Europe on the brink of collapse

Scotsman.com ^ | Sun 27 Oct 2002 | N/A

[Dec31,1999]

It's pretty much inevitable that we will go down, too.

Not necessarily. We are in a better position to recover provided we keep elimnating regulation and promoting economic freedom.

[Dec31,1999]

We will wind up rescuing Europe from the clutches of the "Liberals" as we did from the clutches of the Nazis, but first we must rid America of them.

Replace "Liberals" with Islamicists.

[FITZ]

Yes ---what happens when the laid off middle class workers can't support governments and all the government programs any longer? At the time of the Great Depression there wasn't nearly as much Socialism and taxes. How do we keep these massive governments propped up when jobs and wages are falling? Socialism brought down the Soviet Union. I don't know what happens in the US and some other countries if they try to cut welfare programs at all. Middle class people quietly accept losing their homes when the banks foreclose on them but you can't do much about those in government housing without expecting violence.

[FITZ]

No more cradle-to-grave welfare. And put an end to the ridiculous tax levels.

Then what happens with all the immigrants on welfare living in Europe? Many of them are Muslims and they're not going back to their homelands readily. Kick them off welfare so you can lower taxes and they're not going to take that lying down.

[blam]

"I wouldn't pay any attention to those types because they can't tell you what our economy is based on any more. It's not based on manufacturing which is what made us the wealthiest country in the world at one time. Information technology has pretty much fizzled as a base. Until they can say exactly what drives our economy, it's not a good economy.

You get it!

[justshutupandtakeit]

There has never really been any significant period during which the gold standard operated unimpeded. It is the first thing to go when war looms and can be manipulated as easily as any currency. It is a myth that it prevents inflation and it is more of an economic supersition than any objective standard outside of political control.

Those most in advocacy of gold most likely know least about its history and practicality. By imposing a monetary straightjacket upon the economy its growth is reduced.

Like most panaceas the gold standard is an illusion. No modern state will move to it because of huge costs to the economy without sufficient benefit to justify it.

[Mr. K]

of course this is all america's fault....

Why don't these idiot countries just grab a copy of our constitution and use that as a model... I mean who can argue with success??????????

[bert]

I visit many industrial companies on a regular basis and they are not feeling much pain. I would say we are doing considerably better.

[bankwalker]

Our US economy is doing no better.

That's because we're almost as far left as they are.

[Guillermo]

Their solution will be to impose Sharia'h law.

The Arab/Mohammedan colonization of Europe is nearly complete.

[dennisw]

I visit many industrial companies on a regular basis and they are not feeling much pain. I would say we are doing considerably better.

Glad to hear that. You are closer to the situation than I am. Still, confidence in the economy just hit a 10 year low. This doesn't happen in a vacuum.

[Tallguy]

Maybe the EU should 'spin-off' a few of their unprofitable nations? Just a thought...

[MissAmericanPie]

I am by no means an economist, but it seems to me we have alot in common with Enron, no real product, just an abundance of creative bookkeeping and alot of hot air. Won't we eventually slam our face into the natural laws of trade? Or can we just continue to grow government make work jobs, print money, be a totally service oriented society and continue to import, import, import? What is a Ponsi (sp) scheme?

[Savage Beast]

Y'right. Both.

[Grig]

The center cannot hold

[Savage Beast]

In fact, if the "Liberals" and the Islamicists could just iron out a few wrikles in their dogma, they could combine. "Liberals" would love the taliban and the shariah, as long as they could make the rules. The two are so similar, that they may work things out yet.

But whether they do or not, "Liberals" are paving the way for an Islamicist takeover, and they don't seem to realize that, unless they resolve the dogma differences, their heads will be chopped off first.

It won't be long before the Europeans--and the Americans who have been foolish enough to fall for the "Liberal" hogwash--will be begging the rest of us to rescue them.

Shall we?

The American Heartland--Bush Country--is the greatest bastion of strength, energy, and ascendancy in the world today. It is the only place to which Europeans and American "Liberals" will be able to appeal for rescue.

Will we be magnanimous? Did the Wise Virgins give any oil to the Foolish Virgins? Did the Ants feed the Grasshoppers? Did the Little Red Hen pass out slices of bread?

"Pretty Please" is not gonna do it. They're gonna have to say "Uncle"! And they we'll straighten out both continents.

[Savage Beast]

#6: Astute, TLR.

[Savage Beast]

#8: LOL! That's it's destiny.

[VOR78]

You're right, and its going to be a bitter pill to swallow for European society as a whole. That's why I don't think they'll be able to do it. They are likely too deep in this economic abyss of their own making to recover without a some degree of collapse. I just hope they don't drag us too far down.

[Gritty]

It is not the world slowdown that has caused this performance collapse, but the interaction of entirely self-inflicted wounds: over-regulated labour markets, a relentless rise in the government share of the economy, a growing tax burden, regulation out of every orifice and a desperate rearguard action against all and every attempt to dismantle state aid and subsidies.

I thought this was an article about Europe.

This sounds like America!