Aasof’s Reflections

Greek economist Yanis Varoufakis writes for Channel 4 News about why the Euro crisis should not simply be seen through the prism of a famous Aesop fable.

The Euro crisis is being presented through the prism of Aesop’s fable as that of the industrious northern ant that must, after the warm summer days have passed, bail out the profligate grasshopper. The video makes the point that there is something profoundly wrong with the way Aesop’s metaphor is applied to Europe’s current woes: neither the ants nor the grasshoppers are confined to one or more countries.

The Ant and the Grasshopper

In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about,
chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by,
bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the
nest.

“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper,
“instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”

“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant,
“and recommend you to do the same.”

“Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; we have got
plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and
continued its toil. When the winter came the Grasshopper had no
food and found itself dying of hunger, while it saw the ants
distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had
collected in the summer. Then the Grasshopper knew:

It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.