tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post1653449998971845253..comments2024-03-17T00:10:44.022+00:00Comments on From Arse To Elbow: Visions of EUDavid Timoneyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03568348438980023320noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-48029786741176039862015-07-03T11:34:28.127+01:002015-07-03T11:34:28.127+01:00The situation is fascinating in as much for the re...The situation is fascinating in as much for the reactions that it provokes and at times the utter disparity between reality and different people's view of reality, and the consequent ironies.<br /><br />For example, it would seem that Syriza at least initially believed that they could return the EU to its former progressive role, but has come up against the complete anti-democratic intransigence of the Troika. And yet, at the same time Syriza is probably offering the Troika the best way out of the crisis, but the latter is bent on rejecting them in favour of enforced acquiescence and regime-change.<br /><br />At the same time you have pundits like Behr who, sitting in their comfortable offices, still think even now that the benign fluffy EU still exists, even while confronted by "facts on the ground". Mason is always a much better read because, unlike most pundits, he is more in touch with the street and recognises the historical context and economic consequences.<br /><br />Almost beyond parody is the IMF, which is less schismatic than schizoid - with one wing issuing documents that the Troika's solution is fundamentally flawed, while the other wing is enforcing the Troika's conditions.<br /><br />The crisis has also revealed the fundamental anti-democratic nature of much of the EU - if that was in doubt after the imposition of a technocratic government on Italy.<br /><br />And how does this affect Cameron's EU campaign? Can he expect any "reforms", when the EU has showed such intransigence? How can he sell anything to the anti-EU Tories, who understand perfectly what is going on? At least in their own terms.<br />gastro georgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-47854428802295946862015-07-03T11:00:36.608+01:002015-07-03T11:00:36.608+01:00From your historical description it seems joining ...From your historical description it seems joining the euro was a terrible gamble for Greece. What did they believe at the time they were joining; a social democratic union or a project for coordinating supranational capital. Even if politically split nation joined a emergent conceptually split project, maybe all sides thought they could ride it out because there was just too much to lose for the elite to expel them. And the euro elite surely must know how much they stand to lose in crushing this rebellion, how much they've already lost by bringing on the rebellion in the first place. How much ruin do they think is in Europe before other bigger rebellions come?Hugo Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12705056750207255618noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5312853715123370916.post-17952810352647928952015-07-03T09:42:19.128+01:002015-07-03T09:42:19.128+01:00Excellent stuff, but you haven't cheered me up...Excellent stuff, but you haven't cheered me up much!Igor Belanovnoreply@blogger.com