Nouveau riche signs

In the 2000s, Greece witnessed an era of irrational exuberance, better known here as "the era of lobster pasta." Some people would even fly by helicopter to an island just to enjoy such a meal. As the apologists of that time said, "That's what economic growth brings." They viewed any criticism of these phenomena as elitist snobbery. 

However, it was not. Prosperity based on healthy, productive investments that adhere to rules and laws is to be welcomed. In contrast, bubbles of every kind, state-dependent businesses, and opportunistic ventures are not. After all, we saw where that wild party led: Most of its key players are now bankrupt, not because they took serious business risks. Some are still trying to extricate themselves from various criminal cases, although most have managed to "clean up." The naive who invested in the stock market gamble were left holding worthless...