Need for shock therapy?
Patients who are seriously ill often convince themselves that everything will turn out well and they will get better. These days, it appears that a similar belief is held about the country by its politicians and citizens. Greece is in debt; it suffers from accumulated structural problems; its health care system is on the point of collapse; its tertiary education system is outdated; it suffers from low competitiveness and it is entering a profound economic crisis. Yet the country’s politicians, under pressure from and in collusion with the mass media, limit their reaction to grandstanding for the sake of their image in the public eye. Who will muster the nerve to tell this country’s citizens the truth, that the Greek state is at serious risk of being unable to borrow money from the international market at reasonable interest rates? Who will explain to the people that the country’s sizeable debt will lead to the further deterioration of universities and hospitals? There are many who for years have been saying that what Greece needs is a sharp shock to bring the country to its senses. And, if we continue to harbor the delusion that everything will be alright, we may just get this shock.
