What is Digg?271 Comments
- bazzz, on 10/19/2007, -14/+81Very true, good article. Europe is generally in pretty good condition right now. So, Americans: if you're fed up with your government, the 750 billion spent on corporate profit and war (and not on general healthcare, improved scholar system, whatever) and you'd like to enjoy a nice and overall very good living quality (general health care, low crime rates, good jobs) come to europe! You're - of course - welcome here (if your name is _not_ Cheney, Bush, Rice, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld and you've been part of the current administration)!
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -26/+84Yeah, the American right wing was wrong.
Again.
As usual. - Clearz, on 10/10/2007, -6/+52AS a European this article pretty much sums up how ive felt for years while reasing so many pessimistic articles coming out of the US about Europe and wondering WTF they where on about. Viva la Europe.
"Europe is more of a "workfare state" than a welfare state" This is so apt. A lot of Americans think that Europe is a welfare state that cripples ecconomic growth where in fact a few social institutions in the right place accually benifits capitalism by providing a hapier healtier more educated workforce. - Zique, on 10/10/2007, -8/+48The same is true for every other country in EU, and USA too (although you can't talk about a social safety net in the US case).
- Dillinger71, on 10/11/2007, -0/+33You have to be actively seeking work and be able to prove it in order to receive social benefits in the UK. If you are offered a job and refuse to take it your benefits are stopped. I would imagine it is similar in most EU countries.
- adn6691, on 10/19/2007, -7/+39Europe = good
- Nossie, on 10/19/2007, -2/+30Sinn4r "The EU and other countries are getting cocky and I can't wait til we wipe the smirk off their face."
It's arrogant ass holes like you that gave America its bad reputation in the first place! - bcblock, on 10/19/2007, -24/+48It's important to point out that France's 8% unemployment rate only accounts for those actively seeking a job. Many people give up looking for a job because of the social safety net which supports them.
- erkokite, on 10/10/2007, -0/+22If you read the article, you'd see that Europe kept pace with the USA even before the war in Iraq. Also it should be noted that our pre-war economic strength was mainly due to very cheap credit. Our current weakness is due to the collapse of cheap credit, although the war contributes greatly to our national debt.
- groovechamp30, on 10/10/2007, -4/+26Capitalism is good. Europeans are capitalists.
- mithrasinvictus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+18Some people are getting REALLY rich because of this war. Too bad its always the wrong kind of people.
- madeingermany, on 10/19/2007, -1/+17This was an American Article.
- inactive, on 10/19/2007, -5/+21"As Europe adopts the USA methods they become more competitive.'
But they haven't adopted US methods. RTFA. - inactive, on 10/19/2007, -6/+22"He forgot the fact that Europe will succumb to Islam."
What a goofy claim! Are you aware that in Western Europe, Muslims make up around 7% of the population. In Britain, it's less than 3%. The claim that Islam is going to take over Europe is low grade *****. It's as ridiculous as the claim that Iraq was a danger to the USA. It's absurd and one would have to be a damn fool to believe it. Are you a damn fool? - gak001, on 10/19/2007, -0/+14Thanks for the offer! Europe is awesome, but we have an obligation to try to fix things over here. We'll vacation there to recharge the batteries, remember that the rest of the world is not as close-minded and ignorant, and see what potential humanity has, but in the end, things aren't going to change if we don't stick it out and change them.
- warriorscot, on 10/19/2007, -1/+14What nonsense, Islam or any religion will never take control of Europe mostly because most Europeans fought so bloody hard to strip religions of any real power, Europe is also a place of equality if someone wants to be Muslim they are welcome to do so we do not impose beliefs on people and we don't allow others to do so no religion could ever take over Europe because it is for the most part incompatible with European culture.
- udahlen, on 10/19/2007, -6/+18It's sad that Americans in general don't know much about the world around them, or have very distorted views about other countries. Europeans know much more about America than Americans know about Europe. We (Europeans) are influenced by America; it would be good for America if you learned about Europe.
