I am slightly puzzled by recent events and, particularly, the uncritical response that it has generated. It seems to me that, by downgrading the credit ratings for Greece and Italy, the financial services industry has been able to dictate to governments, politicians and the EU how they respond to the current crisis. Merkel and Sarkozy are merely doing their bidding. And to hold a referendum in Greece is unthinkable – what has democracy to do with it? Have we forgotten Chile in 1973? Just because Super Mario doesn’t wear a uniform, is he any more legitimate?
Having said that, I am not defending Berlusconi.
The events, and lack of anger, are very astounding. The democratic process has been circumvented for hand picked “experts”. I suppose the old adage that people who clamour to be saved will accept anything, no matter the price, has never been truer.
We live in dangerous times.
On the radio this morning, journalists were reporting the reactions on the money markets as if this were all important. Were the technocrats the right ones? Would they appease the markets? Not a whisper to suggest there might be something a bit off about it….