[JTN]

Their economies are going down the toilet and they ceased to be meaningful world powers long ago.

Their economies are in the toilet because their economies are more socialist than ours is. Their education system is better because it's less socialist. The lesson is clear -- socialism stinks.

[AndyJackson]

Their education system is better because it's less socialist.

I am not sure what that means. What most European socialist governments offer is govnerment funded choice, so there is no monopoly, though there is socialism - the taxpayer pays regardless.