"Same tired Euro-jealousy. They haven't figured out yet, that their Socialist governments don't work well...so America is the bad, evil black sheep...:-)"
I agree to a degree of jealousy, or maybe call it "intellectual pride."
It is a block to seeing the facts of history. For over 55 years, Europe has had a "free" defense against the threat of attack.
As such, they have come to deeply embrace the view that the UN and EU are the reason for their peace and prosperity, overlooking the "free" defense shield provided by us.
I disagree with your contention their governments don't work. In fact, both we and they have "mixed" economies. Granted they have geater government in their economies, but they do work.
If necessary again, we will defend them and they would be our allies. Germany could easily elect a more pro-US government. Blair and Britain have been pretty good allies recently, as have MOST others. Italy, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Holland, Poland and others.
Europe is not the US, will never be just like us. But to denigrate them is not constructive.
I agree with you on the issue of their taking for grantid, the free nuclear umbrella that Europe has lived under, courtesy of the US taxpayer. We saved them from Hitler, and they have been spoiled ever since.
When I analyze their governments, I look at the Scandanavian countries, which are extreme Socialist in nature and none of them have robust economies, and no where near the standard of living that the U.S., as a capitalist society, has. That type of government destroys and suppresses individual productivity and reward, which is the absolute backbone of the sucsess of the U.S.
No thanks --- :-)