Sunday’s election in Greece saw the rise of political extremism in the birthplace of democracy. The far-leftists of Syriza and the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party will now control two of the three largest blocs in the Greek parliament. The mainstream parties, left and right, were obliterated.

Thus opens a new and worrying chapter in that nation’s modern story. Greece’s experience this decade demonstrates what can happen when nations allow latent fiscal crises to fester — when they avoid addressing the problem until there are no good options remaining.