New Greek elections

[Britanno]

Austerity can work if it's done in the right way. Greece's government has simply taken it up the arse from the EU and decided to just cut the shite out of spending.

[Liberty and Linguistics]

Austerity can work if it's done in the right way. Greece's government has simply taken it up the arse from the EU and decided to just cut the shite out of spending.

How can austerity be done properly? I'm curious to hear your opinion, since it appears that the UK, Ireland, Germany, and a few other states have gotten out of the recession with austerity. Erstwhile, the Southern European countries have tried austerity, and it's failed miserably. My hypothesis is simply that because the financial recession hit the Southern European countries so hard, perhaps there is no silver-bullet solution to their problems.

[Martean]

20,000 people today in Syriza's mitin, with leaders like Pablo Iglesias and Cayo Lara. I think Syriza will definetely win the elections.

[Unholy Byzantium]

SYRIZA cannot deliver on its promises nor do I foresee it having the will, once elected, to stand up to the Merkelreich.

A better choice will be from the right. Perhaps ANEL or Golden Dawn.

[Liberty and Linguistics]

SYRIZA cannot deliver on its promises nor do I foresee it having the will, once elected, to stand up to the Merkelreich.

A better choice will be from the right. Perhaps ANEL or Golden Dawn.

Ah, so you're fine with Neo-Nazism? And, you're also fine with ridiculously stupid conspiracy theories?

[Chestaan]

Austerity can work if it's done in the right way. Greece's government has simply taken it up the arse from the EU and decided to just cut the shite out of spending.

How can austerity be done properly? I'm curious to hear your opinion, since it appears that the UK, Ireland, Germany, and a few other states have gotten out of the recession with austerity. Erstwhile, the Southern European countries have tried austerity, and it's failed miserably. My hypothesis is simply that because the financial recession hit the Southern European countries so hard, perhaps there is no silver-bullet solution to their problems.

I would argue that the countries you mentioned got out of recession despite austerity rather than because of it. UK also had stimulated the economy in the early part of the recession through fiscal and monetary measures which helped them avoid the worst.

[Unholy Byzantium]

SYRIZA cannot deliver on its promises nor do I foresee it having the will, once elected, to stand up to the Merkelreich.

A better choice will be from the right. Perhaps ANEL or Golden Dawn.

Ah, so you're fine with Neo-Nazism? And, you're also fine with ridiculously stupid conspiracy theories?

Look at the poll on the first page. Even in NS the Golden Dawn does better than any of the 'mainstream parties'

And no I don't like Neo Nazis, but I also recognize that this term is thrown around far more often than reflects reality. It is used to discredit nationalist opposition to an unpopular status quo.

Calling Greek Nationalists Nazis is an insult to those who suffered from actual Nazis.

[Liberty and Linguistics]

Ah, so you're fine with Neo-Nazism? And, you're also fine with ridiculously stupid conspiracy theories?

Look at the poll on the first page. Even in NS the Golden Dawn does better than any of the 'mainstream parties'

And no I don't like Neo Nazis, but I also recognize that this term is thrown around far more often than reflects reality. It is used to discredit nationalist opposition to an unpopular status quo.

Calling Greek Nationalists Nazis is an insult to those who suffered from actual Nazis.

No, it's really not, since they're literally an openly nazi party.

[Slakonian]

Maybe the junta should come back?..... anyhow to see how stupid this whole situation is we got ourselves in first place is that we do NOT vote our own president which we should because they are like elected monarchs by the Parliament. As Lazopoulos said: Βασιλιά δεν είχαμε, αλλά Βασιλιά έχουμε, which means " We didn't had a king(since the 1970's) but we still have a King...

[Martean]

Maybe the junta should come back?..... anyhow to see how stupid this whole situation is we got ourselves in first place is that we do NOT vote our own president which we should because they are like elected monarchs by the Parliament. As Lazopoulos said: Βασιλιά δεν είχαμε, αλλά Βασιλιά έχουμε, which means " We didn't had a king(since the 1970's) but we still have a King...

So the solution for the lack of democracy is... directly abolishing democracy

Golden Dawn's Logic

[Baltenstein]

Maybe the junta should come back?..... anyhow to see how stupid this whole situation is we got ourselves in first place is that we do NOT vote our own president which we should because they are like elected monarchs by the Parliament. As Lazopoulos said: Βασιλιά δεν είχαμε, αλλά Βασιλιά έχουμε, which means " We didn't had a king(since the 1970's) but we still have a King...

