(http://nypost.com/2015/07/05/decades-of-fraud-have-swindled-...)
In Greece, A Hairdresser Can Retire At 50 With Full Benefits (http://www.businessinsider.com/in-greece-you-can-retire-at-5...)
That's not a "deficit." If that was a deficit, than every person in the US who pays less than $11,000 in tax would be running a "deficit." That's just the way governments work: the amount you pay in tax and the amount of services you get back from the government aren't always the same. But we do all have representation in the authority that chooses how to spend the pot of money.
Greece is different because they have sovereignty over their budget. Greece's taxes aren't collected by the ECB (with enforcement power) and there is no European body deciding how the taxes will be spent.
The Greek case of lying and spending way beyond any reasonable means does not compare to it.
The U.S. also, historically speaking fought a very bloody civil war to keep states in the Union... (first rule of U.S. club, is you can never leave/quit U.S. club). Where as EU's history of unity/separation even in the last two centuries is very different. It's mostly a cultural difference.
That said, I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more assertiveness to state level governments in the U.S. ... even though I don't agree with typical politics in, for example, Texas, I appreciate their assertiveness in recent years.
The better analogy is the handling of "deadbeat dads" who don't pay child support. The government's response is to confiscate their drivers license. It doesn't require a genius that then they really won't be able to pay child support. At least in the case when non-payment was the result of unemployment or lower salary, which was undoubtedly a significant number of cases.
I didn't mean to imply that. The only similarity I was relying upon was non-payment of their legal obligations.
The Greek position is relatively similar. There is blame on both sides of such a loan, and more for the banks if the number or size of these loans threatens their very business when people default.
I am sorry. You should never have had to go through austerity either. We know better and we have no excuse for putting countries through austerity. The impact of austerity policies is obvious when you look at the countries in Europe so afflicted.
But that doesn't mean because you suffered, others must continue to suffer. We should do better.
Lots of projections in all these opinions. But for somebody that actually had to go through austerity measures, I am not happy to see others asking for a handout, with the only justification being "just because, Greek history".
EDIT: and if you downvote, at least be New Yorker enough, and justify your action. Otherwise, I would say that you just want a handout.