Seeking democratic solutions to fundamental problems

Asking the Greek electorate to vote on stringent fiscal and monetary disciplines to solve their insolvency and other financial woes is a version of gallows humor.  It would be akin to asking the members of SEIU and AFSCME; NEA and AFT to vote on reducing their ranks; their paychecks; their benefits; their pensions to balance the budgets of the all the unmanageable Chicago, Cook county and state of Illinois governance operations.  Their solution is simple – raise taxes.  Or wallow in the mess because they know the courts have no backbone to declare them bankrupt and tally up the assets for distribution to creditors.

Or, think of it this way.  Next time the US Army is asked to perform a mission involving danger, disruption and death – let’s put it to a vote.  Each soldier can vote to go or not go.  Participate or stay in the barracks.  If enough say no – mission cancelled.  The logic of why certain tasks cannot be democratically decided is a large part of the rationale of both President Franklin Roosevelt and labor organizer and AFL-CIO leader George Meany’s opposition to government employee unionization.

There is no such rational or logical thinking that supports a governance system that asks for a democratic vote on fundamental matters.

The Greeks have already said – we don’t want to be responsible.  We are undisciplined children who want what we want now and we will yell, scream, throw tantrums and otherwise howl and wail until we get our way.  We choose deficits and debt.  It works just fine for us.  We don’t believe we are on the road to destruction because someone (Germany) has always been there to bail us out.   We know if we holler loud enough and hold out long enough our lackadaisical way of life and naked self importance will continue.

In America we call this Greek way of thinking – “collective bargaining” by government employee unions and politicians with the American taxpayer playing the role of the Germans.  Well, not quite.  In Europe, the Germans could, at least, say no.  In America the taxpayer doesn’t get that opportunity.  Democracy and government of, by and for the people stops at the well secured doorway to the government employee union hall.

Who do you think is twisting the arm of the Germans to go along, once again, with the childlike behavior of the Greeks?

Hint:  his middle name is Hussein; her middle name is Rodham.  They are Greeks in disguise minus the good looks, lengthy traditions and appealing cuisine.  Neither has the common sense most homo sapiens receive at birth or develop shortly thereafter with some guidance and discipline.