The economic ruin of Europe

Washington Times ^ | 2/06/03 | Richard Rahn

[kattracks]

Assume the villain in a new James Bond movie has the goal of the economic destruction of Europe. How would he do it?

First some background. In the 1960s and 1970s, Europe boasted brisk economic growth. From 1965 to 1974, government spending in Western Europe averaged 37 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), and economic growth averaged 4.3 percent yearly.

[Cacique]

ding dong

[VaBthang4]

Watch'em slowly bleed...and blame.

[CharlesThe Hammer]

Their foolishness is our opportunity. Although statists are still infatuated with command economy theory,it is akin to defying gravity or living below sea level; the relentless nature of market forces will have its day. The invisible hand will move capital assets to where they might thrive. An absence of tax on dividend income might incent the "hand" to slide towards the US economy.

[visualops]

The economically destructive villain is alive and lives in the hearts and minds of all of those who still believe socialism and statism solve problems rather than create misery

Bears repeating

[Leisler]

"...Although statists are still infatuated with command economy theory,it is akin to defying...."

Even they don't belive it, it is just that the notion justifies state power and state wealth, which keeps these people in their 9-3 jobs, pensions, sick months, laptops, suv's, twiddleing the thermostats, getting coffee, hanging up the phone....

It is about the jobs, not the theory.

[happygrl]

BUMP!

[metesky]

You left out the grueling three day weeks that our congresscritters and senators are forced to work.

And on the local level, try, just try to find anybody in the state house or city hall after noon on a Friday.

[AZLiberty]

Sounds like an opportunity here. There needs to be:

freerepublic.de
freerepublic.fr
freerepublic.at

etc.

Europeans, throw off your chains!

[Leisler]

"And on the local level, try, just try to find anybody in the state house or city hall after noon on a Friday."

Any of the local saloons are usually filling up by 1pm, or the local tearsheet rent by the hour, towels extra assignation motels. That's were you find them. Oh, and high end golf courses, marinas, 2nd houses on the Cape, by the beach, lake, in the mountains