Reply #3: Whoever thought up the idea that if a country is drowning in debt

[fasttense]

give them more...debt? That is exactly what austerity and these supposed bailouts to Greece are all about. Greece is being loaned money (creating more debt for Greece) to pay the interest on its current debt.

In exchange for more debt, Greece is taking money away from its poor, its elderly, its sick, its children and its uneducated. It's selling off its assets and laying off more people. It all creates an even worse economy, causing fewer revenue collections because fewer people are working.

Instead of saying. I'm sorry, I can't pay up, I'm declaring bankruptcy, too bad. They are taking on more debt and making sure their economy continues to decline. Donald Trump renegotiates loans all the time. Most uselessly wealthy people and corporations do it frequently.

Why don't they simply renegotiate their illegally (corrupt politicians were hiding the debt - with some help from the bankers) obtained loans? Why doesn't Greece merely pay back what little it can, renegotiate the payments and get on with improving their economy just like most of the idle rich do?