Who cares if the powerless figurehead at the top is called president or king? It's not like he is doing much else than visiting other countries and shaking hands.

[Washington Resistance Army]

Maybe the junta should come back?..... anyhow to see how stupid this whole situation is we got ourselves in first place is that we do NOT vote our own president which we should because they are like elected monarchs by the Parliament. As Lazopoulos said: Βασιλιά δεν είχαμε, αλλά Βασιλιά έχουμε, which means " We didn't had a king(since the 1970's) but we still have a King...

Bring back Rome 2015.

[Shofercia]

Greece leaving the Eurozone is not on Syriza's agenda.

Huh?

That would be another reason why we as Europe need a common defence policy of our own, and common procurements. We could have a better defence for less money (standardisation goes a long way), and we really can't allow to blast so much of our money on defence.

That would work. Then you guys could tell US/Russia to take a pause for the cause in Ukraine and hold elections, like the Scottish Referendum. Do the same with Moldova, admit that North Kosovo is Serbia, take down Thaci and Co for corruption, and actually have a peaceful Europe. And then you invite Russia back in, after letting the Russians run the Kavkaz. But you guys are too weak to do that as is, so...

Guardian did another piece on the four most important parties and their positions in Greece right now:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/j ... s-policies

The photos are just...

SYRIZA: We strong! We prevail!
New Democracy: Corruption? There's no corruption *hides billions* I'm so confused!
Golden Dawn: Eat all immigrants! Yarrr!
To Potami: There's a plan. We don't know what it is, but we're following it!

Which in turn, can increase the debt and deficit.

Austerity won't increase debt because it means running balanced or surplus budget.

Greetings from Sunny California. How're you going to run a surplus with ever shrinking tax revenues? We rejected austerity outright. As a result, our economy grew.

[Baltenstein]

20,000 people today in Syriza's mitin, with leaders like Pablo Iglesias and Cayo Lara. I think Syriza will definetely win the elections.

Where you also at the Syriza gathering last night? Or was it some other Republican Spaniards?

[Pooria]

why are the spaniards so interested on the greeck elections?

[Greed and Death]

Golden dawn will win because Putin has promised cheap oil and a grant that will help Greece leave the Euro if they win.

[Chestaan]

why are the spaniards so interested on the greeck elections?

Because their economy is also in the shitter. Syriza are trying to get debt write downs and if Greece gets a write down then Spain may also get one.

[Liberty and Linguistics]

why are the spaniards so interested on the greeck elections?

Likely because their economic situation is almost as shitty as Greece's. Plus, there has been a surge in support for a broad tent anti-establishment party in Greece, and the same is happening in Spain. Greece has SYRIZA, Spain has Podemos.

[Martean]

20,000 people today in Syriza's mitin, with leaders like Pablo Iglesias and Cayo Lara. I think Syriza will definetely win the elections.

Where you also at the Syriza gathering last night? Or was it some other Republican Spaniards?

I saw it today in the News, there were lots of representatives of the Spanish Left, like Ada Colau, who will present herself as mayor of Barcelona under the 'Ganemos' (Let's win) platform, supported by Podemos. There were also prominent leaders such as Iglesias (that even went there and said 3 phrases in Greek, lulz) and people were singing '¡Syriza-podemos, venceremos!'' and the leader of the communist-dominated United Left, that, unlike the KKE, is willing to form a coalition government with Podemos.

why are the spaniards so interested on the greeck elections?

Because there is this new Party, Podemos, that in less than a year has been able to top most polls, they regard Syriza as their model and many of their potential voters first want to see what Tsipras does in Greece and, based on that, then vote here.

Spanish elections will be held more or less during November-December 2015, imagine what would happen to Podemos if Tsipras government falls, or succeeds... etc.

I think that if Tsipras does it more or less decently, Podemos will definetely win the next elections.

[Slakonian]

Bad thing is that this Sunday I was selected for the election committee for the parliamentary elections.... shit, the only day in the week I can take rest and it was taken from me.

[Britanno]

I would argue that the countries you mentioned got out of recession despite austerity rather than because of it. UK also had stimulated the economy in the early part of the recession through fiscal and monetary measures which helped them avoid the worst.

You're misunderstanding the pro-austerity argument in the UK.

