Quote:
Originally Posted by Osem
As for Germany's motivation, well that's what I've been saying isn't it? They are at the heart of Europe because it suits them to be so and they have a very clear idea how to further their ambitions for growth - namely by seeking more integration within the EU with them at the helm and with its overall economic policy suiting their needs far better than it does the likes of the Med countries.
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The thing is remember is this is not a problem Germany wanted. They are not helped by a weak and failing Eurozone and they do not want to be the Eurozone's bankers. Rather than telling Greece what to do they would rather not have to bail them out in the first place. They would rather Greece be fine and mind their own business. So when Germany try to dictate Greek policy this isn't to make Germany a stronger country but to lessen the damage Greece can do to them.
No one has shown how Germany have benefited from this crisis. They have just suffered the least because they managed their economy considerably better than, it seems, anyone else. It was very stupid of them to suggest a referendum to the Greeks but it's a reality of the situation there, the Greek people need to know the consequences of rejecting austerity and hence the bailout money.
In the context of this discussion it's ironic that Germany are the ones people suspect of a financial conspiracy
---------- Post added at 14:54 ---------- Previous post was at 14:50 ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by gba93
That was the reasoning behind "lebensraum" (living room) which led to WWII and as I have said on this forum before there is more than one type of "invasion / occupation".
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They are not economically invading Greece. They are attaching strings to the bailout money. If you go to a bank for a loan you abide by their requirements or you do not get the loan.
What is effectively happening here is: Greece need a bailout, Germany say "fine, but you can't keep living as you do. You need to balance your budget and live within your means. If you do not do this, You may have to leave the Euro" and then Germany get accused of throwing their weight around and, amongst the least fair-minded, get compared to Nazi Germany.
If we're going to compare anyone to 1930s Germany then Greece is a better candidate. Depression, serious economic problems for the population, the possibility of rapid inflation and all of this leading to a far-right nationalist party gaining more and more power in elections.