Is it not also true that a great part of the unemployed in Europe are "professionally" idle, while most American unemployed are in transition to other enterprises and positions?
The percentages, as a basis of comparison, are significant; but more closely examined they show the socialist model in an even worse light.
I think we'll be catching up to the Old World soon , though: we have this "feed me" generation coming up......
Welfare reform was one of the best things to happen to this country in a long time. Career welfare queens became "generational" as their daughters and grandaughters got on welfare as well. Now that has been reformed. I think people overlook the fact that these people are now working and it is a big part of why our economy is so strong.
I guess in Europe they have plenty of the career unemployed. I saw a poll a couple of years ago which said that 25% of young Gernmans wanted to get government jobs when they got out of school. Can you imagine 1 in 4 aspiring to be a lazy government bureaurat?
BTW - "Das Boot" is one of my favorite movies of all time.