Europe's Populist Left

[Sheilbh]

Of course it's particularly true with the EU which is an explicitly technocratic body.

What seems more challenging to me in Europe is there's a dual populism. On the one hand there's the campaign against austerity which is aimed at the EU technocrats, on the other there's a populism that those technocrats could probably support for structural reforms of the left.

I've said before but it seems to me impossible to expect any real structural reforms in many of these countries when the only choice is between the parties that created and benefit from the current structures. Syriza will hopefully be able to change that.

The Daily Mash:

Greeks vote to stop having shit kicked out of them
26-01-15
GREEK voters have defied expectation by choosing not to be beaten like cringing dogs for the next five years.

Offered the choice between another half-decade of soaring unemployment and plummeting household incomes or a bit of a change, the Greek electorate has stunned Europe by making the wrong decision.

The ruling New Democracy party is still wondering how its platform of Endless Suffering For Everyone was defeated by Syriza's competing message of Maybe Not That.

Athens voter Elena Mitropoulos said: "I was going to do the responsible thing and vote for continuing austerity, because I know how important it is not to damage the German economy, but madness overtook me in the polling booth.

"Now we face a future of working hospitals, of recovering industry, of my children not begging for food in the streets. I wish I had not been so rash."

EU technocrat Denys Finch Hatton said: "There is a very real danger that people across Europe, inspired by the Greeks, will no longer choose to be ruled against their best interests by people they never voted for living in massive wealth hundreds of miles away.

"Though we hope they will follow the fine example Scotland set and continue to do just that."

[The Brain]

Ouch. Is such sarcasm directed at those who are down for the count really in good taste?

[Martinus]

Syriza is pro gay marriage.

And their coalition partner, the Independent Greeks, are anti-Jewish, anti-immigrant and anti-gay. Besides, I am not willing to vote for a devil only because he supports gay marriage.

[Martinus]

Speaking of which, I intend to form a coalition with my cat, so in a democratic vote we can decide not to owe the bank any money on my mortgage any more.

[The Larch]

Apparently the exiting Greek government has taken with them, amongst other stuff, every single computer in their offices.

[Sheilbh]

And the password to the WiFi

Edit: Also all the soap and loo roll.

[CountDeMoney]

Austerity to the bitter end.  No wonder they fucking lost.

[mongers]

Apparently the exiting Greek government has taken with them, amongst other stuff, every single computer in their offices.

Wacky idea, but maybe they've got some things to hide from the electorate? 

[The Larch]

In the article I read it it was said that it's some kind of Greek political tradition to completely empty your offices before the newcomer arrives, breaking havoc in paper trails in the process.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

greek extreme-left in coalition with nationalists... funny how they have a national-socialist government now

[Martinus]

greek extreme-left in coalition with nationalists... funny how they have a national-socialist government now

What's even funnier is how the Idiot Left is gushing over this victory.

[crazy canuck]

greek extreme-left in coalition with nationalists... funny how they have a national-socialist government now

What could possibly go wrong.

[Ideologue]

Marty is only pro-gay marriage if it comes with an ironclad prenup.

Well I ain't sayin' he's a gold digger
But he ain't messin' with no broke Wiktors

[dps]

Apparently the exiting Greek government has taken with them, amongst other stuff, every single computer in their offices.

Reminds me of something that happened years ago in WV, though the motivation in that case was an unusual level of personal animosity for US politics:  when Jay Rockefeller was succeeding Arch Moore as governor, when Moore vacated the Governor's Mansion, he (well, probably not Moore personally, but someone on his staff I suppose) loosened every light bulb in the building just enough that it wouldn't come on.  And shortened the legs on the desk in the Governor's Office just enough so that the very tall Rockefeller couldn't sit behind it comfortably.  Petty and infantile, but still amusing.

[Admiral Yi]

I really hope they manage to pull this off.

What would managing to pull this off look like?

I hope they do exactly what they promised to do.