It is very hard to fathom Germany's reaction to Greece, as evidenced by its negotiating stance over the weekend.
It is as if the Germans have learned none of the lessons from Versailles in 1919.
Or the London Agreement on the waiver of its own debt in 1953.
It is as if the the whole European project had never existed, with its hope of ever closer union.
And as if the fight for democratic freedom that brought the Berlin Wall down in 1989 was for nothing.
For Germany has demanded that the will of the Greek people be entirely ignored.
And that its elected leaders be publicly humiliated.
In addition, the price for the Greeks accessing their own currency must be the abandonment of their fiscal sovereignty.
And Greece's assets must be transferred to a Luxembourg tax haven entity - always the chosen mechanism for undermining states.
It is, and I hate to say this, as if the lessons from annexing the Sudetenland have not been learned.
What is certain is that Angela Merkel has revived the concept of slavery in modern political economy: the price of debt is now to apparently be fiscal servitude without autonomy and that is slavery by any reasonable definition.
Which means that whatever Syriza might have done, right or wrong, there is nothing that will ever be recalled of its actions compared to the disgust that Germany's behaviour will provoke.
And that is especially true when for all practical purposes Tsipras has capitulated.
But still there is no pragmatism, let alone magnanimity and the offer of humanitarian assistance which is what Greece now so obviously needs.
What is most frightening of all about this is that it symbolises is the end of the age of enlightenment, of idealism, of democracy and of hope.
And all because the banker says that debt must be paid, come what may.
This is the era we now live in.
Unless we do something about it.
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Totally agree. Disgusting beyond belief
Also agree 100% with you Richard – I was appalled at the behaviour and attitude of not only Germany, but other countries in the EZ.
And the Brtish Treasury is doing the same thing to the devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland – if the Executive does not implement welfare reforms then the Treasury will take direct control of spending.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-politics-33492047
Agreed
I agree, butI wonder how much this is really the EU and not a small group of extremely meddlesome and pushy people (eg the IMF) acting on behalf of the bankers/super-rich. It seems completely at odds with the attitude shown here, for example:
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/29/uk-benefits-inadequate-council-of-europe
The Council of Europe has nothing to do with the EU
Sorry!
I thought it was an Institution of the EU. Council, Commission, Parliament and European Court.
Looks like I’ve mixed up two different European councils. Not good at all when a pessimist like me tries to be a little hopeful – and fails.
Keep hoping
Few words, but sage words.
It’s that big of a crisis.
This would be a great time to bring in the TTIP
and smash all hope of social democracy.