I do understand that in a way the current government has discarded its responsibility on the matter by asking the people to decide on such a crucial question, but the truth is that either answer would still mean a lot of trouble, like you said, they were two bad scenarios anyway. However I still believe it was very important to make the referendum, since basically they offered the Greek people a chance of saying 'We know the consequences but we still want to fight' and they kept true to the motives behind their election. So in a way the government said 'Look, we either accept these conditions or we keep discussing, but either way the consequences will be terrible. The only thing we can choose, however, is how we go down. What do you, the Greek nation, prefer?'.
You can't forget that the austerity that the European countries in crisis are going through is absolutely terrible anyway. There are children who can only have a meal a day. Young people can't find jobs, no matter how many degrees they have. Middle aged people are losing their houses, businesses and jobs. Elderly people have to choose between medication and food. Is this something you would expect from an European nation?
With this referendum, the Greek people have sent a clear message to their creditors: they will not subject themselves to this poverty on their terms anymore, they might go through an even rougher patch from now on but at least they will be there on their own choice. Now, is this the right path? I have no idea.
I do understand that in a way the current government has discarded its responsibility on the matter by asking the people to decide on such a crucial question, but the truth is that either answer would still mean a lot of trouble, like you said, they were two bad scenarios anyway. However I still believe it was very important to make the referendum, since basically they offered the Greek people a chance of saying 'We know the consequences but we still want to fight' and they kept true to the motives behind their election. So in a way the government said 'Look, we either accept these conditions or we keep discussing, but either way the consequences will be terrible. The only thing we can choose, however, is how we go down. What do you, the Greek nation, prefer?'.
You can't forget that the austerity that the European countries in crisis are going through is absolutely terrible anyway. There are children who can only have a meal a day. Young people can't find jobs, no matter how many degrees they have. Middle aged people are losing their houses, businesses and jobs. Elderly people have to choose between medication and food. Is this something you would expect from an European nation?
With this referendum, the Greek people have sent a clear message to their creditors: they will not subject themselves to this poverty on their terms anymore, they might go through an even rougher patch from now on but at least they will be there on their own choice. Now, is this the right path? I have no idea.