tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823502262667106874.post8494068276730850362..comments2017-11-03T18:22:24.042+00:00Comments on Author - Chris Grey: Greek tragedyChris Greyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02998257504878295964noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823502262667106874.post-72316331836223700012015-08-30T15:48:59.077+01:002015-08-30T15:48:59.077+01:00Although I'm grateful for your comment, I do w...Although I'm grateful for your comment, I do wonder if you read the post, because nowhere does it say or imply "capitalism=bad, Greeks=good". To be honest, it seems that in your desire to lambast 'predictable and naïve leftism' you have just created a strawman, reducing an argument to an absurdity that - surprise, surprise - you dismiss as absurd.Chris Greyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02998257504878295964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823502262667106874.post-81152093265911825962015-07-26T22:35:50.953+01:002015-07-26T22:35:50.953+01:00The leftist commentary on Greece has been depressi...The leftist commentary on Greece has been depressingly predictable and naive. 'Capitalism = bad; Greeks = good' is the general thrust repeated in this article.<br /><br />1. The absolution of blame of both the Greek people and Syriza defies even a cursory glance at the evidence on public sector jobs, tax avoidance, endemic corruption, and bad politics.<br /><br />2. The recommended write-off is not only naive, but also has no democratic mandate from the creditor countries, and would prompt Syriza equivalents in the other PI(G)S.<br /><br />3. Greece is a result of bad politics leading bad economics rather than the other way around. Just because debt is involved does not mean the cause is neoliberalism ! Much more to blame are the integrationist politics of Germany and France (that until very recently the left was so keen on supporting).<br /><br />None of this comment is to defend the mistakes by Germany et al., but simply to say that to be taken seriously, leftist critique should acknowledge that the answer isn't as simple as capitalism = bad & poor = good.<br />doctor baloneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15747972647646143484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8823502262667106874.post-48528669020012923882015-07-26T09:15:35.815+01:002015-07-26T09:15:35.815+01:00Thank you Chris. this is a remarkably clear-headed...Thank you Chris. this is a remarkably clear-headed and well-argued account in the midst of oceans of drivel being written on the topic. I attended EGOS, visited bothe Yes and No rallies on the Saturday (the OXI rally infinitely bigger and better orgnized) debated long and hard with my conscience, forst on whether to vote and then what to vote, and eventually voted. I got what I voted for but on far worse terms. No more is needed. The tragedy continues. It seems that when we think we have hit rock bottom, we find that there are still lower depths to be reached.Yiannis Gabrielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14836145555660662359noreply@blogger.com