Syriza Victory Reveals Media’s One-Dimensional Backwardness

By Chris Spannos
Source: teleSUR English
January 31, 2015

Syriza’s sensational triumph in the recent Greek elections sent shock waves around the world and has whipped some international media into a frenzy.

Hours after being sworn in, the new Syriza government froze privatizations, re-instituted a monthly 751 euro minimum wage, promised immigrant children citizenship, canceled public sector layoffs, and more.

The New York Times questioned the ability of the Syriza government to succeed. The Independent asserted that Greece is doomed to failure. And the BBC and Reuters worried about market rumblings.

To these powerful media outlets Syriza’s actions — aimed at ensuring basic human well-being so that people have a decent income to guarantee access to shelter and food, for example — are backward. For them, the European Commission, International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank imposed economic austerity — which has caused 3 million Greeks to go without health insurance, soaring infant mortality, and an increase in suicides — is necessary to make the country competitive in the global market.

It is difficult to see how this view could be more irrational.