Time to leave da Club
Mike-Frank Epitropoulos

Make no mistake about it and don’t be fooled:  what you see in Greece is a product of “free” market, austerity-driven, Right-wing politics.  The ideological battle over who and what are responsible for the economic and humanitarian crisis in Greece rages on, with the story of the bankers more prevalent in mainstream media, though skewed and incorrect.

The election of SYRIZA stirred the full range of emotions – hope, fear, and antipathy – throughout Europe and around the world.  An anti-austerity, radical Left party had scored a first-ever electoral victory in Greece, bolstering other such parties in the EU.  Since their election, however, SYRIZA has only continued to pay the Troika and gotten nothing of substance in return for all of their negotiating, angering enemies and friends alike.  Much analysis has been devoted to strategy and to the theory-praxis divide in terms of campaign promises versus true change in the daily lives of Greeks.

German finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble rails that SYRIZA has destroyed “the progress and the numbers” that the Troika-friendly New Democracy (ND)-PASOK coalition had posted.  The ECB continues to call for a “more competitive” Greece, even though wages and living standards in the country have been ravaged.  ND’s leader, Samaras, pleaded to submit to the creditors because, “There Is No Alternative” (TINA).  And, to add insult to injury, apologist opposition politicians of the previous government and beyond throw out the worn out slogan that, “you can’t spend your way into prosperity.”

The historical fact remains unblemished:  you can’t cut your way to prosperity!  The EU’s free-market ideologues openly lie when they argue that, “austerity is the road to economic health.”

We all know that Greek finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, seeks a reformist path aiming at restructuring the European currency union.  I’m afraid that this is a very unlikely outcome at this juncture.

Greece must get out of the Euro – default and reclaim its independence and autonomy.  The Troika will never allow a reform such as Varoufakis’ to materialize.  It is true that an exit and a default will entail negative consequences for Greece, first and foremost.  But, there is no discussion that the status quo constitutes violence and war against the Greek people.  The debt burden and dependence on loans continuously reduces living standards, consumer demand, and any semblance of democracy.  Greeks with marketable skills are leaving and illegal immigrants are flooding the shores with little help or solidarity from stronger EU partners.

The problem of Greece (and the PIIGS, and the EU) is a political problem, one that puts capital and profit over people.  The banks and the financial elite are openly being taken care of first, on the backs of the working and middle classes of Greece (and the entire EU).  What we are witnessing is a “shock doctrine” and an ideological and political project that disciplines labor and governments, while enriching the wealthy.

When Greek and other mainstream politicians openly argue that, “independence is overrated,” you know that democracy is severely compromised – or precisely what they fear.

And with the floodgates of illegal immigration bursting into Greece, Italy and other entry points to the EU, it only adds fuel to the raging fire.  These illegal immigrants – primarily emanating from countries that the US and the West are bombing around the world – are fleeing torturous situations but are also aggravating open wounds in Greece and southern Europe.

Greece will suffer either way, but an autonomous Greece can own its own country, rid itself of the burdensome Troika austerity, mitigate the negative effects of the EU asylum rules for illegal immigration (see Dublin II agreement), and start prioritizing its most needy citizens and self-determination.  Greece’s resources, tourism, agriculture and geopolitical importance guarantee that it won’t starve, though hard work and a more participatory society will be required.

If your friends in the EU and the West mistreat you – and you preach the “free market” – it’s time to deal with Russia, China and others independently.  Greece wouldn’t be the first – and guaranteed won’t be the last – country to raise a courageous and difficult flag of independence against debt peonage.

Everyone should know that if SYRIZA is allowed to fail, the neo-Nazi, Golden Dawn, will help shape the next government in Greece – and it will be easy to understand.  It’s time SYRIZA show some of the “radical” stripes that stirred excitement in Greece and fear and concern in capitalist financial circles.

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