Why Europe Needs to Save Greece

"Its entrenched political and economic networks are deeply corrupt." -
"The Greeks, it can be argued, have not earned the right to be saved." -

Geez! If I had written these lines I'd surely have been suspended again! LOL!

"And yet a Greek exit from the euro is not the best option for either Greece or for the European Union. Whether or not the Greeks are deserving of assistance, it is in Europe’s interest to help them." -

It is clear, and the writer of this article agrees, the Greek government regardless of pure structure, is rooted in corruption. Structure alone (Democracy, Dictatorship, etc.) is not truly defined in absence of how the participants actually play their roles.

The core problem is that there is no abatement of the corruption, and no willingness in their democratic process to change this. Therefore, as the saying goes, we cannot help others that will not help themselves. Period. So, why is it in Europe's interests to continue to try and help them, if they cannot be helped, because they will not help themselves?

The intelligent thing to do is to let them go and fall down and suffer. Perhaps then there will develop a greater willingness to address the core issue of time rooted corruption, and bring about an abatement of it thru law and enforcement. It has always be the way of democratic nations to reach out and help - sometimes covertly - those that exhibit by both word and deed their aspiration for a true democracy. And so it can be done with Greece,........later, when words match deeds.

To do otherwise is to simply throw good money after bad. That is unadulterated stupidity.

This guys is blaming the Ottoman Turks for Greece being dysfunctional? Seriously?

In plain English, what did you really want to say?

To not exclude Greece because it would be hard for them to recover surely can't be the reason we have to continue working with them and their "culture of dependence"?

This guy was the best Swedish finance minister we've ever had and he wasn't blaming any Turks. Just giving you a basic history lesson explaining how they've become what we're seeing today

Anyone read Boomerang, by Michael Lewis? It does a really good job of bringing to light the corruption in Greece in the context of the current financial issues. It's very funny as well. Greece has huge problems with culturally embedded tax evasion. Everyone has been avoiding tax so long no-one wants to be the first to have to pay it. There is a huge sense of entitlement apparently.

why dont greece sell 1 of its islands off to the EU then it will be able to pay off its debts and then every time it cant pay the EU back just sell another island.........

Borg talked about the deficit but didn't talk about the terrible reform program which made the deficit bigger and bigger.

Making people unemployed doesn't improve tax revenue.

They can't afford to buy even one island but i agree with mima LET GREECE OUT.

Make Greece a favour and dont save any more

Yeah, Greece has problems with "culturally embedded tax evasion" but in places like Australia it's all fine and dandy, right? If I were Greek, I would absolutely try my damndest not to pay tax to venal and corrupt politicians in order that they may pay off, indeed bail out, venal and corrupt foreign banks. It's this sort of peaceful non-compliance which can change world orders.

Some letters from today's AU newspapers.
http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/more-australians-support-an-increase-in-the-gst-20150412-1mje7u.html
The Australian Taxation Office's submission to the inquiry into corporate tax avoidance shows that in 2012-13 $388.4 billion – more than half of Australia's trade – is money sent offshore by companies to their overseas arms.

Then how about getting the corporate sector to actually pay some tax? Glencore, $13 BILLION clear profit, ZERO tax paid. Before I listen to what this this Swedish quisling has to say, I'd like to listen to what an Icelander has to say, especially on how they jailed their crooked politicians and banksters.

This bloke won't mention how the troika policies reduced the Greek GDP by over 25% thus increasing its GDP to debt ratio as well as destroying its economy and ability to pay.

May I suggest to Greece to jail the troika once they set foot in Greece if for no other reason than what I mentioned above? I detest incompetence and arrogance and they have it in spades.

100% agree

"The fundamental problem underlying Greece’s economic crisis is a Greek problem: the country’s deep-rooted unwillingness to modernize."

Remember this quote?
"Give me control of a nation's money and I care not who makes the laws.“
— Mayer Amschel Rothschild

Greece's fundamental problem is that it joined the European Union and gave up its sovereignty by adopting the Euro. As I recall, the Euro was proposed to provide stability for Europe. It is evident that it has done just the opposite. What Greece needs are jobs for its citizens. Instead Greece is stuck in a prison of debt controlled by European central bankers.

Happy Trades

one way or another, greece will be saved

Greek corruption is the root of the problem and we have seen the govt's inability dealing with the "Lagarde List" a coupe of years ago. EU could save Greece economically out of political reason, only for the short term, but it simply cannot the cure the problem. It will repeat again and again.