The Greek government is being denounced by the National Confederation of Disabled People after it added pedophiles, exhibitionists, and kleptomaniacs to the list of disabled people entitled to state benefits. They have joined pyromaniacs, compulsive gamblers, fetishists and sadomasochists as persons entitled to ask for government assistance.

For example, a pyromaniac or pedophile is now entitled to disability pay up to 35 percent while a diabetic is entitled to only 10 percent disability. Presumably, a diabetic pedophile could received 45 percent disability, so it would be a curious benefit for diabetics to claim an interest in children or fires or both.

As Greece struggles with demands to reduce its bloated state funding, this is not a useful step. In Greece, one out of five workers is a state employee, a whooping 20 percent of the working population. The state is having to cut benefits for citizens. I am all in favor of paying for treatment for pedophiliacs and kleptomaniacs, but should it be treated as a disability? What do you think?