Saturday Learning Series - Geography (Greece)

This week a look at a classical era country, Greece.


The Greek flag:

When the lunatics have taken over the asylum

An interesting quote from Greek philosopher Plato about the tangentially related to the decline of the Greek Empire (Plato said this during the era of Alexander The Great, which ended roughly 100 years later).  The interesting point is how it mirrors what's happening in American schools and how being taught about global warming and having safe spaces is more important than math and critical thinking.  The only way to save the American republic is to avoid what happened to ancient Greece. Take back the 'asylum' from the lunatics who want to let everyone in provided they conform to the proper voting patterns they are told to follow (i.e. vote Democrat).

SCOTUS lets down the Constitution in favor of constituency

There is a problem here BUT...

Let's not have a cow about gay marriage, there is a more important issue at stake in light of the Supreme Court's decision on the subject.  Firstly, no one is forcing you to get married to a gay person.  No one is forcing your church to officiate a gay marriage (yet at least) even if it goes against your church's or temple's or mosque's teachings.  No one is going to make you or your children attend gay weddings.  Is it an ideal ruling?  Far from it, but the real issue, is that this is supposed to be a conservative leaning court by a count of 5-4 justices.  Clearly, it isn't.

At least Chief Justice Roberts did not sell out on this issue by putting opinion before the Constitution:

"This court is not a legislature. Whether same-sex marriage is a good idea should be of no concern to us," Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in dissent. Roberts read a summary of his dissent from the bench, the first time he has done so in nearly 10 years as chief justice.

"If you are among the many Americans - of whatever sexual orientation - who favor expanding same-sex marriage, by all means celebrate today's decision," Roberts said. "But do not celebrate the Constitution. It had nothing to do with it."

With the original decision to allow for Obamacare's constitutionality and the more recent upholding of the constitutionality of the federal tax credits portion of the ACA, the Supreme Court is not a conservative body.  That should frighten conservatives - a lot. It becomes even more imperative to ensure that a Republican wins office in 2016 so the erosion of the tenets of the Constitution is stopped.  Liberals and progressives will continue poke holes in the levy protecting the Constitution until America is no longer what it was, or what it is ultimately capable of being.  You take your eye off that levy and your mind off of its importance and the country is doomed.

Perhaps you believe that outcome is inevitable anyway.  That would make you part of the problem, because America was not founded on defeatism, nor did it grow under that premise as much as it did not grow under the welfare state mentality.  Unless you want to follow in the footsteps of Greece - from enlightened democracy, to entitled socialists on the brink of economic collapse - wake up and take pride (no pun on gay marriage intended) in your country.

NOTE:  As an aside on how I feel about gay marriage, see this post (if you care).

The problem with the court's decision is the 10th amendment and the notion of states' rights.   Every state already had a position and legislation on the matter already (pro or con).  That's good.  By homogenizing the law nationally, you are taking away the idea of multiple laboratories.  I call it the 50 Experiments Theorem.  The more variability among the states in terms of policy, the more like there are outcomes that will thrive.  The less that legislation is nationalized the more chance (in fact 50 times more) there is that a successful legislative formula(s) will be found.

It's on of the greatest unheralded advantages the United States has over other so many other nations who have centralization as their governing philosophy. And the Supreme Court is enabling those who wish to purposefully or inadvertently abolish that competitive advantage. It's quite sad to see.  This is what a liberal court has allowed for decades and its effects, even if reversed will take decades to recede.

Because socialism works in Europe, right?

Europe has a history of failed socialism (stretching back decades) and successful capitalism (stretching back centuries). So when Germans want to be like the French, is all finally lost?

All across Europe, political parties are under strain. After years of high unemployment and flatlining economies, voters have had enough of austerity and budget cuts. They don't want any more rhetoric about tightening belts - they want promises of milk and honey. Just one problem: There is no money left.

Europe is experiencing is a classic middle-class squeeze - a typical fixture of American politics that has crossed the pond to pester European politicians. Leaders across the Continent are left facing this dilemma: How to strengthen the middle class in an adverse environment where money is tight, debts are high, and budget deficits loom large?

It gets worse.

Recently, another European think tank released yet another graph projecting the aging of populations in the coming 20 years. The findings revealed deep trouble for a country thought to be at a peak of economic power: Germany. And even as its population starts to shrink and age, resulting in a smaller labor work force and dwindling fiscal contributions to social programs, the demands of Germany's middle class are increasing.

Peugeot and Camembert cheese or Mercedes, BMW, and Volkswagen? Which has been a more successful economy?  

And now there's word Greece wants to leave the E.U. Let them go (see Let California fail for the reasoning).  Seriously GErmany, let them go.  Before you turn into France.  And make them pick up their own over-the-top-social-programs-debt themselves.

Saturday Learning Series - Golden Age

Last week I started sharing a series I found on the roots of Western culture and society as it was developed by the ancient Greeks.  This week I'm sharing that series' second episode about the Golden Age of ancient Greece.

