On corruption, EU leaders
We cannot trust Greece
I read with amazement and amusement the summation of a Dutch native about corruption in Greece. Apparently the impressions were conveyed through an article in a newspaper about Kolonaki.
No one can deny that we have corrupted politicians but we must agree this is not a unique Greek characteristic. Each and every country has its bad apples in positions of authority and at this point the general idea is that Greece is the one and only country that spent money it did not have for things it could not afford.
It was the US Wall Street wizards who assisted the PASOK government to cook the books and show that Greece was ready to enter the eurozone when it was evident that it was not the case.
It was German companies that bribed Greek politicians to sign on the dotted line and provided them with products and equipment that allowed the German factories to hum and the German laborers full employment, when they knew the Greeks could not afford to pay for the orders placed. It was not Greece alone. It was the developed world caught up in madness with no regard as to when or how or if the bills would ever be paid.
With regard to Holland, let us not forget that it was a colonial empire that acquired dominions and possessions throughout the world and sucked the life out of the wealth of its colonies. I am sure the residents of those colonies did not have many nice comments for their masters of the time. Holland may be a small country but it got wealthy through colonialism.
It is so easy to pick on Greece because it is a small country of almost 11 million people. Besides, if we keep the focus on Greece, the powers that be and the media can easily put their blinders on and can conveniently miss the powder kegs other more influential and populous countries are sitting on.
Monica Lane
EU leaders encourage Greece
To remain in their coveted EU leader, posts these people must always utter the accepted EU group-speak, which means desperately supporting the EU and the euro, and hence Greece. This is a good illustration to the ?democratic deficit? within the EU, as recent polls show that a large majority of Germans are against bailouts — and the same is undoubtedly true of other countries. So, these EU leaders are insisting on the ?agreed measures? being not only enacted, but also implemented — a novelty for the Greek political elite. Years of timidity as to the ?political cost? are reaping their reward, as the workers and unions know that they only have to say ?boo,? and the political will vanishes immediately — even if defiance only comes from university academics and students. Having regularly caved in to small groups, and over minor issues, in the past, the politicos are probably correct to be afraid this time, as the current issue is major, affecting nearly everyone — and caused solely by the past greed of the elites, with the help of much complacency from Brussels.
It will be very interesting to see what happens. My guess is another EU fudge, kicking the can far enough down the road for the ?leaders? to be safely retired by the time the mess hits the fan. In other words, exactly as happened when the euro was launched.
Robert Skailes
