20 September 2005
State of the European Union
Freedom & Progress was taken by surprise at the uncertain results of the recent German election. Earlier this summer, F&P predicted that Angela Merkel would walk away with the election, presuming that the German electorate was tired of the high unemployment, decreasing real estate value, and other indicators of economic stagnation. As it turns, much like France and the Netherlands when rejecting the EU Constitution, Germany has asserted its preference for a runaway welfare state, with heavy citizen dependency on entitlement programs to American-style free market capitalism.
Mark Steyn of the UK's Daily Telegraph opines on the implications of the German election in his article, By the time Germans decide, it'll be too late.
[W]hat does it take to persuade the citizens of "enlightened" social democracies that sometimes you've got to give up the benefits cheque? Guardian and Independent types have had great sport with America over the last couple of weeks, gleefully citing the wreckage of New Orleans as a savage indictment of the "selfishness" of capitalism.
The argument they make is usually a moral one - that there's something better and more compassionate about us all sharing the burden as a community. But the election results in Germany and elsewhere suggest that, in fact, nothing makes a citizen more selfish than lavish welfare and that once he's enjoying the fruits thereof he couldn't give a hoot about the broader societal interest. "Social democracy" turns out to be explicitly anti-social.
Old obdurate Leftists can argue about which system is "better", but at a certain point it becomes irrelevant: by 2050, there will be more and wealthier Americans, and fewer and poorer Europeans. In the 14th century, it took the Black Death to wipe out a third of Europe's population. In the course of the 21st century, Germany's population will fall by over 50 per cent to some 38 million or lower - killed not by disease or war but by the Eutopia to which Mr Schröder and his electorate are wedded.
F&P urges Americans not to go the way of the Europeans, viewing progress strictly in terms of social welfare and entitlement. Remember, F&P always remains open to hearing new ideas and new means to accomplish the objectives of progress such as the end of poverty and hatred as well as greater access to education and healthcare. Since the 1980's, Americans have proven that when large economies rely on more freedom (read: free market, free trade, and a balanced budget), progressive goals can still be desired and achieved.
Mark Steyn of the UK's Daily Telegraph opines on the implications of the German election in his article, By the time Germans decide, it'll be too late.
[W]hat does it take to persuade the citizens of "enlightened" social democracies that sometimes you've got to give up the benefits cheque? Guardian and Independent types have had great sport with America over the last couple of weeks, gleefully citing the wreckage of New Orleans as a savage indictment of the "selfishness" of capitalism.
The argument they make is usually a moral one - that there's something better and more compassionate about us all sharing the burden as a community. But the election results in Germany and elsewhere suggest that, in fact, nothing makes a citizen more selfish than lavish welfare and that once he's enjoying the fruits thereof he couldn't give a hoot about the broader societal interest. "Social democracy" turns out to be explicitly anti-social.
Old obdurate Leftists can argue about which system is "better", but at a certain point it becomes irrelevant: by 2050, there will be more and wealthier Americans, and fewer and poorer Europeans. In the 14th century, it took the Black Death to wipe out a third of Europe's population. In the course of the 21st century, Germany's population will fall by over 50 per cent to some 38 million or lower - killed not by disease or war but by the Eutopia to which Mr Schröder and his electorate are wedded.
F&P urges Americans not to go the way of the Europeans, viewing progress strictly in terms of social welfare and entitlement. Remember, F&P always remains open to hearing new ideas and new means to accomplish the objectives of progress such as the end of poverty and hatred as well as greater access to education and healthcare. Since the 1980's, Americans have proven that when large economies rely on more freedom (read: free market, free trade, and a balanced budget), progressive goals can still be desired and achieved.
# posted by Publicola @ 11:18 AM 
