Der Spiegel: Papandreou Is Right to Let the Greeks Decide

[marmar]

Europe is stunned. The Greek prime minister wants to allow the people to vote on the euro rescue plan for their country. Georgios Papandreou is putting all his eggs in one basket -- but he has made the right decision.

It must be said right at the beginning: The Greeks will, for a change, decide for themselves how they and their country will move forward.

They have had no real opportunity to do so for quite some time. For about a year and a half, this once proud country has been under foreign administration; it is de facto no longer a sovereign state. The government's most important task has been dragging the austerity programs and structural reforms though parliament and implementing them. These are dictated by the strict troika of the EU Commission, the European Central Bank (ECB) and the International Monetary Fund. Otherwise there will be no more bailout money, and the country would go bankrupt.

To no longer be the master of their own finances, to be begging for money and ready to do almost anything for it -- this is as humiliating for penniless states as it is for poor people. It injures the soul, stirs up anger and creates desperation. Knowing that the situation is also largely self-inflicted only makes things worse. .............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,795297,00.html

[Poll_Blind]

1. Hell yeah he is. nt

PB

[Poll_Blind]

2. Oooh, and the gloved hand of the anonymous UnRec strikes. nt

PB

[girl gone mad]

3. Good to see that people are moving beyond denial.

Papandreou understands that the Greeks will never accept foreign bank fiefdom over their assets, property, labor and livelihood.

[onethatcares]

4. I think he has too.

just because my heart tells me it's the right decision.

I picture the IMF and World Bank as being BoA and Citigroup on steroids.

[Prometheus Bound]

5. I think he is too, but I can't wait to see the referendum question.