The most intriguing one must be the effort by the embattled president of Greece - Papanderou to have his people vote upon his economic suggestions. These were supposedly to overcome the animosity of many public demonstrators who did not feel the restraints he was proposing were fair to them. He was stopped in his tracks by the attitude of his major European leader detractors. They felt that he had delayed serious decisions for too long, and that possibly the people would vote against their allegedly more intelligent views. Ultimately, he backed down, resigned, and a new man seems, at the moment, to have things under some better control.
However, what if it had gone to a vote (earlier)? Would the majority of Greek citizens have voted the "wrong" way? Well, Pat Carney, Canada's esteemed head banker, who just recently assumed a major position with the World bank indicated that a referendum would be a good idea - to get the Greek people onside. Unfortunately, democracy, if that means heeding the majority of peoples' views, has not spoken thus far re; the solving of Europe's huge debt problems. Will it be allowed to show its face there again? Keep tuned!
I agree. The Euro leaders (Sarkozy and Merkel) made it seem like a referendum by the Greek people would be a betrayal of Europe. Of course, if Greece wants foreign bailouts they will have to agree to foreign terms.
ReplyDeleteThe other disturbing thing that come out around that time was the comments by Germany that the UK should not have a refendum on further integration with the EU.