POLL TO FREEP: Do you believe that over the next 10 years Europe will become the next superpower?

Newsweek Europe ^

[brat]

I'm right here, polemikos if you want to do a profile on me. I was honest in my vote. This country is in trouble on many levels.

[CyberAnt]

WOW! Are you deceived!! You must be a liberal ... they are the only ones who always see the U.S. in a bad light.

[brat]

Click on my name big boy and tell me you still think I'm one of them.. LOL

[CyberAnt]

Excuse me ... people can put anything they want on their FReeper page ... you're very funny if you think I'd fall for that!!

[polemikos]

I'm right here, polemikos if you want to do a profile on me. I was honest in my vote. This country is in trouble on many levels.

You get a point for Honesty!

But seriously, you're comment appears to be mixing apples and oranges. What happens within the US is a separate question.

One major problem with Euroland is the ongoing creation of the bureaucratic superstructure. A federalized layer of bureaucrats is being put in place in Euroland. Here the problems will be legion. Checks and balances are limited, so expect the size of this layer to grow inexorably.

It has been suggested that this new political entity will be equivalent to the US federal government's role, but this mischaracterizes the nature of the beast. The countries involved all have sovereign government bureaucracies in place already; think ministries of defense, judiciary, security, welfare, etc. None of the exisiting layers are to be eliminated (that would be "unfair"). So new layers are to be added to coordinate and implemement new Euroland laws, edicts, and policies among the various countries.

While it could be argued that a more efficient economic engine can easily absorb this additional cost, it is important to remember that Euroland is not noted for its efficiency and innovation. Take sluggish, socialist-leaning countries, tie them together with a new layer of uncontrolled bureaucrats and what is the result? An economic powerhouse, or something that more closely resembles the old USSR -- a socialist, centralized, supra-national bureaucratic backwater? Internal stresses will grow as additional socialist laws and programs are put in place to accommodate various "unfair" economic and political dislocations. One nation's economic advantage becomes another's political problem. The Eurocrats will be asked to step in and "fix" things.

Euroland officials are already admitting privately that decision-making by the current European Council is already close to unworkable. And they fear it could be paralysed when up to 10 extra nations from southern and eastern Europe join in 2004. Their solution? Add a new management layer, an "EU super council" comprised of predominate Euroland countries. And so it grows.

Lastly, a super-power needs to project power to protect its interests. With the exception of Britain, none of the other countries is willing to do this. What Euroland is doing is disarming unilaterally. Even Britain's current support of the US could be considered an anomaly. Few of Labor's members want any part of the Iraq scenarios.

So we are left with a Euroland with a growing beauracracy, a shrinking military, and a monetary system that has yet to prove itself in the fires of recession.

A superpower? Don't bet on it.

[johnb838]

Europe is a worn-out old whore

And there's my vote for quote of the week. Might be applicable to the UN too.

[RaceBannon]

Only if the US is out of the picture for some reason, like atomic/biological war with Islam, then the rapture...then Europe will rise again...

[PresbyRev]

Please don't tell Jack Van Impe it will hurt his book sales.

[polemikos]

Please don't tell Jack Van Impe

Are you suggesting that he's swayed by facts?

[MrJingles]

Bump-ity Bump!

[Calvin Locke]

Was listening to Michael Savage the other day. Maybe Friday. He made some comment that the Euro army will be filled with
about 50% Islamics, give or take.

Other than the fact the for the last 700-800 years, they don't know how to fight a real, modern war, AND they'll be
susceptible to "Allah" BS. This will not bode well for Europe defending herself against any tinhorn dictator
that claims Allah is on his side, and the European non-believers must die.

Europe's "military" is screwed on two counts off the bat.

Three, if they follow ESOP and fail to pick weapons
systems based on the need/application, rather that national flummery.

Four, if they follow their current voting pattern, and not learn for the US's mistake of letting a contemptible one
rule the roost for 8 years.

Quite frankly, I'd be hard pressed to distinguish between a thirdworld dictator or warlord, and a Eurocrat.

[Enterprise]

Well, ok, I agree. I really do want to be fair here.

[Enterprise]

LOL! I just KNEW there was a flaw in my plan somewhere!

[rdb3]

Well, ok, I agree. I really do want to be fair here.

Mmm, hmmm.

[Mo1]

Just voted



Do you believe that over the next 10 years Europe will become the next superpower?
YES 18%
NO 82%

[womanvet]

It was hard to stop laughing long enough to vote.

Since I could not find a choice that europe will be a world leader right after Pitcairn Island takes over the known universe, I had to settle for a simple "no".

[mark the shark]

OK, I just stopped laughing! These clowns have had atleast 2 millineum to get it together, the odds are they will take another 2 millineum to figure out that they can't possibly agree on anything.
" YOU CAN'T TEACH A PIG TO SING, IT ANNOYS THE PIG, AND WASTES YOUR TIME!
Thank god my ancestors left 2 centuries ago!

[DBtoo]

I voted no. I believe the heyday of the US and Europe will soon come to pass, with China eventually replacing us as the world's superpower. I don't see this happening though for another 50 years, or maybe even sooner. We will self-desruct with a little outside help. This is just my opinion of course.

[BADROTOFINGER]

83 No
17 Yes

Unfortunately, there wasnt a "BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" option...JFK

[patriciaruth]

I can't remember when I've laughed so hard!!!

To be a superpower you have to be willing to break things and kill people. They don't even have a death penalty. They won't spend more than two cents on an army because they are too strapped funding family leave and six weeks vacations as well as 'national health care.'

If America does not remain The superpower, in fifty years there will no longer be "Europeans" in Europe, just Muslim converts.