‘With or without the euro, Greece will face devastation if polices don’t change’ 
 Wai t a minute, are they not facing devastation now?  Declare bankruptcy and regain your freedom.  If you don't they will create a bigger debt for you.  You will never be able to repay it anyway.  So what's the hold up?  
Was greece in the toilet before it joined the Euro,  or did everybody Tango down on 2008 when the banksters stole all the money.  
So if an individual owes no money to anybody, has no credit cards, lives within his means,  then this economy does not affect him.  
The Euro experiment was a joke from the beginning, if you really think about it, its easier to control  a Euro then each individual countries.  The continent is called EUROPA.

Nothing else matters until they shake the yoke of their bankster masters. Live free or die.

For all those that keep on insisting how Greek people are responsible for the mess --- keep on thinking this way if that makes you feel better and superior to other people.  But we all know that Governments do many things that are helpfull to their favorite corporations, and favorite contractors, and white elephant projects.  After all, Greece just "had" to buy all the armaments that are mandated by NATO.  Weapons manufacturers in US, France and Germany just had to sell all the new wares to members.  All the "infrastructure" for Olympics was another white elephant.  Government spends on their friends, on "Euro" obligations, on NATO obligations, etc.  Naturally, loans are needed.  And NATURALLY, IMF is always there to go over everyone's budget with a keen eye on where the Governments SHOULD CUT, so that MORE money is available for taking fresh loans.  And when you add to this the fat bonuses that banks make for processing such loans --- there was much too much temptations in politics.    I fully agree with author.  Greece needs radical reforms, and not the ones that suck the money out of the economy.  They need to stop throwing good money after the bad, and let the banking octopus take the losses on their casino.  This time, casino should lose.    Greece need to return to a more sustainable path to development, and sanity. If it cannot do it though political means, there will be a revolution.  And nobody really wants that.  Neoliberal economics is not sustainable --- and everybody knows it.  Yet, it is so hard to pull back from the brink of a disaster. 

@ L - see, you are just so wrong every time you say something. For instance, how can you be "sure" that I am "not" Russian? Your statement that you are telling the truth betrays so much arrogance and preconceived opinions that I don't see the point of arguing with you. FACTS WILL SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS! Brace yourself for a bumpy ride with your shifty Greeks.

Mr. Gedo. I am not vindictive or patronizing I am just telling you the truth. Certainly I did not want offend you, as you offended complete nation. And you are not Russian for sure, althought you did not directly claimed that. I agree that GREECE SHOULD LEAVE EU. And leave it as soon as possible. But I assure you it will not happen that easy. You did not wrote one words about my comment, beside putting more and more blame on Greek people. Please read history and find out what happens to Greek general who liberated his land from Turks. And who removed him!!!! Can you also give me answer what Greece has is in common with other most impoverished EU countries (Romania, Bulgaria). And no I am not Greek but I know many of them all over the world!

@ L ******************** ******************** ******************** ************Are you sure you are not Greek, cause you definitely sound like one - patronising and vindictive. There is a great Russian saying - every people deserve the government they have. Greece claims to be a democracy.  If the Greeks elect a government which is opposed to austerity, then they won't get any more bail out money. It is their choice and it is simple. They either put up or shut up. If they don't, they will leave the Euro as day follows night. They can't have their cake and eat it. The rest of Europe have savvied up to their free-riding now. READ THE WRITING ON THE WALL!

Greece needs to do what is best for themelves, not for Brussels. They CANNOT spend the next years and decades living in austerity and just paying off debts.  Greece's economy will never recover if they just bow down to the banksters.
Furthe rmore, Greeks need a very healthy dose of scepticism when it comes to this neo-liberal free-market ideology peddled by the US, EU and their corporate allies. Hopefully, this should no longer be a problem after what has happened.

Lets educate Mr. Gedo and throng of those who do not understand situation. Corrupt politicians recruited by outside powers borrow money from international banking institution. Money is used not very productively and mostly as spending money. Than country have to return that money with interest. If any political leader try to fight such unvise borroving he is proclaimed "dictator" and enemy of democracy. No wonder that countries with lowest national debts in Europe are Belorussia and Russia. Otherwise Greek people in western world are one of most hard working and sucessfull! And I AM NOT GREEK!!!!

@ Smart Greeks (unregistered) wrote in #5Greeks are using the best current available political means to revert to living like normal human beings and free from the leashes of bankers. The fact that the public has to resort to the extreme left or right to overcome the banker infested dominant political parties speaks for the severity of the political cover-ups leading to the sovereign debts.  The debts have nothing to do with the average Greek, and nobody knows where all the bailout monies and their previous borrowings went. ******************** ******************** ******************** ******************** ***Typical whining of the profligate Greeks. This is another example that any financial support or bail-out money thrown at Greece will just disappear down some blackhole and the Greeks will keep saying nothing to do with us, it's the bankers, the Germans, the politicians - basically, anyone but them and their profligate, imprudent ways! Why should the rest of Europe pay for Greeks' self-inflicted problems? They wanted to live a life of luxury like there was no tomorrow, award themselves big pays, have all sorts of perks and no effective tax system when they have an inefficient economy and public sector and poor productivity. Now, they can't do it anymore and expect the rest of Europe to subsidise them. Who do they think they are? They should be kicked out of the Eurozone right now!

Greeks are using the best current available political means to revert to living like normal human beings and free from the leashes of bankers. The fact that the public has to resort to the extreme left or right to overcome the banker infested dominant political parties speaks for the severity of the political cover-ups leading to the sovereign debts.  The debts have nothing to do with the average Greek, and nobody knows where all the bailout monies and their previous borrowings went.

The profligate, dodgy, corrupt Greek crooks should neve r have been allowed to participate in the Euro! What were the EUropeans thinking of?

Still the one way of getting rid of the IMF/bankers=Declare yourself Bankrupt=that way they dont get a drachma =Yes times will be hard for a while but two other countries did just that and they are now doing well

Well well well  Europeans  start seeing the banking cartel and rises up against this cockroaches who exploits the humanity with corrupted banking system, well the second option for the elites to suppress the crying majority individuals it’s to drag Europe on a devastating war world and make them beg for a slice of bread and boiled potato after a long and painful agony the survivors will accept any austerity plan and obey the New World Order like quiet puppies. The Iran will be the pretext, like the small spark before the big fire. If you leave in Europe get ready the real storm it’s coming.

I must feel very sorry for the Greek people to stay in the Euro is very tough and to leave could be even more disastrous. It is entirely due to very bad government over the last 10 years.The greek people will need to totally re-organise their political system and their institutions. The question is how can you replace one political class for another , a question being asked all over Europe. I think the answer is to get rid of all professional politicians and encourage people from industry and commerce to become politicians , they may have more pragmatic ideas. One thing the whole of Europe has to tackle corruption and ensure large numbers of people end up in prison!