- jeffiek, on 10/19/2007, -4/+16Just recently, German retail stores have begun to stay open until 9 pm - on weekends. A few even stay open to *gasp* 10pm. All stores (except restaurants) are closed on Sundays.
Anyone want to give them a clue that you can sell more stuff when the customer can get in the store? I sure don't. It's kinda nice and quiet at night. - CentraSpike, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12You did notice that this was a Washington post article didn't you? Would you rather the points were made using isolated examples from random parts of Europe? What the hell is wrong with talking about all of Europe when talking about the European economy?
- inactive, on 10/19/2007, -1/+12I find it good like that. Don't want to be a consumer h24...
- Cymrubeats, on 10/19/2007, -4/+15Are you sure you even know where Belgium is?
- edenseager, on 10/10/2007, -7/+17Right wing... WRONG?!
- inactive, on 10/19/2007, -1/+11From whom is the USA "defending" Europe?
- GMorgan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10US doesn't have subsidies? I disagree with Europe on this but at least we are pretty open that we are subsidising and trade barrier establishing retards. America says one thing and does another, trust me your industries aren't short of subsidies.
As for SOX, London was well on the way to over taking NY in any case. SOX just accelerated the already apparent trend. Airbus has been dominating short and medium haul sales for years as well, Boeing have known for some time what is coming, they just haven't been able to react.
WRT reforms. They never happen until you are at rock bottom. In 1979 there was a serious chance Britain could have become full out communist, there were a serious section who spoke openly of such. Fortunately they proved their own downfall when workers started to become more afraid of corrupt unions than they were of their bosses. - bazzz, on 10/10/2007, -0/+10Filling stations these days include a whole supermarket and are open 24h in Germany (at least the larger ones). So if you urgently need something you can buy it there...
- Christbait, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12America's economy would be doing better if only they didn't have the United Snakes Of America up in the White House, insisting on dumping trillions on a war that's never going to come to an end.
- there, on 10/20/2007, -1/+10 Logical fallacy. Just because you've experienced some instance of it doesn't act as adequate evidence of the validity of your point. To do that would require a much large sample. In fact, I bet based on international academic testing and that America exports a great many movies... most Europeans know far far more America than vice versa. My own experience has been that many Americans picture Europe as communist and poor... when in reality the average citizen has a better standard of living than here and Europe is only slightly more "socialist" then America. (public health care being the main difference)
Government accounts for about 40% of GDP in the EU and 30% in America... not exactly a night and day difference I'd say.
"you ***** eurotrash"
Wow, real big man. Ad hominmem attack on the Internet. How brave and original. Great job of furthering international relations. Let me take my crayons out to take some notes. - Christbait, on 10/10/2007, -1/+10"It's arrogant ass holes like you that gave America its bad reputation in the first place!"
Exactly. - ChayD, on 10/19/2007, -1/+9Europe - Capitalism done right.
- SeaICIubber, on 10/19/2007, -0/+8The UK has only just finished paying off the WWII liberty ship debt.
Way to go, charge us extortionate amounts for fighting fascism! - kazamx, on 10/19/2007, -3/+11Helping the Americans has been the greatest danger to the British military since WW2. Since WW2 the country that has killed the most British soldiers is America.
- NekoAmplifier, on 10/10/2007, -3/+11To Sweden~!
- warriorscot, on 10/19/2007, -0/+8Europe was corrupt for a long time they just took steps to fix it a long time ago and that culture of healthy mistrust of people in positions of power has been maintained and most places in Europe have an extensive set of checks and balances.
- groovechamp30, on 10/10/2007, -3/+11Idiot.
- inactive, on 10/19/2007, -5/+13"Freedom", "liberty" and "patriotism" is propaganda, for particular interests and benefits. Everyone is for that, at least in Europe. Stop using these arguments please.
