> Germany (for example) wouldn't put up with it even if the rules allowed it.
It makes sense. I have a lot of respect for Germany but there's probably some limit to how much they can make miracles happen. The nineties wasn't that long ago and my understanding is Germany has invested a lot in Eastern part of Germany over the last two or three decades. I'd be apprehensive about pouring money into Greece if there's no common identity between Greece and Germany that instinctively reassured me that if there was some tragedy in Germany, there wouldn't be "foreign aid" from Greece but rather the same disaster relief as Greece would offer itself.
My understanding though is that the common identity is still rather weak. I'm not just poking at the French. Seems like all Europeans think of themselves as Brits, Spaniards, Italian, or bla bla bla before they think of themselves as European. I think I listened to someone argue that the EU is not a country and never will be based on how the Constitution behind less preamble:
>> HIS MAJESTY THE KING OF THE BELGIANS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN OF DENMARK, ...
I think they tried to argue that the EU is somehow superior and more modern compared to these United States of America. I don't know much about the Eurozone but I'm very optimistic because I don't see any other way Europe doing any better than barely surviving if it did not unite.
More importantly, I think the stupid and nostalgic old people will die at some point.
> Just over 70% of 18 to 24-year-olds who voted in the referendum backed Remain, four major academic and commercial polls conducted shortly after the ballot agree, with just under 30% backing Leave.
> In contrast, only 40% of those aged 65 and over supported Remain, while 60% placed their cross against Leave.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-45098550
I am optimistic, for what it is worth.
By being one country as well as one currency region.
That's not just a glib answer. The US can use federal financial transfers to help, say, Mississippi. But the EU can't use direct financial transfers to help Greece, because EU rules (IIUC) don't allow it, and Germany (for example) wouldn't put up with being taxed to pay for it even if the rules allowed it.