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My pet theory is that Tsipras is pretty much a communist-lite (Greece is very far to the left politically) and is pivoting to move to state controlled most thin
by drzaiusapelord 11y ago
My pet theory is that Tsipras is pretty much a communist-lite (Greece is very far to the left politically) and is pivoting to move to state controlled most things/everything under the guise of 'socialism' and 'fighting the evil Germans/Brits/French who steal our money.' I can't see his rhetoric making any sense outside of an extremist power grab. He could be bankrolled by Russian and Chinese interests (both autocracies he looks up to - he has made several secretive visits to Moscow), sell off Greek lands to pay for bills, and pretty much become Cuba. Perhaps even exit NATO as Russia and China pressure him. The funny thing most Greeks would be on board with this.
Or maybe he's crazy like a fox and was courting Russia and China to counter the EU as gambler brinkmanship, but if that was true, there would be a deal by now, not a referendum that will, most likely, remove Greece from the EU.
As a Greek-American I'm always shocked at how extremist the people are there when I visit. They're not like Germans who take something of a middle of the road approach, at least by Euro standards. They're an entirely different beast and I think other EU members are only starting to notice. The EU taking on Greece is like the US making Cuba the 51st state. The culture and governmental divides are huge. It was a bad idea from the start.
I suspect Greece is lost to the EU and somewhat to the West for quite some time. Greeks are prideful people and "OXI" is ingrained into their culture, good or bad.
- glesica 11y ago> The funny thing most Greeks would be on board with this. gasp We can't possibly allow a country to do something we don't agree with just because the people want it! That would be undemocratic!
- drzaiusapelord 11y agoNo one is deploying troops. Everyone is letting the Greeks do it. As a Greek landholder its bothersome as I'd rather not see my family's lands be given to nouveau riche Chinese for a pension check to 54 year old retirees spending all day at the caffenio, drinking frappes, and collecting pensions for the next 25+ years after barely working 30. Hopefully, it won't reach that level, but socialization of further industry (Greece's #1 employer is the government) is probably inevitable considering the politics and economic situation.
- cgio 11y agoTypical entitled behaviour. Are you one of the migrant landowners that got their land as a present from the government? Maybe went to a Greek school in the states with teachers paid by the Greek government? I am in Australia and honestly I have not seen people as critical of the Greeks as Greek immigrants. I hope you settle your issues and learn to love a country that always loved its migrants. Good luck.
- drzaiusapelord 11y agoThat land has been in my family for 100+ years, please take whatever weird issues you have with Greece to someone appropriate to yell at.
- saryant 11y agoThose visits to Moscow were in fact so secretive that the BBC covered them! http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32214140 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32214140
- drzaiusapelord 11y agoThey're public but the agenda isn't. We don't know what deal he and Putin are striking here and how that affects the Greek people. Yet Tsipras is happy to air any EU dirty laundry, but his dealings with the man waging war on Europe and murdering Ukrainian civilians? Total obedience and a commitment to secrecy.
- hessenwolf 11y agoYou'd be mad not to at least be seen to negotiate with Russia though, at least to make your own hand look stronger.
- drzaiusapelord 11y agoPutin is slaughtering European civilians wholesale and has racked up thousands of dead in Ukraine and is under EU sanctions for it. Any deal with him under the guise of 'saving Europe' is tasteless at best, and treasonous at worst. Not to mention, he doesn't have this kind of money. Greece is 300+bn euros in the hole as of today. Russia's economy is shrinking at 2-4% per quarter right now and burning through its reserve trying to keep things running.
- Mikeb85 11y ago> Russia's economy is shrinking at 2-4% per quarter right now and burning through its reserve trying to keep things running. Nice try. Have you seen their GDP numbers? Their worst quarter was just over 1% contraction, their GDP is around 2% off their all-time high. http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/gdp http://www.tradingeconomics.com/russia/gdp
- selimthegrim 11y agoSo like Avrakotos, are you of the opinion the Colonels were the best thing since sliced bread?