[fchopin]

Greece is a great country, but seems to be at this point a welfare state. Whether there had been Brexit or not, it had fallen on hard times. From what I understand, many of its people supported Brexit, because they feel that they have been let down by the EU, although they are not in a good position to leave the EU themselves.

I wish the best for Greece; I think they will be able to overcome their current situation and be better for it in the end. It used to be a place that people longed to vacation in and saw as a gem of Europe. It is still the same country, regardless of their financial situation. Put up tens of thousands of travel posters that say, "Greece, Beauty on a Budget" around Europe, and you could solve that problem in a decade or less, perhaps.

[mastazi]

Your first sentence seems to imply that "great countries" don't or should not provide welfare/public aid... Care to elaborate?

[slowernet]

I think the poster was referring to the Greek economy's need for bailout/recapitalization from the EU, not provision of aid to their citizens.

[mastazi]

Yes, I just re-read the parent in light of your comment, it makes sense now, thank you.

[banach]

I am not sure that I understand your use of the term "welfare state". My dictionary says:

> a system whereby the government undertakes to protect the health and well-being of its citizens, especially those in financial or social need, by means of grants, pensions, and other benefits.

The above is standard in all of the northern-European countries typically lauded for their economic success. Clearly, this was not what caused the collapse of the Greek economy. Of course, there are many alternative theories, but the most convincing one I am aware of is that it was the result of subprime lending by north-European (predominantly German) banks.

[AnthonyMouse]

Your dictionary contains the Blue Team definition. The Red Team definition is a state that discourages work by providing welfare benefits to people who don't work (or don't work as much) but denies the same benefits to people who do work.

That has not been going particularly well for France or Spain either.