Beware Greeks bearing grudges
OK, so the Greeks may have invented public debate but the grinding pace of the bailout talks takes things to extremes. No sooner had one set ended than the next seemed to kick off, with the goalposts moved again.
Of course, it's easy to blame the Greeks. Their finances are so slapdash they make Martha Stewart look like a model of fiscal rectitude. But they'd probably have gotten away with it too if it hadn't been for those meddling Germans who have this strange idea about European cooperation.
Basically it says: If your banks lent money to people who couldn't pay it back, that's your problem. And if our banks lent you the money to lend to the people who couldn't pay it back, that's your problem too.
The alternative for Greece of leaving the euro is rather like telling the passengers on a sinking ship they can either stay behind and drown with the rest of the crew, or take a lifeboat and get the hell out. Er, I think I'll have the lifeboats, please...
Unfortunately, instead of planning what to do if they're forced out of the EU (surely having a big party to celebrate is the right answer?), the Greeks have decided to simply riot in the streets again. As you do. As they do, anyway.
At this rate, the only people who'll be heading to Greece on holiday this summer are the Germans, and that's only because they'll get a special deal now they own it.
Though a word of advice to Hans and Helga: Don't ask what the waiters have been putting in the ouzo when your backs are turned.
Eilis O'Hanlon
- Eilis O'Hanlon
