Tosh5457 said:
Czibor, I can't export that data on Germany's balance of trade, but I think it's clear in the chart that in 2001 the up trend became significantly steeper.
Yes, but there were in the same time plenty of other structural reforms in Germany like agenda 2010 (2003) or Hartz reforms 2003-2005. But sure, in long run, euro prevented increased German competiveness to be just turned into stronger Deutsche Mark.
I think you're missing my point; I'm not arguing that Greece wasn't mismanaged before the crisis, nor blaming other countries for their failure, in fact I already said that in an earlier post, what I'm saying is that given the circunstances now, should we let the country fall apart along with its 11 million citizens because of past mistakes of the Greek elite? And In that case, how would that be different to have let Germany fall apart after WWII, since they were the ones starting the War that lead to millions of deaths (and coming from a party that got elected democratically)? Even if the Greeks should be punished for that, I think they've been punished enough already.
I know that speaking about guilt, sin, punishment and so on is trendy but its not my point. (In German "schuldig" means both "in debt" and "guilty" :D )
What's really the choice? The EU was able to force some troubled member countries to implement reforms by using some implicit threats. Prior Greek parties were not specially good, but at least pretended doing something. Greece under Syriza decided to say no. What's the EU choice:
a) accept "no" and let Greece drown
b) just throw lots of money on to the project
Let's think about consequences of "b":
-Greece would be left unreformed;
-Taxpayers in the North countries would be angry, some anti-EU reaction is possible not only in UK (my guess: ex. Finland);
-Voters in other South countries would decide to repeat Syriza success at home (after all - what for reform country if you just have to make a brawl in Brussels?)
Do you think that if Syriza approach would become more popular in the South, the EU would survive that?
"past mistakes of the Greek elite"?
But those were highly popular mistakes... And Greek society would like to repeat them if given a chance... They are mistakes only for us, outsiders...
If you're bringing here Germans after WW2... Big hopes of Germans changing policies (really not applicable here) and need to use them in geopolitical game (mostly not applicable here)...