GRIKKIR HORFA TIL ÍSLANDS

Þjóðaratkvæðagreiðlan í Grikklandi er stórmerkileg fyrir margra hluta sakir en merkilegust er hún vegna þeirrar þýðingar sem hún hefur fyrir þróun lýðræðisins. Kosið var um ríkisfjármál og milliríkjasamninga sem er fráhvarf frá því sem kapítalisminn og varðstöðumenn hans telja réttlætanlegt. Icesave var af hinum forboðna toga.

Þess vegna hafa Grikkir horft til Íslands. Ég hef verið í hópi þeirra sem hafa verið fengnir til að leggja orð í belg í Grikklandi og gerði ég það með greinaskrifum í aðdraganda kosninganna og stóru viðtali í málgagni stjórnarflokksins, Syriza, nýlega. Lilja Mósesdóttir, fyrrverandi þingmaður og hagfræðingur, hefur og verið í hópi þeirra sem hafa tjáð sig af krafti í grísku lýðræðisumræðunni. 

Það sem mér hefur þótt verðmætt að sjá í aðdraganda og kjölfari þjóðaratkvæðagreiðslunnar eru viðbrögð forystumanna Evrópusambandsins. Þeir hafa ekki enn tekið af sér boxhanskana. Gott er lærdómsríkt að fá að sjá framan í valdamenn ESB þegar lýðræðið talar. Fróðlegt verður að fylgjast með fundi þeirra Hollandes, forseta Frakklands, og Merkels, Þýskalandskanslara á morgun.

Það voru einmitt franskir og þýskir bankar sem voru duglegastir að lána Grikkjum í aðdraganda hrunsins, meðal annars til hergagnakaupa. Svo hrundi allt, vinna dróst saman með tilheyrandi atvinnumissi og er nú svo komið að 60% yngstu kynslóðarinnar á vinnumarkaði er án vinnu.

Við þessar aðstæður er ekki hægt að réttlæta frekari niðurskurð sem kæmi til með að grafa enn frekar undan grísku efnahagslífi. Enginn deilir um að umbóta er þörf í Grikklandi á ýmsum sviðum en það eru hins vegar Grikkir sjálfir og engir aðrir sem eru færir um að verkstýra slíkri umbótavinnu.

Hér má sjá slóðir á einhverjar þeirra greina sem ég hef sent frá mér að undanförnu svo og Lilja Mósesdóttir:

http://analyzegreece.gr/articles/item/265-oegmundur-jonasson-thank-you-greece

: https://twitter.com/ausmmt/status/592561597349961728

https://www.facebook.com/change4all.eu/photos/a.491829610971722.1073741834.457044051116945/492252944262722/?type=1&fref=nf&pnref=story 

 

GREEKS TAKE THE LEAD - AGAIN

It comes as no surprise to me that the institutional world is reacting the way it is after the Greek government´s  decision to turn to the people in a democratic referendum on the austerity demands.

I applaud the Greeks for this decision and I join the millions who condemn the undemocratic and vile reactions of the guardians of capitalism.

After Iceland suffered its financial crash in 2008 we had the storm in our face. Most uncompromising became international condemnation when we took to a referendum whether to socialize the debts of private banks. This was on the so-called Icesave dispute, where the British and Dutch governments tried to force Icelandic tax payers to shoulder such debts. Well over 90% of the nation rejected this in a referendum! 

The same is now the case in Greece, where the bulk of loans to Greece have gone to pay out private-creditors - including German and French banks.

The prospect of asking the people frightens  the IMF, the European Central Bank, Juncker and all the other proponents of financial creditors.

Why?

Because when people are asked to prioritize in a democratic election between human rights and property rights the danger is that human rights win!

Again Greece - the cradle of democracy - is taking the lead with their democracy!

Thank you Greece. You may have the IMF, Junker and the European Central Bank against you, but world-wide, millions are applauding your brave and democratic steps.

Ögmundur Jónasson 

Upphafæegur texti minn af grein á vefslóð sem greinlega hefur verið þýdd af ensku og yfir á grísku og síðan aftur á ensku: 
 

THANK YOU GREECE

When Pandora opened her box, all kinds of evils flew out into the world, but one of the last things to escape was Elpis, which we non-Greek speakers are told means Hope. 
The Greek question is about many things. It is about sovereignty. It is about democracy. It is about collective responsibility. It is about collective punishment. It is about the limits of private property. 
The most surprising thing of the saga of bailouts is the consensus of experts. Suddenly there are no disagreements about economics nor about politics. There is an eerie silence. All too many politicians in all European countries speak with one voice. Differences are put aside. Like a silent crowd at the site of an execution.
Of the 19 Eurozone nations, there are 16 right wing governments. Does that explain anything? Everybody agrees that austerity measures will have dire consequences for the Greek nation. It is also generally agreed that collective punishment is a crime against humanity. Does that make a difference? Or does it not?
Mistakes were made. The former Greek government may not have been altogether innocent having had Goldman Sachs as  their adviser on book keeping when Greece was admitted into the Eurozone. European banks may have lent too much to the Greek government and to Greek banks. And the Greek government may have  bought too much military equipment from Germany and France. And cronies of the government in Athens may have got away with some tax avoidance.
The taxpayers of Europe, the governments of Europe, the economic theorists of Europe, the architects of the Eurozone, all may have made mistakes in the structure, funding and running of the Eurozone. 
But instead of admitting to their mistakes and instead of shouldering the costs, the leaders of Europe decided to look for scapegoats. The leaders are in a mood for an execution. Someone must suffer, so let´s go find the most vulnerable amongst us and punish him. This is almost a biblical story. 
Writing off all of Greece´s debt would not be a noticable event in the Eurozone economy if it weren´t for one aspect, namely the example it would set. The importance of the punishment of the Greeks is the example it is setting.
This is what it is all about: The lessons to be drawn, the examples to be set. It is about crime and punishment and who is to decide, firstly  on the crime and secondly on the punishment .
When the Greeks decided to let democracy reign, Juncker said he felt betrayed. That was striking because that reminded us about the basics in politics: The conflict between direct democracy and government by delegation. The other line of conflict is about the limits of property rights, about how much lengths a creditor can go without being called amoral.
So this conflict is about many things and gives us the opportunity to discuss politics, economy, ethics and the problems of Western plutocracy. 
What stands out in this fight, is the decision of the Greeks to resort to direct democracy as the ultimate source of political mandate. This was also the weapon used by Iceland to fend off the attack by the City of London and the National Bank of the Netherlands. Another thing that one notices is Tsipras use of language which resonates with references to the common man´s everlasting fight for human rights. Most notably the use of the word Hope.
It comes to no surprise to me that the institutional world is reacting the way it is after the Greek government´s  decision to turn to the people in a democratic referendum.  I applaud the Greeks for this decision and I join the millions who condemn the undemocratic and vile reactions of the guardians of capitalism which is uncomfortably reminiscent of Europe´s colonialist past.
After Iceland suffered its financial crash in 2008 we certainly faced the storm. As a member of the government at the time of the assault by big European banks and the capitalist vulture funds supported by the governments of Britain and the Netherlands, I was shocked at the viciousness of these governments. It was war. There was nothing civilized about it.
We took the dispute to the people in a referendum and that proved to be the decisive weapon. The political superiority of direct democracy is not easily called into question.
There is an epic dimension to all of this, namely, that it is the Greeks that are at it again with their democracy. Again!
There are millions of people applauding the resolute Greek people. And here in Iceland we are with you in spirit.
Thank you for giving all of us hope. Hope for a better world!