I don't think cutting the deficit and slashing spending cures economic problems. I would agree that in many places it does the opposite. What I'm saying is that, if done properly, the shirt term impacts can be reduced without sacrificing long term aims. I want to run a surplus. Why? Because it means that when we hit another financial crisis, we don't have to bankrupt ourselves by putting money into the economy. Spending goes up following a crisis. If we had been running a surplus, then we would be running a small deficit after the crisis. If we'd been running a deficit, then we would be running a big deficit after the crisis.

It's about the long term. If austerity can happen without fucking shit up (as it has in Britain), then it's worth it.

[Esperantujo 2]

Maybe Greece could vote for Golden Dawn, start a war with the USA, get defeated and then hope for a Marshall plan to rebuild the country.

Golden Dawn doesn't really want a war with America; it has more national and regional aspirations.

Also, America doesn't have the money to give Greece as a new Marshall Plan.

I don't think this is true, or, even if it is true, it would only apply to the US government, not to billionaires. Perhaps the new dictator of Saudi Arabia will buy Greece, as part of a plan to re-establish the Ottoman Empire. Any let's face it. Greece will default, whoever wins the election. Best to end austerity and give Greeks a decent life.

[Chestaan]

I would argue that the countries you mentioned got out of recession despite austerity rather than because of it. UK also had stimulated the economy in the early part of the recession through fiscal and monetary measures which helped them avoid the worst.

You're misunderstanding the pro-austerity argument in the UK.

I don't think cutting the deficit and slashing spending cures economic problems. I would agree that in many places it does the opposite. What I'm saying is that, if done properly, the shirt term impacts can be reduced without sacrificing long term aims. I want to run a surplus. Why? Because it means that when we hit another financial crisis, we don't have to bankrupt ourselves by putting money into the economy. Spending goes up following a crisis. If we had been running a surplus, then we would be running a small deficit after the crisis. If we'd been running a deficit, then we would be running a big deficit after the crisis.

It's about the long term. If austerity can happen without fucking shit up (as it has in Britain), then it's worth it.

Running a surplus isn't a bad idea, but it should be done when the economy is doing well. Sure, you can try running austerity measures during a recession/stagnation but it's kind of like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. A surplus should have been ran before the recession and then that money could have been used to deal with the crisis that started in 2008. It's also very hard to run a surplus during a recession as government revenues naturally fall (unemployment, lower VAT etc) while spending naturally rises as welfare must increase etc.

My thinking would to be continue to run a modest deficit until the economy begins to pick up. Then when growth returns and revenue increases, you can run a surplus and start paying for the deficit and saving for a rainy day.

[Chestaan]

Golden Dawn doesn't really want a war with America; it has more national and regional aspirations.

Also, America doesn't have the money to give Greece as a new Marshall Plan.

I don't think this is true, or, even if it is true, it would only apply to the US government, not to billionaires. Perhaps the new dictator of Saudi Arabia will buy Greece, as part of a plan to re-establish the Ottoman Empire. Any let's face it. Greece will default, whoever wins the election. Best to end austerity and give Greeks a decent life.

Greece has already defaulted. It was easily missed because it was done quietly and was called "restructuring the debt". But yeah, it will probably default again. It's current austerity policies are both pointless and unsustainable.

[Calimera II]

You're misunderstanding the pro-austerity argument in the UK.

I don't think cutting the deficit and slashing spending cures economic problems. I would agree that in many places it does the opposite. What I'm saying is that, if done properly, the shirt term impacts can be reduced without sacrificing long term aims. I want to run a surplus. Why? Because it means that when we hit another financial crisis, we don't have to bankrupt ourselves by putting money into the economy. Spending goes up following a crisis. If we had been running a surplus, then we would be running a small deficit after the crisis. If we'd been running a deficit, then we would be running a big deficit after the crisis.

It's about the long term. If austerity can happen without fucking shit up (as it has in Britain), then it's worth it.

Running a surplus isn't a bad idea, but it should be done when the economy is doing well. Sure, you can try running austerity measures during a recession/stagnation but it's kind of like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. A surplus should have been ran before the recession and then that money could have been used to deal with the crisis that started in 2008. It's also very hard to run a surplus during a recession as government revenues naturally fall (unemployment, lower VAT etc) while spending naturally rises as welfare must increase etc.

My thinking would to be continue to run a modest deficit until the economy begins to pick up. Then when growth returns and revenue increases, you can run a surplus and start paying for the deficit and saving for a rainy day.

Or you do it the Baltic way. *Slash*