WFS,

I suggest you read Aristotle's "Politics." While Athenian democracy may be radically different from our conception, Aristotle's treatment of democracy is more expansive, including some states with elements combining democracy and oligarchy. Some of those options look very similar to Republics. Moreover, Polybius wrote about the importance of checks/balances.

Also, Europe's departure from the Dark Ages academically corresponded with a revival in the Greek intellectual traditions.

ARFeh,

Actually, the western half of the empire always piggybacked off of the eastern half. The eastern half was always the wealthiest, hence why the east survived until 1453.

It's also important to note that the last Byzantine Emperor, Emperor Constantine XI, chose to die defending Constantinople rather than accept the offer of exile.

Get real Justinian. Spending billions of Euro's on a failed state because of some ancient slight, that's insane.

"It's also important to note that the last Byzantine Emperor, Emperor Constantine XI, chose to die defending Constantinople rather than accept the offer of exile."
No its not. Its only important if someone makes it important and nobody does. It had little consequences.

> Little Paul wrote:

> "It's also important to note that the last Byzantine Emperor, Emperor Constantine XI, chose to die defending Constantinople rather than accept the offer of exile."
No its not. Its only important if someone makes it important and nobody does. It had little consequences.

he's still alive last I heard...

> Orbit wrote:

> Greece were retiring people at like 50?  and their tax is really weak, no wonder they have no money.

Greece has a MAJOR problem of Tax avoidance and Tax EVASION. People in Greece really don't like paying taxes. This wouldn't be a big problem however if the Greeks hadn't spent the last decade borrowing money like there was no tomorrow. Not only did the Greeks lie to the EU about how much debt they were in but also they lied to their own people. Their budgets have been fake. They released falsified figures showing Greece to be in far better financial state than it actually was. Greece is like the ENRON of the international community.

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Well, imo, this whole bailout is stupid, the fact that they already live in such high dept means that they are living above their capabilities....and increasing their debt wont help anybody, it will only make things more hopeless.

What i find even more funny, is that countries who are way worse than Greece, have to support them with 1/3 of the countries budget.
i mean, average salary here is 4-5 times less than in Greece, and minimum salary is 3 times less, yet...we have to support those who are way wealthier than us. weird huh. Not to mention the pension system.

What you need to do, is let Greece crumble to the ground.....and then rebuild themselves with a balanced budget.

atm, every single Greek citizen owes 30000 euros. let them pay it back(if they cant, government pays for them)....and stop giving more.

This bailout is meant to save the banks who borrowed the money, not Greece.

And about history lessons here, Greece past doesnt give any privileges to its  modern people.
Just as second world war and the holocausts dont give us any right to accuse Germans living today.....past "favors" by civilizations wont obligate us to do any favors to its modern people. People living today, are individuals...whose responsibilities began at their birth.

If that was the case, we would all be pouring all our money and efforts into Africa, the cradle of life.

ghadaffi is dying

Greeks are on the beach dancing

dancing around bonfires of bonds

fermenting 100 euro bills to make ouzo