The Radicals Take Center Stage

"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."

-Vince Lombardi

Question: How do you pay a debt that was impractical, to begin with?

This is the Greeks argument with the Troika. The Troika, is a slang term for the three financial institutions in charge of the EU: European Commission (EC), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the European Central Bank (ECB). Over 200 Billion Euro was loaned to the Greeks, by the Troika. June 2015 is the start of the first debt to the ECB.

ECB handed the Greeks a Billion (plus) Euro loan that was never used for the people. Instead, it was used against the people. Along with the borrowing came a hardship life of austerity, where public cuts were slashed, incomes diminished, and people were left penniless and hungry. Properly deeming this phase as The Greek Depression.

Things went from bad, to worse. From worse to terrible. Terrible to God-awful. More money was being borrowed from the Troika, thus creating a vicious cycle of instability.

You see, the euro is a marriage of political and economic union that will not separate. Once you’re in, there’s no leaving. Those of you who believe a Grexit is the answer, it’s not. Those who believe a transition to the drachma is an option, that isn’t possible either. If either of these became a reality, the result is: the country will diminish. Bonds will be cut; allies will be enemies, thus creating a third world. Therefore, the euro is here to stay with the Greeks having to find a way to increase the volume of money and the value of currency. How?

Alexis Tsipras, the leader of Syriza, a socialist-communist party with radical-left views, vouched for change and demanded that revision will happen. He guaranteed advancement for the younger generation. He confirmed a reversal from the financial crises we were experiencing. He vehemently expressed a declaration of assurance. The Greek people, in a state of reckless poverty, listened to a man who indicated a future of excellence. They observed the travesty the leaders before him had done, and agreed that enough was enough. They chose a different leader, a radical-leftist, to take control of the austere situation they were placed in. They voted for a man who promised a positive development in our country. Tsipras was their final attempt to end the madness.

“Greece will now move ahead with hope and reach out to Europe, and Europe is going to change,” Tsipras said. “The verdict is clear: We will bring an end to the vicious circle of austerity.”

Tsipras asks the Troika to lower the debt. Troika isn’t agreeing for there are guidelines implemented by the EU. The money that was borrowed must be returned. However, it’s unrealistic to pay back over 200 Billion Euro with the interest rate climbing and the internal revenue declining. There’s no way they can play catch up.

ECB is demanding they borrow more. The new Financial Minister, Yanis Varoufakis responds, “Bankruptcy cannot be dealt with by more borrowing.” In addition, the good-lookin worldly professor is positive to find a solution, because he is a man who is ready to, diplomatically, find resolve. “This country never had a government that was prepared to bargain.”

Maybe it does now. I don’t trust Tsipras, but I do have complete faith in Varoufakis, for he isn’t a man who barks orders. He educates a topic, explains the problem with the solution, and gains positive results.

Greece may be led by an atheist, a matter I won’t even touch, but the true resolve here lies in the hands of a man who became an “accidental economist.” Someone that the whole country agrees, will gain success by giving strength to the people and totally wiping out their humiliation.

“We will destroy the Greek oligarchy system.”

-Yanis Varoufakis