In our great zeal

In our great zeal to use government to make society more just and fair and to level every inequality, we succeed only in making government more coercive and in subjecting ourselves more and more to the norms of an inexorable administrative elite.

The idiot Krugman recommends no vote

Predictably, the idiot Krugman urges the Greeks to vote no on the referendum to decide whether they should accept their creditors' ultimatum:

I would vote no, for two reasons. First, much as the prospect of euro exit frightens everyone — me included — the troika is now effectively demanding that the policy regime of the past five years be continued indefinitely. Where is the hope in that? Maybe, just maybe, the willingness to leave will inspire a rethink, although probably not. But even so, devaluation couldn’t create that much more chaos than already exists, and would pave the way for eventual recovery, just as it has in many other times and places. Greece is not that different.

Second, the political implications of a yes vote would be deeply troubling. The troika clearly did a reverse Corleone — they made Tsipras an offer he can’t accept, and presumably did this knowingly. So the ultimatum was, in effect, a move to replace the Greek government. And even if you don’t like Syriza, that has to be disturbing for anyone who believes in European ideals.

Devaluation couldn't create much more chaos than already exists? Paul, are you kidding? The chaos has only just begun. On Friday, Greeks had free access to euros; today, Monday, they do not. If Greeks are forced to issue their own currency, then, exactly which importers, Paul, will accept payment in the worthless drachmas of a country that has shown itself completely unwilling to abide by its financial obligations, and then spat in the face of and vilified its creditors as criminals to boot?

As is apparent from the reaction of global markets today, the impact of a Grexit outside of Greece will be minor. Greece itself, however, is faced with the prospect of becoming a modern-day Albania. Given this prospect, replacing the Greek government is not such a bad option.

Tsipras, Khamenei, Merkel/Hollande, and Obama

Just as Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has strung along the Eurozone for months now, so Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei continues to play Obama for the fool.

At least now it seems that Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande have finally called Tsipras' bluff, whereas Obama shows no signs that he is ready or able to stand up to the Supreme Leader.

A Greek Pinochet

In the good old days, a Greek junta would have staged a coup by now and put an end to all the chaos created by Syriza in Greece, just as Pinochet and the Chicago Boys, with assistance from the CIA, put an end to all the chaos created by Allende in Chile.

For more reflections on the parallels between Chile/Allende/Pinochet and Greece/Tsipras/?, see here. See also here for the reflections of Finnish politiician Jussi Halla-aho on a junta in Greece.