Posted on 06/05/2005 8:51:09 AM PDT by Heartofsong83
Linda McQuaig says we've been tricked into working too hard
"Anybody who has lived in Europe knows how delicious European life can be."
So wrote New York Times columnist David Brooks last week.
He got that part right. Not only do the Europeans have great food, wine, clothes and architecture, but they've managed to avoid the slavish obedience to the marketplace that has left North Americans chained to their work stations, feeling obliged to work ever harder in order to consume ever more trinkets.
The corporate world has certainly been successful in indoctrinating North Americans in the mentality of full-blown capitalism, convincing us to accept its harsh divide between rich and poor.
But Europeans have traditionally been smarter. They've taken control of the marketplace and subordinated it to the needs of the population, creating a more egalitarian society with benefits for all.
Their political culture reflects this. They pay higher taxes but in return receive more social benefits: generous pensions, subsidized tuition, national child-care programs, extensive unemployment insurance, five-week holidays and lots of other stuff that we rarely hear about over here.
In recent years, the business elites of Europe have been trying to move their countries closer to the harsher North American model of unbridled capitalism, arguing — as our business leaders argue — that it's the way of the future.
But in many ways it's actually a resurgence of the past, a throwback to the 19th century-style unfettered capitalism of extreme inequality and worker powerlessness that past generations fought so hard against and ultimately rejected.
Millions of Europeans wisely seem determined to reject it again. Last week, voters in France and the Netherlands voted against a proposed European constitution aimed at establishing the dominance of the marketplace.
North American commentators were quick to denounce the vote, perhaps out of fear that people here might realize that unbridled capitalism doesn't have to be the way of the future, that we too could have generous social programs.
So, for instance, Brooks, the Times columnist who acknowledged the deliciousness of European life, went on to argue that the European model is outdated, that — for all its appeal — it's just "not flexible enough for the modern world."
In fact, European-style social welfare systems do nothing to prevent a country from being highly competitive in the modern world.
If you doubt this, check out the latest findings of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum, which ranks the economic competitiveness of more than 100 countries around the globe. Among the top six globally competitive nations are four European countries that have extremely comprehensive social welfare systems — Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Altogether, 15 European countries rank in the top 30.
Right-wing commentators find it best to ignore this reality. It's easy to see why — it utterly destroys their argument that generous social welfare systems undermine competitiveness.
Europeans have been skeptical of the right-wing dogma. They understand that life can be both delicious and globally viable.
Right-wing commentators here are really hoping you won't grasp this.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Linda McQuaig is a Toronto-based author and commentator. lmcquaig@sympatico.ca.
LOL. I don't think Linda has ever been to a federal office building!
Probably not. She is a rabid anti-American, NDP card-carrying socialist.
Who has that pic of Belly-button girl? Her sign says it best.
She sure is. Her tired, old liberal arguments are a complete joke. If life in Europe is so "delicious", then why doesn't she go and live there?
She lives in the Eurocolony called Canuckistan, a socialist semi-republic just north of the border.
1) Each generation is only 3/4 the size of the previous one, and their welfare state is designed for a growing population
2) There are a billion people in Asia willing to work much harder than Europeans are willing to work, so they are losing their ability to compete economically
Yes, and she isn't too happy about America being next door and having a strong influence...
Yet another liberal screed, long on rhetoric, short on facts.
Is it just me, or do Conservative columnists tend more toward citing specific examples to back up their arguments?
The nice thing about the USA is that one can work hard, or not, your choice.
France on the other hand had laws forbidding anyone from working over 35 hours a week. No freedom to work as you see fit for your circumstances.
I'll take freedom every time.
That's just like you conservatives, always dragging the facts into arguments.
Millions of Europeans wisely seem determined to reject it again. Last week, voters in France and the Netherlands voted against a proposed European constitution aimed at establishing the dominance of the marketplace.Huh?? The EU constitution is aimed at establishing the dominance of the Brussels-based bureaucracy. Around here, most seemed to think the French and Dutch acted wisely.North American commentators were quick to denounce the vote, perhaps out of fear that people here might realize that unbridled capitalism doesn't have to be the way of the future, that we too could have generous social programs.
-Eric
Yes, sign me up for the 10 to 13% unemployment they have over in Europe. (/sarcasm off)
I lived in Europe and it sucks. Great veal, lousy beef.
Just have to wonder: what would European economic picture look like had it not been for the United States, a) helping them rebuild after WWII, and b) providing for their defense during the Cold War (which freed up more money for them to play with)?
Of course, this commie would probably say that had it not been for the U.S., Europe would have become a socialist utopia with the guidance of the USSR, the 'great' experiment which only failed due to our interference.
Commies: sheesh!
Over half of the US federal government's budget is socialism. With Republicans enlarging the welfare state to subsidize prescription drugs for favored voting blocs we're not even holding our ground against the problem.
Right-wingers are hoping you won't grasp this -- because apparently right-wingers are EVIL and like to see people slaving away hopelessly.
i fail to see how somebody who writes trash while sitting on the john in the morning and has the rest of the day off can whine about working toooo hard...
Interesting enough more French is getting jobs and moving to the United States than Americans are moving to France. Same with Canada, more is moving to the United States than Americans are moving to Canada.
If socialism so great then why is people leaving it?
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