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Do you follow Yanis Varoufakis? Two recent articles, on UK and on protest.

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 7:08 pm

I'm not sure why it is, but Yanis Varoufakis does seem to rub up a lot of left-wingers the wrong way. Is it his academic background? His wealthy upbringing? His motorbike and leather coat? Because he's Greek? Or accusations of self promotion?

This is a real shame, because he is an important intellectual support of left wing ideas and policies - finance, economics and politics. . I have all his books (on Kindle) We should be able to admire his command of his brief, his intellectual capabilities, his sheer energy.

Two recent articles are worth reading.

One, He makes use of the Iranian protests to muse on independent thinking whilst part of a left-wing politics - he's called himself earlier for instance an "erratic marxist". He starts his article nicely: Dealing with random, unprovoked abuse is never easy. But dealing with random, unprovoked praise can be even harder. An Athenian taxi driver, a Nazi sympathiser, told me recently, “I am a Golden Dawn voter, but I think the world of you.” I would rather that he had punched me in the stomach.

Independent thought can lead to sharing your political bed with some unwelcome bedfellows......I feel much the same having to agree with Tucker Carlson in regard to the Russo-Ukrainian- NATO war.

https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu/2022/11/15/the-new-iranian-revolution-as-an-opportunity-for-the-internationalist-left-project-syndicate/

Two. Rishi Sunak’s ‘grown-up’ austerity is designed to keep zombie capitalism alive -- The demise of Trussonomics was a welcome victory for decency and common sense in a minor battle within a broader class war. Sadly, the class that Liz Truss tried to bolster with copious tax and regulatory gifts will win this war by deploying an even nastier, blunter, dirtier weapon: austerity

https://www.yanisvaroufakis.eu/2022/11/10/rishi-sunaks-grown-up-austerity-is-designed-to-keep-zombie-capitalism-alive/

He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out.

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 7:30 pm, in reply to "Do you follow Yanis Varoufakis? Two recent articles, on UK and on protest. "

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

Re: He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out.

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 8:05 pm, in reply to "He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out."

Goodness Keith, you're a man of few but emphatic words. In what way did he "sell out" Syriza as you claim?

Re: He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out.

Posted by Tomski <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 8:23 pm, in reply to "He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out."

Re: He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out.

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 8:31 pm, in reply to "Re: He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out."

I was under impression that he may have been keen to take out Greece from the EU and it was the leader (forget his name .. Simpras?) of Syriza that insisted on compliance with EU wishes i.e. prostration etc.

Not from the EU: from the Euro.

Wasn't he the one that was carpeted by the unelected EU bankers/Commission etc. during negotiations?

Not so much "carpeted" but not invited to important meetings which directly concerned his appointed role whilst whatever ones he did get he then found himself blanked.

Not in my recollection...

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 8:24 pm, in reply to "He rubs them the wrong way because he was a Syriza sell-out."

It says Varoufakis resigned because Tsipras was intent on selling out.

Agree .. nm

He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in

Was he a political virgin or a consenting adult?

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 9:31 pm, in reply to "He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in"

"Was he a political virgin or a consenting adult?"

Sure he was in the Syriza coalition but the point is that he was the guy who refused to sign up to the Syriza "sell out": that makes him the "non-consenting adult."

Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 11:10 pm, in reply to "Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in"

The Syriza policy of having a mandate short of leaving the Euro was always untenable.

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in

Posted by Tomski <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 25, 2022, 11:56 pm, in reply to "Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in"

The Syriza policy of having a mandate short of leaving the Euro was always untenable.

K264 doesn't know how to lose. Digging a hole. The conversation about Varofakis is a different conversation from discussing Syriza.

Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room"

Posted by John Monro <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=John+Monro' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 12:58 am, in reply to "Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in"

His book "Adults in theRoom" is his version of events Greece vs Europe (and its banks) I believe his version - as a political neophyte, he had not had time to learn how to dissemble. He had to undergo media criticism in a similar, though clearly not quite as nasty, way to Assange because he became an all too effective counter to the prevailing economic orthodoxy - for instance the Troika would leak details of their meetings to his disadvantage, when this was supposed to be confidential - fortunately he took contemporaneous notes as the meetings were never minuted. . One of the criticisms directed at him, unfairly, for instance by Mercouris, is that he had no back up, plan B, if he, Syriza, carried out his (implied) threat to leave the Euro. That's not true, he explains very well his plans for a Greek currency, a new Drachma, presumably, in his book - they didn't even have printing presses in Greece to print an alternative currency to the Euro so he had to invent some quite complicated work-arounds. In the event, Tsirpas's capitulation rendered his plans redundant.

If you haven't read his book, I'd strongly recommend it. It's very well written, and it's actually a real page turner in its political excitement and unbelievable shenanigans. It also explains his infamous leather coat.

Ultimately he was failed by his friend, Alexis Tsipras, and his government, actually the better word is betrayed, along with the Greek people.

Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room"

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 1:23 am, in reply to "Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room""

I disagree with Varoufakis on a number of issues but all in all fairly minor ones. On the essentials he was exactly right: Greece should have returned to the Drachma and ditched the Euro.

In terms of Syriza he was "The only Adult in the room"

True. Also re disagreements nm

Posted by Tomski <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 1:35 am, in reply to "Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room""

Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room"

Posted by sinister burt <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Sinister+Burt' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 9:28 am, in reply to "Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room""

I'll check that book - I read The Global Minotaur which is among the best explanations of 20th century economic history I've read (post war settlement, neoliberalism etc) - also recommend 'the weak shall suffer what they must?' - as you say, he can knock up an engaging narrative.

Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room"

Posted by Tomski <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 2:15 pm, in reply to "Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room""

I just picked it up from my 'sources' - for my reading list. I always thought he was smart but he didn't get anywhere with his DIEM(?) ..

Yanis Varoufakis misreading Ukraine crisis - Putin is a killer

Posted by Tomski <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 4:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Recommended to read: "Adults in the Room""

Just as I was looking for something positive to say about Yanis, I came across this vid (from 8 months ago) which floored me : /. Very shallow thinking. Such is life ..

Re: Yanis Varoufakis misreading Ukraine crisis - Putin is a killer

Posted by sinister burt <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Sinister+Burt' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 7:39 pm, in reply to "Yanis Varoufakis misreading Ukraine crisis - Putin is a killer"

Maybe - It doesn't affect his economic analysis/explanatory power (at least in his minotaur book), which is very good imo.

Don't cancel him

- I listen and respect the opinions of say Peter oborne in certain areas, as he earns that respect, but think he's a dick in others - people are complex - say lavvy.

Re: Yanis Varoufakis misreading Ukraine crisis - Putin is a killer

Posted by Tomski <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=TomskiD' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 7:57 pm, in reply to "Re: Yanis Varoufakis misreading Ukraine crisis - Putin is a killer"

Cheers SB. I had a knee-jerk reaction of wanting to bin his book I just downloaded. In case you haven't watched it, his Ukraine analysis there stinks. Almost Slava Ukraine, and we have Golden Dawn in Greece ya know .. (eyes roll).

Told you that liberals are fascists in cardigans....nm

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 27, 2022, 1:34 pm, in reply to "Re: Yanis Varoufakis misreading Ukraine crisis - Putin is a killer"

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in

Posted by Ken Waldron <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Ken+Waldron' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 1:15 am, in reply to "Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in"

"K264 doesn't know how to lose. Digging a hole... "

Well, there's a surprise...

I wrot them off after reading tht Putin dismissed Tsipras

Posted by Keith-264 <iframe src='https://members5.boardhost.com/xxxxx/info/user=Keith-264' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on November 26, 2022, 11:44 am, in reply to "Re: He dropped out but to do that he had to have joined in"

as a poseur. Is he cleverer than Varoufakis? They were and are bourgeois reformist shitbags.

Clio the cat, ? July 1997 - 1 May 2016
Kira the cat, ? ? 2010 - 3 August 2018
Jasper the Ruffian cat ? ? ? - 4 November 2021

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