Incredible report out of Greece. For their Independence Day, most people are being excluded -- that's right, excluded! -- from the parade area for fear of anti-austerity rioting. Even the oranges growing on trees represent a threat:
Police, including hundreds in riot gear, cordonned off streets leading to the parade route, allowing only access to those with special invitation. Low-hanging fruit from bitter orange trees that line the city's pavements had been picked ahead of the march — apparently to prevent them from being thrown by protesters. The oranges, which are inedible except if made into jam, have become a favorite projectile during demonstrations. (AP, "Massive Security For Greek Independence Day Parade", 3/25/12)
So basically on the equivalent of their 4th of July, the center of the city is in lock-down and only people with invites can get in --plus oranges represent a physical threat that needs to be suppressed. I'd say on the scale of social disintegration, this is maybe a 90 or 100.
