Gentlemen, gentlemen (or ladies, ladies), could we please get back to a discussion of the Greek elections? This is a great thread and we need to focus on the matter at hand.
your'e right. Just saw your post. I apologize.
The best thing for Greece is to leave the EU and wean itself off of Socialism.
I have read through the blog at the Guardian. It seems with the coalitions that will be needed to be formed, than the likelihood is nil for any real reforms that will "save" Greece.
Yes the American engineer and worker is highly resourceful and industrious and when focused (and unencumbered from a great war on her own shores) is capable of immense achievements. But we were not a superpower then. It was the economic collapse of much of the world following WW2 that allowed the 20th century concept of the superpower to emerge.
One can not simply dismiss government intervention wholesale, it was government intervention in the 1930’s that laid the groundwork for the US to prosper after the war. And it wasn’t until the late 70’s when this system began to be dismantled that we entered the bubble cycle we now find ourselves in. Each subsequent recession since then has been longer and worse than the one proceeding it while, concurrently, financial instruments have become more complex and government regulation weakened.
I’m for intelligent regulation written by qualified, competent professionals and equal balance between the influence of industry, government, and consumers in the enforcement and oversight of this regulation. Professionals must feel the pain that is caused by their criminal mismanagement of risk.
However, as livius just said, let’s suspend this 60 year old digression in favor of more topical issues.