Where to start with the hellhole that Greece has become. Why is it a hellhole? Because its politicians have opted for a continuation of their membership in the Eurozone at the expense of their electorate. The political class from left to right have supported a technocratic executive, joining a coalition government to appear as if they were carrying out the measures required for the bail-out. None of these parties were strong enough to dismantle the clientelist insider model.
I am depressed that even, in the throes of depression, the Greek political classes remain insulated from radical change, as demanded by their victims. It is not in their interests to be voted out and lose their powerbase. Nor is it in the interests of those who have bailed them out: watch their money shrivel in the cold wind of righteous popular anger. Neither the Greek politicians nor their debtors have an interest in putting any plan to the Greek voters. Why would the kleptocrats desire an election when they can acquiesce and blame inevitable change on financial paratroopers from occupying forces.
So we have a series of mock battles on sovereignty: shifts from democracy to technocracy and finally, the potential surrender of fiscal sovereignty to external forces.
Whatever paeans to nationalism we may see drop like swill from hogs, no politician in Europe wants to risk an election with a revolutionary outcome.
Sovereignty (as the will of the people) will be the EU issue of 2012.