Greece understands what a turnaround means

Socialist, labor-coddling Greece, on the verge of an economic collapse, realizes what it must do. In a word - austerity Watch, and learn America:

Greece will pledge permanent spending cuts, including lower pension payments and a 20 percent reduction in the minimum wage, as the economy contracts this year at a faster pace than originally estimated, according to the draft of a new financing deal with the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

“To restore competitiveness and growth, we will accelerate implementation of deep structural reforms in the labor, product and service markets,” according to the letter of intent addressed to IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde in a document obtained by Bloomberg News.

If Greece gets this and vast tracts of America do not yet understand, is the only way to get it to sink in is reach an imminent collapse? Hopefully not.

Insolvent Nations Should Leave EU?

The Hill had an opinion piece on Friday that argued that countries Greece, Portugal and Italy should leave the E.U.  That's an interesting proposition, but it's also illogical.  The people the article purports to help are the one it will hurt most.  The people it blames would be the ones to most benefit from the move.

Italy in trouble

Silvio Berlusconi, leader of a center-right party has offered his resignation as prime minister of Italy in order to get the European Union austerity measure designed to stabilize Europe's apparent next Greece.  Italy is a socialist country and the loss of the conservative-leaning Berlusconi does not serve the country well.  Nevertheless it seems to be the only way forward and may help prevent this crisis from spreading even more.

Let Greece Fail!

Pretty landscape, dumb socialists.

Imagine you are a German citizen (easier to do if you actually are one).  Your government has bent to the will of the European Union and agreed to give money to Greece to bail out their failed socialist economy. After much hand-wringing the E.U. has come up with a plan that gives a lot of cash for some not too extreme austerity measures on the part of Greece.  You don't like it but what is most surprising, is that the Greeks don't like it even more.

The Greek government has decided to hold a referendum on the measure.  A referendum to accept the money you've offered to bail them out.  Polling indicates 60% of Greeks are against the austerity measures, and therefore the rescue package.  That's as ungrateful as it is ridiculous.

The solution if you're that German citizen is simple.  Take back the offer, and let Greece fail.  Like I said about California.  Kick Greece out of the E.U. and let them fend for themselves, they obviously want to and feel they can.

As goes Greece, so goes the recovery.

Last week I recall telling a friend that the EU would not allow Greece to fail.  Sure, there would be strict austerity measures imposed.  Sure there would be massive protests in heavily subsidized, socialist Greece.  But in the end the countries in the European Union would be compelled to take a bit out of the crap sandwich that is the Greek bailout.  Sure enough it looked for a while that the deal was done.  For a while.  Today it looks like "not so fast".

Quick Two Word Opinions

Here's a few more quick hit opinions on recent news items that I haven't had a chance to expound more thought on.

Gaddafi has been killed in Libya, ending his malfeasance forever - About time.

Greece is on the verge of collapse and the EU is at odds about bailing them out again - About time.

Joe Biden wants to run for president in 2016 - Great idea.

U.S. troops will be out of Iraq by year end - election bait.

#OWS Occupt Wall Street continues - Really? Yawn.

The Washington Post did a hit piece on Marco Rubio about his parents - no accountability.

Herman Cain leads the Nevada straw poll - Raising Cain.  (I had to say it somewhere).

It's Over: Obama loses Europe.

TKO.  Explained below.

This past weekend Tim Geithner made some unsolicited remarks about European debt. President Obama has followed suit. Both remarks have not been well received.  In fact, they've been harsh. Admittedly, that is deservedly so.  The president's White House is casting about for a villain, any villain, that it can use as a shield against criticism on it's woefully bad attempts at economic recovery.  If the Republican's won't do, blame Europe, if that doesn't catch on, maybe it reverts back to blame Bush.

Greece Just Made It Personal

It's one of the ultimate acts of denial of responsibility of all time. Bloomberg is reporting that Greece is considering legal action against U.S. banks for possible contributory effect to the Greek financial crisis.  This after the European Union and the International Monetary Fund agreed to lend Greece $1 trillion to avert the crisis.  That might seem a little ungrateful, especially since the IMF money comes in some measure from the United States. Does Greece have a claim?  Ultimately, who is responsible for the failures of the Greek economy?

Germany votes to pay Greece. Doom to follow.

There's some Euro-socialism for you - Americans didn't want to bail out their own banks or car companies yet Germany decides to bail out super-socialist Greece. The same Greece wherein people are rioting to not give up their cushy government subsidized lifestyles.

Lessons for America from China and Greece

China: The New Economy.  The next economic superpower.  Maybe not.

Greek Junk and U.S. Influence

Yesterday the markets took a tumble on the Standard and Poors downgrading of Greece's credit rating to that of junk.  It was a three tier drop and that's a big deal.  Lost in the panic of the possible spread of the credit crisis to other Euro nations like Portugal and Spain were two very important points about the United States.