Alex Pattakos

God bless America. And God bless Greece. Both nations could use some divine intervention right about now. At their own peril, the United States and Greece are moving along paths that could result in their effective demise­-at the very least they each could become non-recognizable when viewed through the lens of history. And whether they like it or not, both countries are experiencing formidable “transformational” challenges that even the mighty Heracles would find difficult to deal with. But, we must ask, will such transformation really result in the kind of change that we can believe in? And, importantly, is it change that serves our highest good, both personally and collectively? 

On March 25th, Greece celebrated the 189th Anniversary of its Declaration of Independence. How ironic. In view of recent political and economic events, along with the malaise that covers the nation like a sick blanket, we might as well re-name and celebrate March 25th with “Happy Dependence Day.” And I’m afraid that we’ll soon be able to say the same thing on the 4th of July in the U.S.A. In this regard, while reliance on government welfare (and I use this term broadly) in the “Land of the Free” still may be behind that in the “Cradle of Democracy,” although perhaps not as far behind as some people may think, American citizens are fast becoming dependent upon their government in insidious and, dare I say, “unhealthy,” ways.

Of course, the United States is not Greece despite the fact that it owes so much of its system of governance and cultural heritage to all things Greek. Economically, while there are certainly similarities between what’s been happening in the “old” country and what’s been happening in the good-ole U.S.A., Greece no longer has the presumed luxury of being able to print its own currency when in need. Unable to rely on its own economic virtues and the illusion of expanding degrees of freedom by injecting “Monopoly” money into the system, Greece must now depend on the good will and fiscal capacity of other nations. And as we all know, these nations are not necessarily “good neighbors,” frequently resulting, when push comes to shove, in encounters of the worst kind. 

Against this volatile background, Greece, the little country that could, is caught, much like Sisyphus, between a big rock and a very hard place. And to complicate matters further, Greece has a citizenry that also seems to have lost its way. Mistaking entitlement for freedom, the core Greek values of responsibility and love of honor (philotimo) have been replaced by a new and weird form of greed­-government owes us a life and a living from cradle to grave! I find this new, so-called progressive, paradigm to be bizarre and a freedom killer rather than a freedom promoter.

Indeed, I don’t recall either my grandfather, who had emigrated from Crete to America in search of a “better” life for his family (and subsequently returned to his village to rest in peace), or my father, who exemplified the authentic Greek American spirit in Horatio Alger fashion, ever advising me to look to government for my happiness, health, or welfare! Indeed, I learned from a very early age just the opposite. Prosperity, to be sure, required opportunity (something in which governance systems obviously play a key role through their regulatory powers); but taking advantage of such opportunities required taking personal responsibility and action, as well as being self-confident and self-empowered. At no time was I taught (or programmed) to feel “entitled” to anything that I did not deserve or earn from hard work. Moreover, I learned quickly­-and sometimes abruptly­-that what government giveth, government can take away. Hence, slurping at the public trough, that is, being dependent upon government action, no matter how well intended, was not a cherished value in my proud Greek (Cretan) family, be they in Greece or in America.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, Greeks appear to want to have it both ways. Paradoxically, while they despise government intrusion in their private lives, a manifestation of which is not supporting the government of their choice by paying their taxes, they fully expect (and feel entitled) to government assistance so that they can live out their private lives without intrusion. Too many Greeks seem intent on showcasing to the world that they are unwilling and unable to sacrifice self-interest in favor of the public interest during difficult times. Whatever it takes (e.g., strikes and rioting) and whatever it costs (e.g., depression, recession, and the like), they want “the” government to give them their entitlements even if they are unreasonable and, yes, unsustainable. Their sense of entitlement, be warned, only serves to exacerbate the situation and breed even more contempt for government due to the incongruence between ends and means, that is, between expectations and reality. 

Now with President Obama’s unsustainable healthcare entitlement, the United States is positioned to follow suit, catch up with and join Greece at the edge of the cliff. But remember, the great entitlement carnival is not a celebration after all; it’s a bandwagon of misery that eventually robs human beings of true freedom. True freedom cannot (and does not) exist without responsibility. And without a sense of personal responsibility for one’s decisions and actions, the freedom to choose, to be engaged, to be creative and innovative, and, in the final analysis, to be self-empowered, become fleeting and disappear. 

The United States of America does not need to embrace Greek-style retirement to experience the dire implications of what I’m referring to here. This country has already set into motion policies that will help to ensure that the plot unfolding in Greece also happens here. Economic realities notwithstanding, we should all be concerned about the role and influence of big government on individual freedom and, by implication, the general welfare. 

ASPA member, former National Council member, and proud Greek-American Alex Pattakos is the founder of the Center for Meaning in Santa Fe, NM, and author of the book, "Prisoners of Our Thoughts: Viktor Frankl's Principles for Discovering Meaning in Life and Work." Email: alex@prisonersofourthoughts.com