Closer political union: The best solution for Europe

A clearly controversial opinion but perhaps the best option available to most middle-of-the-range Europeans as they see creeping spending cuts and budget austerity on an unprecedented scale.

Embattled citizens of the so-called PIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Greece and Spain) would probably not need much convincing. The recent developments in Greece (over 34 consecutive days of, mostly, peaceful protest) show, if anything, that people want to stay in the Euro but are disputing the viability of the ECB, EU and IMF plan to end the crisis. Most people realize that they will never see a cent of the loan packages in healthcare, education and other necessities while at the same time they will have to make massive concessions on their income and pensions. The scale of the cuts to incomes is perhaps not so hard to imagine for someone in Germany or the UK who is also facing austerity and pension reform. Still the budget cuts are truly draconian and leave little doubt about what is really going on to anybody who has not already taken to the street. The looming privatizations of public companies, land and ports are the nail in the coffin of any notions of national sovereignty and more reminiscent of a Third-world gold rush/grab rather than any serious program of economic development.

But the option given to Greeks is not leave the Euro or take the pain. Why should Greek people or other Europeans in general accept loans and rescue packages, which are funneled into state coffers and then funneled out to the domestic and international banks that hold national debt? Do voters have any democratic control over how this money is spent? Last week/month has shown that Greeks believe that they don't and that they will nevertheless have to pay it back. Voters in Northern Europe should think twice before condoning such 'reforms'.