Greeks using democracy to destabilise society

The problem in the Greek economy came to a head because of a failure by successive governments there to collect taxes and a reluctance on the part of the electorate to contribute towards austerity measures.

Why should other EU countries bail out any member state engaging in this mismanagement of its affairs?

Events in Greece have all the hallmarks of history repeating itself. The glory days of ancient Greece, according to the historian Edward Gibbon “ground to a halt when Athens wanted, not to give to society, but for society to give to them. When the freedom they wished for was freedom from responsibility then Athens ceased to be free.”

Democracy can be used by the electorate and its public representatives in a constructive manner or it can be employed to blow the house down.

Pat Daly

3 Suncourt

Midleton

Co Cork