- warriorscot, on 10/19/2007, -0/+8They started the war so that the US economy could continue to use the military industrial complex as a crutch, without that it would be doing even worse, Europe has allot of advantages over the united states and they have only got bigger in the last 50 years the US will never catch up no matter how much wealth you stop wasting because that wealth would just be wasted on something just as useless as you don't reinvest it back into your nation like countries in Europe and the rest of the world do.
- warriorscot, on 10/19/2007, -2/+10Since the US free market is based on the European free market how can Europe adopt something that was adopted from them, the concept of capitalism and the free market came with the colonists from Europe it was not something that was invented in the Americas.
And maybe you should learn more about Europe and its politics before you spout out BS, no politician in their right mind argues for an abolition of the welfare state it is political suicide most however argue for reforms to help further streamline and increase its value for money and make sure that the money goes to the people that need it, even the right wingers would never dare campaign against it.
The facts would seem to contradict your statement that US is richer when clearly Europe has more wealth and while half of someone's paycheck is taxed they also get allot or even all of it back eventually in one form or the other. You would probably find all the money that most would use to pay various forms of insurance that are covered in Europe by government services the difference isn't all that much and the Europeans get a way better deal for their money in universal health care nobody gets denied care because they forgot to tick a box on an application form. - Backdrifts, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Read my comment carefully, I said ONE OF. But hey, let's just ignore the facts about their education!
- Tenoq, on 10/19/2007, -0/+7Not making people work 12 hour days, 6 or 7 days a week is worker protection. Giving people the choice to not work on Sundays is worker protection. Maintaining a healthy, happy workforce is worth protecting.
- ChayD, on 10/19/2007, -0/+7"Europeans know jack ***** about America.." That's BS! Name me a city, and I'll tell you which state it's in. I actually know more about the US than I do my own country for chrissakes, but then this is because America was actually rather cool not so long ago (and it probably will go back to being cool once the government release the stranglehold) - that and I'm part American myself
- there, on 10/19/2007, -2/+9 Europe's right wingers are left of American's left wingers. Europeans already have universal healthcare for quite some time. while Democrats have only been talking about it for 40 years.
In Europe rightwingers that remotely suggested getting rid of public healthcare they would probably be kicked out of office.... by their own party. In fact I believe universal health care was actually introduced by some rightwing parties in some instances. - Richandler, on 10/10/2007, -5/+12Check on The Money Masters or Money As Debt and you'll understand why America is tanking.
- ukthom, on 10/10/2007, -7/+14I love me British Pounds... :)
Take a stand, be an ex-pat. - inactive, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9Sadly, there are extremists everywhere. Also christian ones.
- madeingermany, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7If you want groceries on Sunday, you have to go to a gas or train station, which have special permissions.
Convenience is not as big in Germany - seems like worker protection is more important.
By the way, they did experiment with extended opening hours and the few people that shopped outside the regular hours didn't make up for the extra cost.
I don't think it is universally true that people buy more, just because they have more time to shop.... but I still think every business should be able to find that out for themselves, without the government interfering. - Trocisp, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8They do, when you need to produce the stuff needed to fight it.
WWI, and WWII - we didn't have a standing military. - kazamx, on 10/19/2007, -1/+8The Americans like to forget that they refused to declare war on Germany. After Pearl Harbour, the Germand declared war on America in a pact with Japan. America responded by going to war with Germany. If the Germans didn't declare war on America then the Americans would have sat back and done nothing.
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -3/+10A socialist !!!
- EserVerx, on 10/10/2007, -2/+8more reinforcement in my thoughts of moving to Europe.
- warriorscot, on 10/10/2007, -1/+7It is more of a case of adjusting the balances, nobody wants to go back to the days before we had the protections and safety nets that were fought so long and hard to get in the first place, people have allot of protection now from being used and thrown away, when people were manipulated into taking less than they deserved because they had no choice. Without all those regulations we could go back to those dark days when the class system ruled and people could so easily be abused, some of the regulations were too much but they are being changed like I said it's all about the balance and It would be a sad day when we lost what was won for the sake of progress that is clearly not needed.
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