GREECE: Germany was forgiven; why not Greeks?
After World War II, Americans who had fought Nazi Germany gave vast amounts of money through the Marshall Plan to help Germany rebuild its economy and become a democracy. American immigrants and their descendants who had fought the Nazis, and who knew the Nazis had destroyed their relatives, willingly paid taxes to help Germany become a prosperous and democratic nation.
Still the German government had more debt than it could handle without its economy continuing to struggle.
In 1953, the U.S. and its World War II allies cut Germany's debt in half and stretched payment to 30 years. Thus began the German economic miracle, and democracy began to flourish. We knew that the Nazis did not represent all Germans, although all Germans and Europeans suffered because of the Nazis.
Contrast that with the current German attitude toward Greece. Since 1974, two political parties traded power in Greece. They allowed debts to build.The government party, Syriza, became the leader in January. Unemployment tops 25 percent.
The International Monetary Fund says Greece can't pay the debts. German Chancellor Angela Merkel refuses to consider a debt reduction. She wants more austerity.
What if the U.S. had treated Germany as Germany now treats Greece?
This story was originally published July 16, 2015 at 1:24 PM with the headline "GREECE: Germany was forgiven; why not Greeks?."