Prodigal Son
The Greek economy is in a mess - of that there is no doubt.
But one way to understand what's going on is to look at things through a parable from the bible - the story of The Prodigal Son.
Now I don't know if the tale is different in the Greek Orthodox Church - but according to the gospel of St Luke - the whole business revolves around a father and his two sons.
The younger of the two sons asks his father to give him - up front - his share of the family estate - which the old man agrees to for reasons that are never adequately explained.
The mother's views of course - whatever they were - don't count.
Anyway the number two son sets off on his travels - and blows his new found wealth on all kinds of foolish things.
No doubt the biblical equivalent of - sex, drugs and rock and roll.
After a while of leading a completely dissolute life - the young man's fortunes take a turn for the worse - his money runs out - his fairweather friends disappear - and he's forced to take a job as a swineherd just to survive.
Finally he realises what a mistake he's made - what an asshole he's been - and heads for home - where he throws himself on his father's mercy.
As a punishment for his sins and bad behaviour - the chastened young man pleads with his own father to disown him - but to save his life by taking him on as a hired hand.
But instead the father welcomes him back into the bosom of his family - and celebrates the young man's return with a magnificent feast - by slaughtering a fattened calf.
Now the number one son is mightily pissed off at the whole business - understandably since he has been working away at his father's side all this time - supporting the family business.
Yet the father tells his older son not to be so harsh on his younger brother - but to welcome that fact that - at long last - he has seen the light and error of his ways.
Now that's a good story - but like most things in the bible it doesn't make much sense - as a code for living the rest of your life.
Because in the real world - what's the incentive for anyone to do anything - other than behave like the Prodigal Son?
Selfishly and irresponsibly.
And in terms of the Eurozone - that's exactly what's happening.
Greece has not just spent the family's inheritance - it's run up a whole pile of debts which others are being asked to pay off - or 'write down'.
Now you can argue that some of the people who lent the Prodigal Son all this money - i.e. the bankers - deserve to take a hit or a 'haircut' - because they should have known better than to exploit this stupid young man.
But it's more complicated than that - since the people who really suffer are the investors and shareholders in the bank - not all of whom will be greedy capitalists of course.
Lots of them will be quite ordinary folks - who have just put a few Euros away for their retirement.
One thing's clear from all this - St Luke never brought up any teenage children - that's for sure.
But one way to understand what's going on is to look at things through a parable from the bible - the story of The Prodigal Son.
Now I don't know if the tale is different in the Greek Orthodox Church - but according to the gospel of St Luke - the whole business revolves around a father and his two sons.
The younger of the two sons asks his father to give him - up front - his share of the family estate - which the old man agrees to for reasons that are never adequately explained.
The mother's views of course - whatever they were - don't count.
Anyway the number two son sets off on his travels - and blows his new found wealth on all kinds of foolish things.
No doubt the biblical equivalent of - sex, drugs and rock and roll.
After a while of leading a completely dissolute life - the young man's fortunes take a turn for the worse - his money runs out - his fairweather friends disappear - and he's forced to take a job as a swineherd just to survive.
Finally he realises what a mistake he's made - what an asshole he's been - and heads for home - where he throws himself on his father's mercy.
As a punishment for his sins and bad behaviour - the chastened young man pleads with his own father to disown him - but to save his life by taking him on as a hired hand.
But instead the father welcomes him back into the bosom of his family - and celebrates the young man's return with a magnificent feast - by slaughtering a fattened calf.
Now the number one son is mightily pissed off at the whole business - understandably since he has been working away at his father's side all this time - supporting the family business.
Yet the father tells his older son not to be so harsh on his younger brother - but to welcome that fact that - at long last - he has seen the light and error of his ways.
Now that's a good story - but like most things in the bible it doesn't make much sense - as a code for living the rest of your life.
Because in the real world - what's the incentive for anyone to do anything - other than behave like the Prodigal Son?
Selfishly and irresponsibly.
And in terms of the Eurozone - that's exactly what's happening.
Greece has not just spent the family's inheritance - it's run up a whole pile of debts which others are being asked to pay off - or 'write down'.
Now you can argue that some of the people who lent the Prodigal Son all this money - i.e. the bankers - deserve to take a hit or a 'haircut' - because they should have known better than to exploit this stupid young man.
But it's more complicated than that - since the people who really suffer are the investors and shareholders in the bank - not all of whom will be greedy capitalists of course.
Lots of them will be quite ordinary folks - who have just put a few Euros away for their retirement.
One thing's clear from all this - St Luke never brought up any teenage children - that's for sure.
