Pro-Growth

The Wall Street Journal reports that "Alexis Tsipras, the 37-year-old head of the Coalition of the Radical Left, known as Syriza, and potentially the country's next prime minister" is doing what those on the left always seem to do when faced with the reality of crushing national debt—they double down. Tsipras demands the Greece jettison its plans for austerity (note that austerity is planned only, none has yet taken effect) and instead adopt a "pro-growth" agenda, funded by other members of the EU. "Pro-growth" is simply a left-wing euphemism for increased government spending, let the national debt be damned.

"Our first choice is to convince our European partners that, in their own interest, financing must not be stopped," Mr. Tsipras said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. He said Greece doesn't intend to take any unilateral action, "but if they proceed with unilateral action on their side, in other words they cut off our funding, then we will be forced to stop paying our creditors, to go to a suspension in payments to our creditors."

As long as other EU countries are willing to fund Greece's spending, there's nothing to worry about, right? And if they don't, Greece simply won't repay what they already owe. Like any (spending) addict, Greece demands more of other people's money to fuel its habit, and then threatens not to repay other people's money, as if that will somehow promote confidence among the lenders. But that's the through-the-looking-glass world of the Left.

Tsipras fervently believes that there's no need for austerity. Taxing "the rich," and increasing the country's already crippling deficits will somehow lead to "growth." Sadly, this delusional point of view is shared by other leftist politicians in Europe and the United States. Increasing the retirement age, reducing government benefits, shrinking real spending, and controlling entitlements are not an option. Sound familiar? It should. Our President and his supporters take essentially the same position.

There's only one real difference.No one will be there to bail us out when we approach national bankruptcy. But no worries. After all, Barack Obama and his supporters really care about those who are less fortunate. It's just that they never seem to consider what will happen to "those who are less fortunate" once the money really does run out. Pro-growth spending ... yeah, that's the ticket.