Germany’s Destructive Anger
But when the German economists spoke at the final session, a completely different tone took over the room. Within the economic theories and numbers came a moral message: The Germans were honest dupes and the Greeks corrupt, unreliable and incompetent. Both parties were reduced to caricatures of themselves. We’ve heard this story throughout the negotiations, but in that room, it was clear how much resentment shapes the views of German economists.
.. It reminded me that in German, debt, “schuld,” also means moral fault or blame.
.. When I asked if any had visited Greece to assess poverty, brain drain and business closings, they simply shook their heads.
.. For it seems that their sense of victimization has made them lose their cool, both in negotiations and in their economic assessments. If the Germans are going to lead Europe, they can’t do it as victims.