Posted on 05/15/2005 10:21:07 AM PDT by ricks_place
BRUSSELS--Is the European "social model" doomed? It's a question that comes up with increasing frequency as unemployment across Western Europe has climbed into the double digits and economic growth has ground to a virtual halt across much of the Continent.
Updated GDP figures for the euro zone came out last week, and growth in the first quarter was a disappointing 0.5%. Last month both the European Commission and the European Central Bank cut their annual growth forecasts for the euro zone to 1.6% from 2%, and that ugly word recession is in the air.
...snip...
Given that Europe's streak of economic underperformance can now be measured in decades, perhaps a better question to ask is: Why does anyone think that a system of generous welfare benefits, high taxes and harsh restrictions on hiring and firing would ever produce anything like a dynamic, growing economy? Why does anyone assume that there is such a thing as a "European model," rather than just a collection of ill-conceived policies having a predictably depressing effect on the economy and job creation?
...snip...
Unfortunately, the prospects for Europe are not particularly bright right now.
...snip...
(Excerpt) Read more at opinionjournal.com ...
When you reward the people who don't work and penalize people the people who do work eventually have only people who don't work. It's simple really, but beyond the understanding of a socialist.
Socialism sure is doing a lot for them.
When you reward the people who don't work and penalize people the people who do work then eventually you have only people who don't work. It's simple really, but beyond the understanding of a socialist.
Armageddon might be sooner. (gloomy doomy sigh)
The whole idea of the EU is bound to blow up the way it seems to be going.
Chirac will be deeply saddened, LOL.
wait until they stick us with a global tax.
quote "When you reward the people who don't work and penalize the people who do work eventually you have only people who don't work."
it's hard to believe that most people can't seem to grasp that simple statement.
 |
Makes sense. This is also true for freedom of competition-- when you reward the people who don't compete and penalize people the people who do, etc. Germany now has the highest unemployment and the biggest trade surplus.
Sure everybody 'knows' that a high trade deficit puts people out of work, but I don't care what everyone 'knows', I only care about what is.
The UN tried to tax the world with an Internet email tax.
The US invents the Internet, deploys the Internet, gives the Internet to the world, and Kofi Annan tries to steal the Internet as a revenue source for his corrupt organization. I guess Kofi knew the oil-for-food scam would play out.
Yep, as someone on this board so aptly put it before, "When you have more people in the cart than pulling the cart, the cart breaks down..."
Until we stop beating around the bushes and openly assault the greatest danger the world faces today, we will concede position after position. That threat is not Islam, but rather international socialism. Not that Islam is not a dire threat, but here there is every chance of success.
We are constantly a ballot box away from disaster in this country. WE will suffer for decades from what the rats foisted on the naiton in the 1990's and that was peanuts compared to what we shall get if they ever regainpower.
Until the Democrats are destroyed as a political force, and the media, the academy and the courts are reclaimed there is every danger that we will fall into the same hellhole as the EU has slid into. And when America goes, the would world will slide into years of darkness, perhaps centuries.
That is the real reason Bolton is getting Borked.
Socialism cannot stand in the face of capitalism, and France cannot tax the US to subsidize their failure. So the only last-gasp chance of socialism to survive, is for the UN to impose a tax on the US, and send the money to France.
Bolton won't let that happen.
(steely)
Admit it, you laughed then and you're laughing now.
Here is something that may be a little easier to grasp. If you are a lefty living within your typical lefty city-state, the next time you visit your local fresh mex restaurant (one of my favorites btw), carefully watch how much free salsa everyone takes. Its very illustrative of how you never want to offer free stuff to the public. Unless of course you are running a charity and giving away excess is your job.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.