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[–] Guerilla 1 point 44 points (+45|-1) ago  (edited ago)

I'm going to vote no.

I think that Euro is a disaster of a currency that no sane economist would have ever approved before an actual political and economic unification of Europe so the only logical assumption that I can make is that they wanted this. They wanted a crisis so that they can ruin Europe's social safety net, can cut pensions and salaries and sell off our countries' national wealth to corporations. Naomi Klein indirectly predicted everything that happens now in the Shock Doctrine, an excellent book explaining how neoliberals create and then exploit crisis to shock entire populations into submission and rob them of their rights, salaries, pensions and so on. I read that book in 2007 and watched history repeat itself with shocking accuracy three years later. Only this time it wasn't Latin America being attacked, it was my country. So hell no, no way I'm voting for neoliberal policies that will turn my country into a mere colony to corporate interests.

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[–] TelescopiumHerscheli 0 points 6 points (+6|-0) ago 

I feel that you're probably right to vote "no", and I feel that the economic case against the Euro is strong. Specifically, I feel that the Euro Zone is not a "natural single currency zone". If Greece does leave the Euro it will face a difficult few years, but with time and hard work it should be possible to recover. That said, I feel you're wrong to cite Naomi Klein's conspiracy theories. I feel it's better to understand the Euro in the context of a specifically Germanic understanding of economic and social union that arises out of their particular history over the last few centuries, and in the context of a deep-seated French desire to (a) bind Germany and (b) yoke their economy to another large economy out of a desire for (economic) stability. In this context the Euro is not a "neoliberal" project but a profoundly "social liberal" one, but it is also a project that allows Germany to indulge in its long-suppressed desire to build an empire around itself. On balance I agree that Greece was on the road to becoming a colony, but not, I feel, of "corporate interests", but of Germany. The same is true of Italy, Spain and Portugal: unless they leave the Euro Zone they will slowly turn into German economic colonies too. Just be careful that you don't fall into the arms of a worse colonial power.

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[–] Guerilla 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago  (edited ago)

I honestly don't know where Germany begins and corporate/banking interests end so yeah, you're right too. Merkel is such a ridiculous corporate puppet that whether you say Germany or corporate interests it's pretty much the same.

I completely disagree with the social liberal part though. That's what they sold to their people, a supposedly peaceful union of nations; in reality it's a union of banking and corporate interests waging war on the European middle and lower classes, USA style. It's a undemocratic union of ruling classes conspiring to screw us over and it's exactly how it was designed. Brussels nowadays is a city plagued with lobbyists constantly influencing politicians and EU decisions.

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[–] Wafflebutt 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

Your last sentence is the scary one. There are other countries and corporate oligarchies out there who might bring worse to the table. If Greece chooses to exit, it will be good for them to stay strong and fight for their independent economic survival.

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[–] pH_ 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

On the other hand, it sounds like a good day to be German

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[–] zen_music 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

Guerilla, your assessment makes so much sense to me. I wonder how long this kind of clear thinking will be called "conspiracy nuttiness". I really hope there is a way for you Grecians to counter the sellout to corporate rule. I'm not hearing anything elsewhere in the world that works; these trade deals are making me very suspicious. I've been called a 'tin-hat brigade' member for such thoughts before; but as the saying goes, "Just because you're paranoid, it doesn't mean somebody isn't following you!"

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[–] Guerilla 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago  (edited ago)

Yeap, it's not a coincidence TPP and TTIP are both being pushed to humanity at the same time, it's the final act of the ruling class for a complete corporate takeover. And yes, what Klein wrote in her book weren't conspiracy theories, they could classify as theories if neoliberals hadn't used the same strategy repeatedly hundreds of times all over the world since the 70s. When it has been witnessed so many times though it's no longer a theory, it's just an observation of an obvious pattern.

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[–] Homo_ludens 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

Hear hear, man.

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[–] borderpatrol 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Good for you. It's going to be a hard struggle, but I'm wishing you the best of luck.