Why not let the Greek people carry on as I describe if they want to? Why do we need this political and monetary union? Why can't we just all agree to be good neighbours and to look out for each other under some basic framework agreements?
I know well how the Greeks abuse the system at every level of their society, which is why I blame them for their ills.
But they have the choice, if they don't like the EU systems, they can leave and operate as they did before, trading with the European countries and others as good neighbours. The trouble is that they probably want it both ways, all the benefits without any costs.
In a complex society with modern products and dangers there has to be common standards, so a trading group has to have a strong political dimension. The necessity of mutual defence also requires a common politcal control, so only having a trading understanding isn't sufficient
A further trouble with the simple trading partnership that you want is its weakness, breakable in an instant. The European nations have always traded, superficially as good neighbours, but that hasn't stopped them regularly breaking out into wars.
The ever growing intensity of those wars due to technical advances led to the horrors of WW2, which gave birth to the dream of a United Europe as the only permanent solution. Hence the Treaty of Rome which started the whole process.
It's still the best objective, but is bound to suffer from those who want to cheat or fail to co-operate on the way. They are just hiccups and irrelevant on the way to the goal. That can be reached in comparative comfort by those who wish to work and co-operate as many countries have shown. But the willfully dishonest, the corrupt and the workshy will suffer. I have no sympathy for them and see no reason why their misbehaviour should mean the union which many others enjoy should end.
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