Posted on Jul 2, 2015
CAPT Senior Principal Policy Analyst
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Posted in these groups: Greece GreeceNATODf65a7b3 European Union
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Responses: 3
SCPO David Lockwood
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Edited 9 y ago
That is a tough question. The damage that Greece has done to the EU is unbelivable. To save the EU from total economic collapse I would kick Greece to the curb. If greece wants to jump in bed with Russia let them. Look what happened to Russia's economy.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
9 y
Though I agree with you from a business standpoint, this shows a symptom, not the cause. If Greece alone can cause this much damage, there is something inherently wrong with the EU "structure." No single economy out of 30~ should be able to cause that much damage (barring Germany or Britain).

It's like blaming the amputated foot, when diabetes is the problem.
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SGT William Howell
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What benefit could possibly come from keeping Greece around? With the exception of the gyro Greece has contributed nothing of value to humanity since before Christ.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
9 y
In this case, the well is already poisoned, and finding a cure for all of the EU is just as cost effective as cutting Greece loose, and may actually be cheaper to keep them inside.

It's short term vs long term strategy. Sure they can save money in the short term by removing Greece, but sooner or later Greece will have to be built back up, and that money will have to come from somewhere. It can either come from a "contributing & accountable member state" or as a series of "humanitarian aid checks."
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SGT William Howell
SGT William Howell
9 y
So basically, you are saying they would have to sell a ton of gyros and up-sell the Greek fries too?
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
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This is tricky.

You can't run a "Federation" or "Confederation" (I realize the EU is unique) like a Business. You can't expand, realize you made a bad acquisition and then cut it loose later.

The EU "roughly" parallels the US. Imagine if all of a sudden we said... Sorry Ohio, you're just a drain on resources, we're going to have to let you go. That wouldn't work.

When the EU accepted them in, they accepted the obligation of "for better or worse." I know it's sinking good money after bad, but when you make partnership agreements like this, you do succeed and fail together.

On the flip side of that, the EU has a very valid point of "Greece will sink the entire ship" which my response is "Failed model." If you have 30~ countries, and you can't support one (not the largest one), then the model doesn't work. Change the model.
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CAPT Senior Principal Policy Analyst
CAPT (Join to see)
9 y
Both good points. But if it won't reform enough, the good of the many outweighs the good of the few. Unless Greece is Spock.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
9 y
CAPT (Join to see) The Good of the Many argument creates bigger issues in the long run however. Greeks are already EU citizens (if I understand the system right), which means they'll just have a refugee issue which they can't fix.

That in turn means it is a Government issue as opposed to a Nation issue.
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CAPT Senior Principal Policy Analyst
CAPT (Join to see)
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy They would likely be asked to leave the EU and give up the euro. They would remain in NATO. You're right, it's governmental, not national. But it's truly economic.
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