Greeks and other southern Europeans could now be feeling schadenfreude as Germany faces the collapse of its economic model in the face of the Ukraine war and the new cold war with China. But with a democratic Europe in the balance, this is no time to gloat.

submitted by [deleted] from yanisvaroufakis.eu

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[–]jet199 3 insightful - 5 fun3 insightful - 4 fun4 insightful - 5 fun -  (0 children)

Not true.

Gloat.

[–]IkeConn 3 insightful - 2 fun3 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 2 fun -  (0 children)

/s/Schadenfreude Never leave home without it.

[–]H3v8 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

While Varoufakis is considered a leftist idiot by many, he does have a point here. A decade ago, Germany demanded that Greeks should be taxed more and learn to live with even less. The net result is that the same political system that caused this due to corruption and incapability remains in power till this very day, while those who didn't participate it have become poorer and Germany fervently supported this political system because it is subservient to Germany.

[–][deleted] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I'm quite dazzled, realizing people actually getting my vibe.

[–]Canbot 1 insightful - 2 fun1 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 2 fun -  (9 children)

Greece was literally suckling on the teet of Germanys economy. The collapse of which is the result of Central banking, not a flaw with the economic model.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

As is Italy. Italy, Greece and whole "eastern" Europe should've never been let into the EU. No fiscal rule allowed (or allows) it.

But of course they ignored these facts.

[–]Canbot 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

Eastern Europe was never the problem. It was Spain, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus and I think even France needed a bailout.

Eastern Europe is far more fiscally responsible. They are less developed because of (((communism))) but quickly catching up.

With how corrupt the EU turned out to be eastern Europe would probably be better off not joining, but the EU would be far more fucked.

[–][deleted] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

There was a plan behind it to widen corporate revenue streams by putting these countries in minimum-wage- and tax-wars against each other.

Literally every bigger company from Europe has moved jobs eastwards.

[–]H3v8 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

A small detail: Both PMs associated with Greece getting into EU were closely connected to Germany, especially Simitis, whose brother was said to hold a very important position in German establishment as well.

[–]jet199 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (3 children)

Germany doesn't just support those countries out of the kindness of it's heart.

They sell their goods to those countries so it's a great way of feeding money tax to German corporations and keeping manufacturing going.

The EU regs are designed benefit Germany companies and ban competitors.

Also the money given to Greece was often loans via German banks so they intend to get the money back again, with interest.

[–]Canbot 2 insightful - 2 fun2 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 2 fun -  (2 children)

Germany doesn't just support those countries out of the kindness of it's heart.

Of course not. Germany was forced to bail them out to save the Euro.

They sell their goods to those countries so it's a great way of feeding money tax to German corporations and keeping manufacturing going.

That makes no sense at all.

The EU regs are designed benefit Germany companies and ban competitors.

Doubt it. The EU has been very detrimental to Germany. And those regulations, whether they exist or not, have nothing to do with the literal ransacking that was the bailouts.

Also the money given to Greece was often loans via German banks so they intend to get the money back again, with interest.

Bullshit. They call them loans but there is no expectation, or requirement for payment. Greece can't afford to pay it back, ever.

[–]jet199 4 insightful - 2 fun4 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 2 fun -  (1 child)

They are paying back those loans right now.

The fact they think they will never be able to pay them back just means they keep paying back forever.

[–]Canbot 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

We need to make them forgivable. But it needs to be the colleges and the banks that forgive the loans. Or bankruptcy.

Using taxes to pay the banks is only going to make the situation worse.

[–]H3v8 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Actually the opposite is true. Have you heard about scandals like the Siemens one, where Germany took advantage of the corrupted politicians to make Greece poorer and Germany richer?

[–]MyLongestJourney 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I am feeling no such thing. Firstly because I am not a dick and secondly because I am aware that economic trouble for any country in the EU means trouble for all the EU.Varoufakis is a narcissistic clown of epic proportions who tried to extort our European allies and I hate him and his political allies with every fiber of my being.