CIA gives grim warning on European prospects

Scotsman ^ | 01/16/05 | NICHOLAS CHRISTIAN

[Diddle E. Squat]

Nope. He, and apparently you, are way off with your soundbite fatalism.

[John Lenin]

I suppose you belive the government figures that social security is funded through 20422. Just like we have a projected $10 trillion dollar surplus from 1999.

[epow]

Oh OK.

Sorry to be too slow to recognize the sarcasm and too quick to criticize your post.

I blame all my mistakes on advanced age. Yeah that's it, I was just born 40 years too soon.

[americanbychoice2]

I just clicked on your name and saw that you are English.
When I was European director for my company, I had to buy a flat in London in the 70's.
Three years later I sold it and couldn't believe the bidding war waged by the Arabs for it.
In retrospect, that was the beginning of the Arab invasion. Of course, that's only my opinion. However, I see it as one of the reasons most Brits can't afford to live in London anymore. The prices are unbelievable.

[americanbychoice2]

You get the wrong impression, I am not Anti-Europe.
I am very concerned and upset to see it being sold out.
Look at Germany, talk about arrogance? They and France are bringing down the EU, however, the Goebbels type media blames the US for all their woes on a daily basis.
I just get very tired of it.
By the way, I used to be German.

[americanbychoice2]

of course

[oldplayer]

Great, 500 million by 2050! Perfect, and when the bulk of those are retirement age, we will only need to import another 500 million young workers to pay for THEIR retirement and other benefits. Then we will be to an even 1 Billion. And then . . ?

As to the squabble between John and Amrican, both of you have interesting experiences to share. Sometimes an outsider can see what an insider can't.

Tyson

[americanbychoice2]

That's why we need to revise soc. sec. now, not wait until it bites us?

[Uncle Fud]

Agree with your point, but the metaphor ("drunken sailors on shore leave") is of course very unfair to drunken sailors, who spend only their own money.

[Dog Gone]

In fact everyone on here seems to hate Europe

Some of us arrogant Americans aren't too fond of France, Belgium, and to a lesser degree, Germany, based on recent political developments. But your statement is incorrect.

[Dog Gone]

If I am British but not English then what am I? :-)

If you're not Scottish, you're CRAP!

(That line comes from an American television show, in case you haven't heard it before)

[blam]

"As a result of the increased immigration needed, the report predicts that Europe’s Muslim population is set to increase from around 13% today to between 22% and 37% of the population by 2025, potentially triggering tensions. "

I read somewhere (I think the book, Civil War-2) that racial conflicts are predictible when the minority population exceeds a certain percent...I think two of those numbers cited above exceed that threshold. (...and, they're unarmed, poor bastards.)

[americanbychoice2]

Are you from the british Isles?

[epow]

You're right, we don't have the declining population that aggravates the economic problems of Europe, most of which result from many decades of socialistic paternalism. But we do suffer from the same naive mindset that believes government to be a magic money machine that can crank out an endless stream of goodies without anyone ever having to pay for it.

Of course the other half of that problem is the universal political tactic of promising the impossible to the incurably gullible in order to remain in power.

[americanbychoice2]

In my opinion, the move to the left is irreversible. You can't win any election without promising something new and better, regardless of party affiliation. (Unfortunately)
However, we are still far removed from the total and unsustainable socialism that prevails on the other side of the Atlantic.