3 ms·
It's really not easy to answer if it is the right thing or the wrong thing. I will try to enumerate a few key points while being as objective as possible. a) M
by therealunreal 11y ago
It's really not easy to answer if it is the right thing or the wrong thing. I will try to enumerate a few key points while being as objective as possible.
a) Most Greeks feel that they have been wronged or cheated. Their anger is usually against 1) other Greeks (i.e. public sector employees against freelancers for not paying taxes, or private sector employees against public for being lazy) 2) against Germany, for austerity, the WWII and the loans they haven't repaid 3) against large multinational interests, etc.
b) All (recent) governments, including this one (so far), have fallen victim to voting in policies that benefit special interests, large or small, instead of making a few basic reforms that are necessary. What is necessary and what is just is debatable, of course. It's a constant battle between different social groups, where everyone is right.
c) There are a lot more and deeper problems in Greece that I can't go into, that fuel an endless feeling of injustice. Things that are taken for granted in other European countries do not work like that over here. This is why some of the analogies made when criticizing Greeks are false.
Now, about the referendum. One side, the government, is saying that a "No" will give them more power to continue the negotiations and bring in a better agreement. They are trying to reduce the issue to democracy in the EU, national pride and independence. Other sides say that the government's proposal and troika's proposal are very similar and this is a false dilemma that only serves the ruling party's interests, and some vague Drachma lobby. The previous prime minister even went out and said that the deal offered by Troika is "unacceptable" (while the one they had made was better but they were forced out) but we have to accept it.
One important point I would like to make is that no one seems to know what either deal really says, but no one bothers to explain it to the people. The news only report the "bad" and everyone is spreading FUD.
I don't know what's best. I have an opinion but I'm afraid there are things in play that I do not understand. One thing I do know is that many of our youth want more Europe and less Greece, and a very large number have already left.