Είναι η μετάφραση στα Αγγλικά του κειμένου μου με τίτλο "Ξεκάθαρο μήνυμα" που γράφτηκε 5 Ιουνίου 2013 και δημοσιεύτηκε στη Μεταρρύθμιση
It hasn’t been long since
the last elections, that followed some previous elections, that followed our
Prime Minister’s Papandreou announcement from the island of Kastelorizo
regarding our country's accession to the Memorandum, a tripartite agreement
between Greece, EU and the IMF. This form of financial aid towards an economy
of the Eurozone in default, among other consequences, has revealed the truth
about Greece’s real financial situation and many liars among the Greek politicians
and civil rulers.
Today in the midst of this dire Greek crisis, we are daily bombarded by purported dilemmas on the necessity of establishing new political formations to fill the Liberal gap; a pollster gap, to be more precise. Instead of rallying their conscience for the sake of critical and urgent public debates, Neo-Liberals choose to elaborate new political strategies, rediscovering their Liberal way of thinking. What a pity. They also bring to publicity some compelling questions: Do we need or not, a new centre-left party? Do we need or not, new ideas and initiatives from experienced past members of PASOK and DIMAR? Do we need or not, “new” policies “against the prolonged austerity”? And the carousel of navel-gazing and time-wasting goes on, unrivalled. And the same people answer their own questions. “Yes, Greece needs our new strategies and policies, but we (and we only) are the ones to establish them”. Sometimes they name it a “healthy discussion” for the reform of the Neo-Liberal party and sometimes they name it a “strong protest against the oppression tactics of the Troika”. It makes no difference. Deadlocks remain. The crisis cannot be treated with wishful thinking. Austerity is here for the fifth year and cannot be treated
So, where does the exact problem of the Neo-Liberal politicians, truly lie? The problem lies in the message they send to Greek society. The message should be clear for society to listen to. It should be essential, regarding the heart of the Greek crisis; should not include any of the political ambitions of the marginalized or nostalgic of the glory of their past, public speakers. The heart of the Greek crisis is that the burden of economic adjustment has been shouldered by the poor Greeks and only them. And this is manifestly unfair and provocative . The message has to be crystal clear “Turn Left-Turn to progressive liberal policies to emerge from the crisis”. And this message has to touch the souls of the majority of the Greek citizens. Of the small, weak and defenceless citizens, against the onslaught of the crisis. Of those who do not have “access” to the system, who did not take part in the squandering of public money. The ones who far from the illusory dilemmas between “the centre-left” and the “centre-right” political theories, struggle between survival and extinction. The message should be clear, if our real objective is to change the world and our country. If Greece wants to change its trajectory, we have to re-establish a genuine popular movement (a real Liberal Left party) aimed at the resistance, against gritty Neo-Liberal policies, which in various ways pervade Greek public life. The difficult, daily lives of the many under austerity that contrasts the conservative projects of the few. The same few as in past times , unchanged. Represented by the same past-time minded politicians. Advertised by the same past-time minded, mass media barons.
It is time to take our moral and intellectual weapons and enlist in a fair fight; for the vision and the way of a real popular democracy, for the ramparts of the true, the genuine Liberal mentality, on behalf of a country open to reforms and progress. Through a socially oriented administration which will benefit the people, so that the people will regain their lost morale, their spirit, that was brutally attacked by the economic and socio-political paternalism. We need momentum. We need organization with a new understanding, which requires the participation of many of us through open processes. We need new technologies to cover every corner of the country and every voice requesting liberty and reforms. We need good coordination and clear demands, concrete suggestions and solutions. We need the base of the social pyramid, not the top of it. We need solidarity and cooperation – not competition and rivalry.
In the place of the local committees we should put real social networks. We should replace the political party apparatuses, with online communication platforms. In the place of bureaucracy, we should install think tanks. Instead of bosses and monopolies we should harvest the creative potential of the emerging Greek entrepreneurial community, which seeks market alternatives and commercial success through free enterprise. We should elect and be elected through critical thinking and open dialogue. We should not be patronized, capped and muzzled. We should not fit into the moulds of corruption and favouritism. The message would then be clear.
