Why does Obama want us to be more like Europe, with its supposedly compassionate and fair welfare state?
The welfare state is not compassionate; it is the height of selfishness and generational cruelty:
Across Western Europe, the “lifestyle superpower,” the assumptions and gains of a lifetime are suddenly in doubt. The deficit crisis that threatens the euro has also undermined the sustainability of the European standard of social welfare, built by left-leaning governments since the end of World War II.
Europeans have boasted about their social model, with its generous vacations and early retirements, its national health care systems and extensive welfare benefits, contrasting it with the comparative harshness of American capitalism.
Europeans have benefited from low military spending, protected by NATO and the American nuclear umbrella. They have also translated higher taxes into a cradle-to-grave safety net. “The Europe that protects” is a slogan of the European Union.
But all over Europe governments with big budgets, falling tax revenues and aging populations are experiencing rising deficits, with more bad news ahead.
The Europeans have lived off of our system, both militarily and economically, for generations. Now we have a President who wants us to be more like Europe.
But we do not have anyone to support us in this folly, the way we supported Europe. It will not take two generations for the collapse with us.
Just two terms.
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Comments
There is little or no altruism in Europe. People do not give to charity because they expect the paternal state to provide everything for everyone. Everyone in turn looks to their own self interests almost exclusively, a focus on selfishness.
There is nothing admirable at all about the European model, nothing at all. It is the image of a selfish parasite. If anything damages the host (the US), the parasite is likely to die, and we see this happening. It has no viability of itself. This is not what made America great at all.
Global Warming: If you sacrifice your income now, there will be a big payoff in the future.
Government: If you pay increased taxes now, there will be a big payoff in the future.
Greece: If you support our spending now, there will be a big payoff in the future
Ponzi: If you invest with me now, there will be a big payoff in the future.
Compassionate welfare state? Oh for the days of compassionate conservatism!
Two worldviews:
1) "If you work for the State for many years, when you are older, the State will take care of you."
2) "If you save your money and put it someplace save for many years, when you are older you will be able to retire comfortably."
The Advantage 2: It works.
The Disadvantage of 2: All the people in 1, think they deserve your money.