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Lessons I learned from Greece #1: abysmal incompetence of populist government leads many to mistaken belief it will be over quickly
Lessons I learned from Greece #2: for a long time you think you've seen the worst, but you haven't seen anything yet
Lessons I learned from Greece #3: the things that strike you as utterly shocking are applauded by others, perhaps even the majority
Lessons I learned from Greece #4: when assessing a populist govt it's always hard to tell whether it's just incompetence or dark designs
Lessons I learned from Greece #5: nothing like a populist government to re-legitimize mainstream politics. If you manage to survive
Lessons I learned from Greece #6: best way to boost opposition populist agenda/candidates? Ask experts to show why they are wrong
Lessons I learned from Greece #7: populist parties are protest movements; they often ask good questions but have neither answers nor clues
Lessons I learned from Greece #8: populists gain traction by scolding the "elites" for corruption, but when in power they out-corrupt them
Lessons I learned from Greece #9: populist govts won't end just because their record is terrible; they can last if opposition is in disarray
Lessons I learned from Greece #10: because populist govts have few achievements to sell, they manufacture polarization, division, hatred
Lessons I learned from Greece #11: worst enemy of those opposed to populist governments? Believing "this is so bad, it can't possibly go on"
Lessons I learned from Greece #12: most wrenching realization? That the demise of populism might require a major disaster
Lessons I learned from Greece #13: populists' typical rhetorical weapon against opposition: "you aren't Greek enough"
Lessons I learned from Greece #14: Wrong to think that people will turn against populist government as soon as it fails to deliver, but...
Lessons I learned from Greece #15:...but equally wrong to believe that people will stick with populist govt for the long run not matter what
Lessons I learned from Greece #16: because they are obsessed with control, populist govts erode institutions and undermine civil society
Lessons I learned from Greece #17: ... but I don't know the extent or reversibility of this damage based on what I have seen so far
Lessons I learned from Greece #18: debate and speculation about what a populist govt will do revolve around three possible paths
Lessons I learned from Greece #19: one, they will adapt, moderate, even be a semi-competent govt like others
Lessons I learned from Greece #20: two, they will create a mess through total incompetence, megalomania, graft, sheer adventurism
Lessons I learned from Greece #21: three, it's a one way ticket to authoritarianism (or "revolution" if you are keen on it).
Lessons I learned from Greece #22: Two and a half years later, people in Greece are still debating about which path the country is on
Lessons I learned from Greece #23: Never underestimate populist politicians who have won elections; they get politics in a way you might not
Lessons I learned from Greece #24: visceral excitement of voting for a populist candidate parallels teenagers' feelings when breaking rules
Lessons I learned from Greece #25: the chasm between pre-election daze and realization of just what happened right after populists won
Lessons I learned from Greece #26: When the moment comes for populists to deliver, they call elections; when they hit a wall, a referendum
Lessons I learned from Greece #27: How populists justify yawning gap between promises and reality? "At least we try," "The others are worse"
Lessons I learned from Greece #28: Populists favorite style of government is to oppose the opposition