Today in the midst of this dire Greek crisis, we are daily bombarded by purported dilemmas on the necessity of establishing new political formations to fill the Liberal gap; a pollster gap, to be more precise. Instead of rallying their conscience for the sake of critical and urgent public debates, Neo-Liberals choose to elaborate new political strategies, rediscovering their Liberal way of thinking. What a pity. They also bring to publicity some compelling questions: Do we need or not, a new centre-left party? Do we need or not, new ideas and initiatives from experienced past members of PASOK and DIMAR? Do we need or not, “new” policies “against the prolonged austerity”? And the carousel of navel-gazing and time-wasting goes on, unrivalled. And the same people answer their own questions. “Yes, Greece needs our new strategies and policies, but we (and we only) are the ones to establish them”. Sometimes they name it a “healthy discussion” for the reform of the Neo-Liberal party and sometimes they name it a “strong protest against the oppression tactics of the Troika”. It makes no difference. Deadlocks remain. The crisis cannot be treated with wishful thinking. Austerity is here for the fifth year and cannot be treated
So, where does the exact problem of the Neo-Liberal politicians, truly lie? The problem lies in the message they send to Greek society. The message should be clear for society to listen to. It should be essential, regarding the heart of the Greek crisis; should not include any of the political ambitions of the marginalized or nostalgic of the glory of their past, public speakers. The heart of the Greek crisis is that the burden of economic adjustment has been shouldered by the poor Greeks and only them. And this is manifestly unfair and provocative . The message has to be crystal clear “Turn Left-Turn to progressive liberal policies to emerge from the crisis”. And this message has to touch the souls of the majority of the Greek citizens. Of the small, weak and defenceless citizens, against the onslaught of the crisis. Of those who do not have “access” to the system, who did not take part in the squandering of public money. The ones who far from the illusory dilemmas between “the centre-left” and the “centre-right” political theories, struggle between survival and extinction. The message should be clear, if our real objective is to change the world and our country. If Greece wants to change its trajectory, we have to re-establish a genuine popular movement (a real Liberal Left party) aimed at the resistance, against gritty Neo-Liberal policies, which in various ways pervade Greek public life. The difficult, daily lives of the many under austerity that contrasts the conservative projects of the few. The same few as in past times , unchanged. Represented by the same past-time minded politicians. Advertised by the same past-time minded, mass media barons.
It is time to take our moral and intellectual weapons and enlist in a fair fight; for the vision and the way of a real popular democracy, for the ramparts of the true, the genuine Liberal mentality, on behalf of a country open to reforms and progress. Through a socially oriented administration which will benefit the people, so that the people will regain their lost morale, their spirit, that was brutally attacked by the economic and socio-political paternalism. We need momentum. We need organization with a new understanding, which requires the participation of many of us through open processes. We need new technologies to cover every corner of the country and every voice requesting liberty and reforms. We need good coordination and clear demands, concrete suggestions and solutions. We need the base of the social pyramid, not the top of it. We need solidarity and cooperation – not competition and rivalry.
In the place of the local committees we should put real social networks. We should replace the political party apparatuses, with online communication platforms. In the place of bureaucracy, we should install think tanks. Instead of bosses and monopolies we should harvest the creative potential of the emerging Greek entrepreneurial community, which seeks market alternatives and commercial success through free enterprise. We should elect and be elected through critical thinking and open dialogue. We should not be patronized, capped and muzzled. We should not fit into the moulds of corruption and favouritism. The message would then be clear.
Break with the past
because we deserve a better future. The only way to achieve that is to speak
the truth openly. And the truth is that the people groan from misery and the
oligarchs still eat cake. And they wish to eat cake tomorrow and forever,
unbeknown to the Greeks. It's time to change that. It's time to manage our destiny.
It's time to establish a new Liberal democracy that will guarantee “national
independence and popular sovereignty”. A
Liberal party for the people, by the people.
Liberty is our will. Let's change the world. Let's change our country.
