Ending the Age of Austerity in Europe
By Matthew Rothschild, May 7, 2012
Sunday, May 6, marked the beginning of the end of the age of austerity in Europe.
It could not survive the disinfectant of democracy.
In France and in Greece, the people voted against austerity, against huge paycuts, against massive unemployment, against upholding the confining structure of the Eurozone.
They voted for self-rule. They voted for economic policies that are designed to help the vast majority, not uphold a few financial powers.
By electing Francois Hollande over Sarkozy, the people of France announced their desire for a different way.
As Hollande himself said, “The austerity-only approach to the crisis is not inevitable."
In Greece, in parliamentary elections, the Coalition of the Radical Left actually beat the old Socialist Party, which lost many seats, as did the center-right party, though it still won a plurality.
Both the Socialists and the center-right party had blessed the imposition of harsh austerity, which has exacted a terrible toll on the people of Greece.
So the Greek people, who know a thing or two about democracy, rebelled, throwing support away from these custodians of cruelty.
There’s a lesson here for Hollande and other socialists in Europe. If you don’t act like a real socialist, you’ll lose power fast.
As you should.
If you liked this story by Matthew Rothschild, the editor of The Progressive magazine, check out his story “Stop Obama’s Drone War in Pakistan."
Follow Matthew Rothschild @mattrothschild on Twitter
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento