Should We Copy Europe?

Human Events ^ | 11-22-06 | Walter E. Williams

[xtinct]

Some Americans look to European countries such as France, Germany and its Scandinavian neighbors and suggest that we adopt some of their economic policies. I agree, we should look at Europe for the lessons they can teach us. Dr. Daniel Mitchell, research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, does just that in his paper titled "Fiscal Policy Lessons from Europe."

Government spending exceeds 50 percent of the GDP in France and Sweden and more than 45 percent in Germany and Italy , compared to U.S. federal, state and local spending of just under 36 percent. Government spending encourages people to rely on handouts rather than individual initiative, and the higher taxes to finance the handouts reduce incentives to work, save and invest. The European results shouldn't surprise anyone. U.S. per capita output in 2003 was $39,700, almost 40 percent higher than the average of $28,700 for European nations,.

[Obie Wan]

Unfortunately a lot of Americans seem to like Europe's way of doing things.I think it the "handout" part that's most attractive to them !!!

[phs3]

Never paid this any mind till right now.

News coverage of Europe is always fluffy, never showing the dirty underbelly of European life. While almost all coverage of the US, is always the most despicable things that happen across this country.

[MARKUSPRIME]

No thanks.We dont want communism lite aka multicult socialism. Eurabia Incoming!

[aligncare]

It looks to me like Dallas was being deliberately hyperbolic just for effect. I understood his point.

I have friends from the former Soviet Union who tell of the envy they saw inherent in socialist countries. If you had possessions--you feared displaying them.

[alarm rider]

Excellent question. I fully support taking every American troop and asset out of Europe 10 minutes ago.

Note to Europe; Don't call us, just face East five times a day or defend yourselves.

[AngloSaxonChristian]

'Their elderly don't live too long either, thanks to socialized medicine.'

Are you sure about that? America is number 31 in the world with an average life expectancy of 77. There are 18 european countries with socialised health care and their life expectancy is longer than in the US in every case. I suspect life expectancy has a lot more to do with the fact that 30.6% of the US is obese whereas the european average is less than half that.

[AngloSaxonChristian]

sergeantdave, do you have a link to this article, I'd like to read it in full. Thanks.

[sergeantdave]

No working link, but you can track it down using this -

British the most spied-on people in western world
Times Online ^ | October 29, 2006 | Lois Rogers
Posted on 10/29/2006 8:18:36 PM EST by Lorianne

[AlexW]

"It looks to me like Dallas was being deliberately hyperbolic just for effect. I understood his point."

Well, yes, there is socialism here in Europe, as well as in every country, including the US, but it is a far cry from Communism, which no longer exist in Europe.

His statement was quite a bit over the top.
Here in Slovakia, as well as most all of central Europe, former Communist states, private ownership is alive and well, and socialism is less then in the US, or any country in Western Europe.
If anything, people go out of their way to show their new cars and homes.

[Major_Risktaker]

sergeantdave, do you have a link to this article, I'd like to read it in full. Thanks.

_____________________________

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Times of London

British the most spied-on people in western world

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Check out the cameras and police all over London if this AJ film.

Alex Jones in London

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USATODAY

Take a look at Mayor Daley's Chicago.

[oblomov]

>>I suspect life expectancy has a lot more to do with the fact that 30.6% of the US is obese whereas the european average is
>>less than half that.

Not true at all. It is an artifact of high crime in the inner cities, and the fact that we try to save premature babies that no one would try to save in Europe (the reason for our much-touted infant mortality). In many countries in Europe, the death of a premature baby is not counted as a death.

[aligncare]

I agree with you. My friends who were once forced to live under communist dictatorship love America and embrace capitalism with gusto. Unlike many Americans I know.

[Thermalseeker]

The usual response is a blank stare and/or disgusted huff.

I would wager that vitually anyone who blathers on about how we need to be more like Europe has never spent much, if any, time there.

[MAWG]

F**K EUROPE.

[Hat-Trick]

The only thing they have worth copying, the great game of Golf, has already been accomplished. Now if we could just field a winning Ryder Cup team to whup some Euro-booty every 2 years......

[Leisler]

You live in what Rumsfeld called 'New Europe'. He was thinking of old, old, old Europe like France that told Poland to shut up.

I think France/Germany through the EU are going to try to bear down on east European countries because of their lower tax rates, lower costs, more friendly attitude to manufacturing... They, France/Germany/Brussels are going to give you a choice, us or the Russians. I am talking of course about the governments, like governments everywhere, want to increase their power, employment and wealth. Not the citizens, but the government bureaucracies, like the EU out of Brussels that a few years ago had little power, jobs, wealth, titles and now has grown.

Why Europe, the most governed place on earth needs yet more layers of government escapes me, other than the reason I already stated, paper-pushing, easy, high pay jobs that you don't have to worry the Chinese or Americans or somebody will out hustle you.

[indthkr]

bump for later........

[chatham]

Follow Europe only if we want to end up in the Toilet like them.
It'sssssssssss Overrrrrrrrrrrrrr in Europestan.
Forever.