The current issue with Greece and that country's inability to reel in their debts and pay their creditors is a lesson in entitlements and abuse.

        Greeks went to the polls on Sunday where more than 60 percent of them voted "no" on a referendum that was ambiguous to many voters.  It read: "Must the agreement plan submitted by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund to the Euro group of 25 June, 2015, and comprised of two parts which make up their joint proposal, be accepted? The first document is titled 'reforms for the completion of the current program and beyond' and the second 'Preliminary debt sustainability analysis.'"

        Many voters considered a "yes" vote as one to stay in the European Union and go under a nationwide belt-tightening to reduce the debt; a "no" vote, it was thought, would put Greek officials in a stronger position to seek a better deal to reduce its 320 billion euro national debt within the 19-nation "Eurozone" and/or make payments more acceptable to Greece.

        A quick look at reports on a few Greek entitlements, and the abuse by many, finds decades of widespread tax and pension fraud causing a loss of tens of billions of dollars.

        According to author James Angelos and his new book, "The Full Catastrophe: Travels Among the New Greek Ruins," almost 2 percent of the 680 residents of the Greek island of Zakynthos were registered as blind (a rate nine times higher than other European countries) and entitled to a $400 per month disability pension and other perks.  But, it seems that of the 680 residents registered as blind in 2011, about 500 weren't blind at all; more than 60 of them were actually driving around the island.  Those claiming to be blind included a taxi driver and a "bird hunter."

        Another fraud found 40,000 pensions were being paid to people who were dead!

        Greece has a population of 11 million yet only 5,000 admitted they earned more than $100,000 a year. 

        The government used satellite images available on the internet to find more than 19,000 property owners in a neighborhood full of lawyers, doctors and other professionals skirting a luxury tax on swimming pools by not claiming them on their tax returns.  Many of the well-heeled owners purchased camouflage-print tarps in an attempt to avoid future detection. 

        And there are many other large-scale cases of fraud in the birthplace of democracy.

        Yesterday, Greece made a request for a three-year loan from Europe's bailout fund.  Officials also pledged to implement tax and pension-related measures if they get the loan.

        Time will tell whether or not the other 18 countries in the Eurozone will agree to the aid package.  But one thing is for sure; austerity plans, and proof that they're working, will need to be in place in order for any deal to work.

        While the financial issues in Greece may not affect the United States on a large scale, government officials and financial thinkers should be pondering our own fiscal flaws and the way we dole out taxpayers' money.

        Promises of free college tuition, free health care and a multitude of other freebies spewing from the mouths of politicians will have to be paid for.  They may get the votes now with their pledges, but where will they get the money to pay for their promises?