Summary Box: Rise of far right in Greece

ATHENS, Greece (AP) -- Reeling from a vicious financial crisis that has cost them pensions and jobs, Greeks have been turning away in droves from the mainstream politicians they feel have let them down. Another political force is trying to tap the void, with blunt promises to "clean up" the country....

By Peter Boone and Simon Johnson The Europeans announced Sunday they would provide 30 billion euros of assistance to Greece, amid informed rumors that the IMF will offer another 10-15 billion.  With a total of say 40-45 billion euros in the bag – more than the market was expecting — the Greeks have time to make changes. 

Over two years ago (and reiterated last year) Zero Hedge first wrote on what was and is an undisputed transition within the US labor force: a shift from full-time to temp, or part-time labor, with virtually no contractual or welfare benefits, and where workers are lucky to get minimum wage.

If there’s one intellectual position that seems vindicated by today’s public sector strikes, it is that of Alasdair MacIntyre:

The Economist advocates a rise in the pension age, on the grounds that we are living longer. But I’m not sure this is a problem.Let’s start from a basic fact. Whatever pension system we have - public or private, funded or unfunded - pensions must be paid by existing workers. This is because only these generate the real resources that must be handed over to non-workers.

AP - JOBS RISE IN SOME SECTORS: Manufacturing, retailers and hotels and restaurants all posted more job openings in February than the previous month, according to a government report Tuesday. The data echoes last week's jobs report, which showed more hiring in a range of industries, though the unemployment rate remained stuck at 9.7 percent.

The Times and Telegraph report that public sector workers could lose huge amounts of pension rights if their jobs are transferred to the private sector. Three quick points: