‘Informed citizens’ of the Greek State…
The job of the government is to manage the State, not to substitute it. The State theoretically exists for the benefit of the nation and its citizens, regardless of which government is heading it. On the other hand, the outlook of Greeks is shaped by their social reality. Every government does whatever it pleases with the state machine, so, in that sense, the government is the State. Such reasoning could lead us to the conclusion that we are not voting for state governors but for the actual State which will govern us. And this shows what a poor insight (and low opinion) we have of what constitutes «informed citizens.» But because this expression brings to mind the detestable handbook imposed upon schoolchildren during the military dictatorship, it would be good if the teachings of Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau and Lenin could also be included in the school syllabus. An understanding of our national Constitution, and its history, would be equally beneficial, so that we may realize that we are entitled to a State that fulfils our needs as citizens. But, at present, the one sure thing is that we do not have a State. We do not have it because it is under occupation by civil servants, party cronies, «entangled» businessmen, acquaintances and friends who all believe that they have a permanent right to hold their position. We do not have it because nepotism holds sway over the law, contacts over merit…
