Is Greece a preview of Our Future?

[Dave Stratman]

Re: Is Greece a preview of Our Future?

You imply that socialist governments in Europe are the reason for deficits and economic chaos now in Europe, especially unrest now occurring in Greece. So, you imply that America with its forty years of Republican Party rule in Washington, D.C. (from 1968-2008) would be prosperous and deflationary, with budget surplusses thanks to supply-side economics..... But nothing could be further from the truth: America is now drowning in red ink, thanks to the failure of supply-side economics and the unwillingness of the Republican Party leaders to break with supply-side economics orthodoxy. The Republicans have refused to raise taxes and, simultaneously, cut spending in order to pay-down deficits....The bottom-line is that the unrest now in Europe may spread to America next.

This is a great reply, Starving Steve, to the notion that if only they hadn't voted Socialist, there'd be no problem in Greece or other Euro countries. What Greece and America have in common is that 1) they are both oligarchies, run by and for a relatively small circle of wealthy people at the head of banking and corporate institutions; and 2) they have intentionally run up huge deficits, not merely for the sake of enriching themselves, but for the sake of social control. They have created crises which they will now use to justify ever greater power for themselves and ever greater sacrifice for the people; and 3) the people themselves will be blamed for the mess.

[Starving Steve]

Re: Is Greece a preview of Our Future?

I don't think that's what Frazzi was saying, but I could be wrong since he is part of the financial industry and might well be deluded enough to think he's also doing "god's work".

The message I took from him was that when a nation votes into office politicians who espouse a "Nanny State" they can expect huge amounts of deficit spending, increasing regulation in every part of their lives and a stagnant or declining standard of living. None of this is good for a nation's work ethic or the retention of equity in such a society.

I agree with you that we need a rebellion against the FIRE interests that presently own the government of the United States.
But we're not going to see it by electing RepubliCrats, with the possible exception of Ron Paul or a younger version of him.

May I remind everyone here reading this that under the NDP government headed by Premier, Alan Blakeney in the 1970s, Saskatchewan ran a provincial surplus. May I point-out that Alan Blakeney was a socialist, and the NDP was (and still is) Canada's social-democratic party. May I also point-out that Saskatchewan had the best (most thorough and most available) socialized medicine for its people as well as the best (most available and affordable) public education programmes for its people. Saskatchewan had assistance programmes for small farms, land banks for its cities, the best city planning, the most affordable housing and land in Canada, the best public highway network in Canada, not to mention: public works programmes and assistance programmes for resource development.... Isn't it interesting how this success story in Saskatchewan has been smothered in the media, especially in the United States!

[Rajiv]

Re: Is Greece a preview of Our Future?

George Carlin expressed your sentiment very well