In Greece the people are listening to final arguments about whether they should continue to use the Euro as their currency or abandon the austerity in the hope that in doing so they will abandon the poverty that has afflicted Greece since austerity measures were introduced. It is presented as a choice between good and evil by some or a choice that makes no difference by others. It is more likely a choice between Scylla and Charybdis. Odysseus chose Scylla as being the least bad option. He lost some men to the sea monster but did not lose the whole ship to the whirlpool of Charybdis.
The problem for the modern Odysseus is that no one knows whether staying in the euro is Scylla or Charybdis. My feeling is that Scylla is leaving the euro: it will cause harm and problems but fewer problems than staying in the euro, but in the nature of things, we shall never know which route was the least dangerous.
Filed under: climate change Tagged: | austerity measures, euro, Greece, scylla and charybdis, scylla and charybdis odysseus, Scylla.Charybdis
