Unlike the last time they went to the polls, the fate of the world may not be decided by the Greek electorate on January 25th. The German banks that were repaid by the troika - IMF, European Central Bank, European Commission - that bailed out Greece two years ago are liquid again; since they have gotten their money Germany apparently does not fear a Greek exit from the eurozone if Syriza wins.
Though the leader of that party, Kosta Tsipras, is a loon a vote for Syriza does have some good points, mainly as a vote in opposition to the austerity measures forced on Greece and other eurozone nations like Spain, Ireland and Italy. It's striking to see Europe cling to austerity; their economies are so weak that Greece - GREECE - was one of only 3 eurozone nations that saw economic growth in 2014.
Contrast that with the U.S., where President Obama - with robust Democratic majorities in the House and Senate - went in the other direction and passed a stimulus bill in 2009 that kept our economy above water and paved the way for a robust recovery that is still picking up steam. Republicans wanted to push cuts in spending and emulate the European elites they supposedly despise.
But the German banks were repaid so that's all that matters to the EU.
Also unlike the last elections in 2012, eurozone leaders do not seem that alarmed about Greece possibly leaving the common currency. Again, their banks have recovered so Greece, which is only 2 percent of the European economy, is back to being a blip on the radar screen.
But having an EU nation drop their common currency seems awfully cynical, politically. The economic union of Europe was supposed to herald a era of continental cooperation and integration. Has the EU stopped aspiring to those lofty political and cultural goals? Seems like it.
While I would love to see an anti-austerity party win the Greek elections, and see an anti-austerity movement pick up steam in Europe, I can't get behind Syriza. It's ironic that they are somewhat anti-American - Syriza has threatened to kick the U.S. Navy out of Crete, opposes sanctions against Putin, etc. - when what Greece really needs is to emulate the U.S. and become a meritocracy, embrace immigrants (which Greece USED to do), and convince the E.U. - from the inside, instead of dropping out of the eurozone - to try an Obama-style stimulus instead of austerity.
Though the leader of that party, Kosta Tsipras, is a loon a vote for Syriza does have some good points, mainly as a vote in opposition to the austerity measures forced on Greece and other eurozone nations like Spain, Ireland and Italy. It's striking to see Europe cling to austerity; their economies are so weak that Greece - GREECE - was one of only 3 eurozone nations that saw economic growth in 2014.
Contrast that with the U.S., where President Obama - with robust Democratic majorities in the House and Senate - went in the other direction and passed a stimulus bill in 2009 that kept our economy above water and paved the way for a robust recovery that is still picking up steam. Republicans wanted to push cuts in spending and emulate the European elites they supposedly despise.
But the German banks were repaid so that's all that matters to the EU.
Also unlike the last elections in 2012, eurozone leaders do not seem that alarmed about Greece possibly leaving the common currency. Again, their banks have recovered so Greece, which is only 2 percent of the European economy, is back to being a blip on the radar screen.
But having an EU nation drop their common currency seems awfully cynical, politically. The economic union of Europe was supposed to herald a era of continental cooperation and integration. Has the EU stopped aspiring to those lofty political and cultural goals? Seems like it.
While I would love to see an anti-austerity party win the Greek elections, and see an anti-austerity movement pick up steam in Europe, I can't get behind Syriza. It's ironic that they are somewhat anti-American - Syriza has threatened to kick the U.S. Navy out of Crete, opposes sanctions against Putin, etc. - when what Greece really needs is to emulate the U.S. and become a meritocracy, embrace immigrants (which Greece USED to do), and convince the E.U. - from the inside, instead of dropping out of the eurozone - to try an Obama-style stimulus instead of austerity.
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