It is admirable of Vrasidas Karalis to be melancholic on the perpetual corruption endemic in Greek politics. But it is not prudent of the Associate Professor of the Greek Department University of Sydney to offer scything criticism of political corruption in Greece without placing it within the general phenomenon of such practices in democracies everywhere.

To say that the American part of George Papandreou – the Prime Minister – would be better able to deal with the problem than his Greek part is to let the Australian Greek youth’s self esteem down.

It is well documented that corruption, in various degrees occurs in democratic governments everywhere, including Australia, Britain and USA. Although corruption in Greece is rather elevated, not all Greeks are corrupt.

It may be that this Greek Prime Minister has the moral character and leadership to act and bring about changes in the ethos of Greek politicians.

I would have liked to see the esteemed greek educator offer a critique on Greek politics rather than cricism.

A critique that includes comparisons with other corrupt governments and the solutions to this ethical problem to come from the good greek part of George Papandreou so that the self esteem of the Greek youth of Australia is not compromised.

As for me, I share the melancholia caused by the Greek social ethics with Vrasidas.

It is said that people elect the government they deserve.

Until the ethical education of the young in Greece is not dictated by the church but by a philosophical ethical system that is in tune with  the rest of the world and of our time, but is fueled by classical Greek thought, I am afraid, along with Vrasidas there is no hope in reducing corruption in Greek politics.

Peter Maniatis, NKEE website