Text 8084, 80 rader
Skriven 2013-04-17 05:07:07 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
   Kommentar till text 8080 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
Ärende: In what order will they crumble?
========================================
Hello Ward,

 LL>> He does admit to having had no choice but to reign in the
 LL>> cost of some of Greece's programs, given the cost was getting a tad
 LL>> bit out of hand.  But it was a problem that Greece could fix on its
 LL>> own, without help from the EU, according to him.

WD>Then the question is why he didn't do it.

He did, or was working on it, but unfortunately was not unable
to complete the job due to having been thrown out of office.

WD>The PASOK historically is corrupt, Papandreou (I hope you're talking
WD>about George and not his father, also a former Greek PM) was corrupt,
WD>his whole government and the governments before that were corrupt.

As prime minister, George Papendreou had a duty and an obligation
to clean up the previous government's mess.  Unfortunately, he did
not have time to complete the job.

WD>The PASOK figured that the country's economy would skyrocket
WD>again after the 2008 Olympics which blew even a bigger hole in
WD>the finances.

But Greece got the glory it wanted.

 WD>> Greece historically has always lived of the spoils of war.

 LL>> All great countries and empires have done so, especially the USA.

WD>All empires also have crashed under their own weight. Prepare for
WD>an uncomfortable landing.

I'm not sure if the USA qualifies as an empire.  Iran does, as Iran
encompasses many different cultures.  However, the USA is more of
a melting pot of different races and ethnicities rather than a land
of different cultures.  Most empires tend to collapse under their
own weight, dividing into many different parts.  I do not see the
USA following that path (although it could happen).

 LL>> or go fight a war for the emperor/king/dictator.  Worked for the Romans,
 LL>> worked for the Greeks, worked for soldiers of all nations.  We do the
 LL>> same today, only instead of "new slaves" it is economic bondage.

WD>"We" do not fight futile wars ...

European countries are more mature, having had more experience with
war.  The USA is still a babe in the woods.  The fact of the matter is,
the USA does not fight wars very well.  We might be big and powerful,
but how much good does that do when it changes no one?  We went to
Vietnam and tried to change its people.  Then we left, the Vietnamese
people remaining in Vietnam, doing things in their own way.  We went to
Iraq and tried to change its people.  Then we left, the Iraqi people
remaining in Iraq, doing things their own way.  No matter how long
we stay, we will leave, the people remaining in their place doing
things their own way.

Yes, it is futile to fight wars.  It is even more futile to try
to change a people to be somebody they are not.

 LL>> The man is a socialist.  A very proud socialist.

WD>A corrupt socialist.

Ferdinand Marcos was viewed by his critics as being corrupt.
But to his people in Ilocos Norte, he was a hero who could do
no wrong.  The same thing with George Papendreou.  His critics
viewed him as being corrupt, his followers viewed him as being
a hero.  It all depends on one's point of view.

WD>I've personally known Yannis Paleokrassas, EC Commissioner for
WD>environment, and he had interestying things to say about the Greek
WD>style of governing a country.

I'm sure he did.  But he was never the prime minister of Greece.

--Lee

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