The purpose is to humiliate

‘The Greek Struggle Session’

In Greece now, but the rest of Europe soon to follow: “It’s not the money. It’s the humiliation. The Greeks have been cast in a German snuff film for the titillation of German technocrats and as a warning to everyone now living under the German yoke. You either goose step to the tune being played in Brussels or end up like Greece.

…

“If you are a Greek citizen, how can you have any faith in your Greek democracy? Why would you bother with it? You now see that voting is just a charade. The people making the decisions are in Berlin and Brussels and they speak German. Those are the people in charge, not those guys lobbying for your vote. Comrade, why are you struggling against the tide of history?”

http://thezman.com/wordpress/

(Humiliation is a thing American Progressives know how to do quite well. And, Progressives would/will make us Citizens of the World.)

As goes Greece …

“In a healthy social democracy, the main parties represent the core of the nation. What we’re seeing all over the West is the main parties are losing support from the core as they defend the privileges of the elites over all else. The people will have their tribune, so eventually a fringe party finds a way to make its case to the disaffected core. That’s what has happened in Greece and is in process throughout Europe.”

http://thezman.com/wordpress/

Apparently, the Greeks are telling European banks and governments, “Bugger off.” As for main parties defending “the privileges of the elites over all else,” see Republican and Democratic congresspersons in D.C. right now. Our pitchforks and torches have not been the same as in Europe (not as sharp nor as hot), but in some things maybe we should be like them. Maybe.