A Periclean Solution

Greece ill-temperedly rattles a tin cup, desperate for another handout from the European Union but feeling far more anger than gratitude toward its would-be benefactors.

Italy shares Greece’s pain – and its deeply ingrained sense of resentment and entitlement. It too blames the rest of the world for high unemployment, falling living standards, and the inability of its government to pay its bills or to keep from falling deeper and deeper into debt. It will be no surprise if Italy follows Greece in bellying up to the EU’s bailout line.