction, please do not hesitate to sign up.

Imagine we could just be a new independent country, a country of, maybe not milk and honey, but certainly raki and olives. We would have our own flag (or bring back the old one) national anthem (I'm thinking something by Psaradonis), our own currency, hell we could even decide not to have a currency at all, just go back to the old ways of trading!  We would obviously speak Greek, dress and live the way we do now, but we would be able to decide ourselves what we would do about tourism, infrastructure, schools, taxes etc. At least our taxes would not provide for a poor little village up near Thessaloniki, our tourism board would not advertise solely for Athens, our olive oil would be marketed the way it deserves. We could exit the European Union . . . no, wait, maybe it would be smarter to stay in, considering the awesome subsidies available to new countries.

We would be able to really vote our own politicians in office, people we actually know and have drinks with at the local kafenion. Although this might not stop corruption completely, at least we, as simple citizens, would know exactly who to pay off to get done exactly what we want. Just think of it, the old American base would be fixed up in no time, roads would be finished, schools would be taken care off. Things that  are important to all of us  are the things Athens doesn't give a shit about.

Yep, it is about time to take matters into our own hands; it is time to make a change. We have been dancing to the Athens beat far too long. Let us start a revolution, a liberation army of votes that will take Crete into a new era. Let us all unite in a political party called "Free Crete," a party for the people by the people. A party that states: "Enough is enough, keep your hands from our stuff!" A party that realizes Crete was once the cradle of western civilization and that  it has been held back by an elephant called Athens. Let us all get up and take action, let us all give Athens a run for their money cause you know what ….. they would hate to see us go!