Papandreou: A mere poker player, gambling with lives of billions

[GoodSarmatian]

I think people outside of Greece are not shocked that the talk about a referendum was just a political stunt because that's what they had hoped. They are relieved that the future of the Eurozone will not be determined by the whim of uninformed voters.

 

[Kyriakos]

I think people outside of Greece are not shocked that the talk about a referendum was just a political stunt because that's what they had hoped. They are relieved that the future of the Eurozone will not be determined by the whim of uninformed voters.

I agree. Especially those who were financially ruined this past week will be thinking exactly how smart a move it was to trick the public and the world so as to secretly attempt to save it.

 

[GinandTonic]

Yes, poor little multi-billionaire Papandreou, so misunderstood, defender of the Earth.

I dont give a monkies about him. In context I dont give a monkies about the whole of greece. I like greece. Had a greek gf. It's just the potential ramifications could (have) screwed the world.

 

[Winner]

A good question is whether a system in which a tiny country can have this sort of impact on lives of hundreds of millions of people all around the world is a fundamentally sound one...

 

[Veles]

What's Patriarch's reaction to this?

 

[Archbob]

He should have held his position and watched the world tremble in his presence.

 

[Kyriakos]

Found this cnn article:

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/11/03/world/europe/greece-voices/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

 

[RedRalph]

I think people outside of Greece are not shocked that the talk about a referendum was just a political stunt because that's what they had hoped. They are relieved that the future of the Eurozone will not be determined by the whim of uninformed voters.

Like the uninformed morons who elected Sarkozy and Merkel?

 

[RedRalph]

A good question is whether a system in which a tiny country can have this sort of impact on lives of hundreds of millions of people all around the world is a fundamentally sound one...

It very clearly isn't, so what do you propose?

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Like the uninformed morons who elected Sarkozy and Merkel?

I really don't like Sarkozy and Merkel, but they (or their advisers) have at least a vague idea of what they are doing.
Direct democracy is fine as long as the stakes aren't too high, and in this case they are.

 

[Archbob]

I really don't like Sarkozy and Merkel, but they (or their advisers) have at least a vague idea of what they are doing.
Direct democracy is fine as long as the stakes aren't too high, and in this case they are.

The issue is that if it only effected Greece, it would be fine, the people can vote themselves into oblivion if they want. But it effects the rest of the world a lot.

 

[Kyriakos]

Just read on Facebook what an old fellow pupil from highschool wrote, in english:

"Dear Europe, we don't need your money, thanks for offering, leaving the planet soon, the EL are coming"

Well, the "EL" are supposed to be (H)EL(LENES) from outer space.

Yeah, don't laugh. Maybe i will have time to explain the unique and pitiful sub-culture that existed here in the late 90s and early 00s...

Generally it meant to show (his comment) that we must be crazy, so as to have this state. And i tend to agree, sadly...

 

[RedRalph]

I really don't like Sarkozy and Merkel, but they (or their advisers) have at least a vague idea of what they are doing.
Direct democracy is fine as long as the stakes aren't too high, and in this case they are.

Yeah, great. And who, pray tell, decides when the stakes are too high for the people they affect to interfere?

 

[Yeekim]

He never wanted a referendum, as it now appears, he only wanted to play this trick so as to make the leader of the opposition look bad, to make him say he is in favor of the deal for Greece, and so to just win some political points with his miserable cronies.

What do you say about the opposition, which as I understood stated it was against the deal... until it appeared the deal might actually fail?

 

[GoodSarmatian]

Yeah, great. And who, pray tell, decides when the stakes are too high for the people they affect to interfere?

When it affects other countries than the one where the referendum is supposed to take place.
Also I personally don't trust 'the people' when it comes to complicated issues like european or international financial policy. There's a reason modern democracy doesn't work like in classical Athens and we delegate power to elected officials who make political decision as a full time job.

 

[Lillefix]

When it affects other countries than the one where the referendum is supposed to take place.
Also I personally don't trust 'the people' when it comes to complicated issues like european or international financial policy. There's a reason modern democracy doesn't work like in classical Athens and we delegate power to elected officials who make political decision as a full time job.

From interviews I've heard, it also seemed to me that many people didn't even want the responsibility.

 

[anandus]

A good question is whether a system in which a tiny country can have this sort of impact on lives of hundreds of millions of people all around the world is a fundamentally sound one...

How does the saying go? "Privatize the profits, socialize the losses"? (or were you referring to the euro?)

 

[IrishDragon]

Was Papandreou as unpopular before this? As I understand it was the New Democracy party that caused most of the damage in the last decade, how do they have any credibility left? How are the taken seriously enough to get 85 seats? I know some people will vote for one party no matter what, but still.

 

[RedRalph]

When it affects other countries than the one where the referendum is supposed to take place.

So why should the French and German electorate be allowed vote at all given how much more of an impact their elections have in the long-term? That affects me, the UK having a refendum or not on staying in the EU affects me, letting Poland in affected me, so exactly when should the population be consulted? Only when the politicians decide that the decision is minor enough for their input?

 

[Berzerker]

so this is just another bailout of western banks?