Aristotle defined envy (φθόνος phthonos) “as the pain caused by the good fortune of others”, while Kant defined it as “a reluctance to see our own well-being overshadowed by another’s because the standard we use to see how well off we are is not the intrinsic worth of our own well-being but how it compares with that of others” (in Metaphysics of morals) – did you know this, eh? by John Faraclas
Over the last ten years – not to mention ever since 1967 with the introduction of Law 89, so that Greece could be on par with other shipping tax regimes, there is an escalation vis-à-vis the ethical accountability of Greece’s shipowners with respect of tax, and in particular all that silly journalism, backed by business and political hooligans on whether the Greek shipowner pays the analogy of tax he is “obliged” for.
Quite recently in our articles “Shipping Markets Growth Predictions and World Politics” and “Greek Shipping today” back in October and July 2011 respectively, we demonstrated very simply the unsolicited contribution of Greece’s shipowners – as well as that of seafarers, to their Fatherland and its inhabitants to all intents and purposes for over two hundred years and, had the last two Greek administrations – that of Pasok (Socialists) and New Democracy (Centre Right) really safeguarded the entire shipping industry, its capabilities and its stakeholders, the state of affairs in Greece could have been quite different and far better than it is now! The hints in the way “Greek Shipping Gets a Free Ride” – an article recently published and over circulated, sends out the wrong message and with all due respect doesn’t come from people they really know how shipping and in particular Greek shipping operates. But that again is immaterial; the importance for the world is to understand that the Greek Shipowner pays, at the end of the day, more tax than anybody else; the Greek shipowner irrespective of flag contributes directly to over a dozen countries’ wealth and earnings, and holding nearly 22 centum of the world fleet (as beneficial shipowner) immensely helps, directly too to the wealth of all nations in carrying safely to destination million of tons of all cargoes – I wouldn’t analyze it again, or hit back where it hurts, but I believe all those criticizing Greece’s Masters of the seven seas, they should know that they all have skeletons in their cupboard; fancy itemising them?
P.S. Wish you all read Aesops’ “sour grapes”… and M.I. Finley’s “The ancient economy”.
