This article mentioned the economical weakness of Europe. In the last few years, it was however not recognizably weaker than the one of the US. How does that come when its social services remained somewhat constant?
Many American commentators predicted the downfall of Europe constantly, and still it stands, Germany is still one of the largest exporters in the world, unlike a country called USA for example, which can only look back at former glory in this regard.

Another point. The birth rates: France is one of those European countries with the furthest reaching social security system, yet its the EU member state with the highest birth rate (2.0 children per family which is only slightly less of the about 2.1 that are needed for a stable demographic development if no immigration should occur). Also the Scandinavian countries with a strong social democratic tradition have better birth rate numbers than the others. On the other side those who are among the least social democratic, the new member states for example have the by far lowest birth rate numbers.

“the other half was a prison”
Well, thats over simplistic. It ignores the multiple number of countries behind the Iron Curtain. The Hungarians for example had their “Goulash communism” in the later years. They traded with Austria and also personal trade was allowed. While the regime was still authoritarian, it was like day and night compared to the GDR for example.

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“Strong Europe”. What does O’Bama mean?

Better to speak with clarity. Vote YES or NO to Free Europe at http://www.FreeEurope.info !

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[...] H/T to Baklava comment, via Michelle Malkin [...]

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Yep, Mike. Steyn’s column, along with the old 2005 WaPo Samuelson piece, was the mainstay of my entire post.

The Steyn quote you repeated is highlighted in red at the bottom of the second blockquote box, plus repeated later in my comments in bold. I guess the red made you miss it? LOL

Same with the second quote you repeated. Both incorporated above. However both are also quotes well worth repeating in ensuing comments.

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Thanks, Baklava… that was worthy of it’s own post. And a H/T to you for the heads up.

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[...] H/T to Baklava comment, via Michelle Malkin [...]

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It is over for Obama if people report this:

http://michellemalkin.com/2008/10/26/obama-in-2001-how-to-bring-about-redistributive-change/

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Klaus: Central planning won’t tackle crisis
23.10.2008

Prague – In a letter published on Tuesday by the daily Mladá fronta Dnes, Czech President Václav Klaus says that the global financial crisis did not result from insufficient market regulation, but, on the contrary, from excessive government interventions and increasing public spending.

According to Klaus, there is a risk that the rescue packages proposed by some governments will turn the European banking system into a partially state-owned and centrally regulated sector.

What is now happening in the financial markets after long years of exceptionally solid economic growth around the world is nothing unusual. After years of growth there must necessarily be a decrease at some point,” the president wrote.

He rejected that the pending recession can be “prevented by some sort of a global economy management”, likening such ideas to the communist-era central planning.

Klaus argues that previous interventions by the American and European regulators encouraged financial institutions to invest in high-risk activities on unregulated markets and to cover those risks through very complicated financial products and techniques.

The president opines that “the European politicians have used the current financial shocks to abandon the Maastricht criteria (which I am not defending at all as I find them too soft)”, adding that this has removed existing restrictions on “irresponsible increases in public spending and a resulting growth of governmental debt”.

Klaus concludes that the EU plans to better regulate the financial markets and reform the International Monetary Fund will not lead to a “new capitalism”, as termed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, but will represent a return to an “old socialism”.

http://aktualne.centrum.cz/czechnews/clanek.phtml?id=620088

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The problem is that the whole World is jealous of America. They would really appreciate an Obama presidency. To see the U.S. on their knees is what they are hoping for. Please do not give them the pleasure. Vote McCain/Palin.

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whats so awesome is my kids are listening to me and to the the other adults in our lives. they want our country to remain strong and for us to have our rights i have been talking to them about this a lot. my son comes home from school and tells me that in his art class the teache has a farelly unbias summery of both candidates and their plat forms on a board in his room. i guess the information is at a childs level of understanding and it also explains why we need to vote. i am impressed that it isn’t pro obama like you would expect, but it could be perceived that way if you tried really hard. my son actually read it all and asked me if the info was correct, and it pretty much was. i am proud of my son for reading it and telling me about it, and i am also happy that his teacher presented the info for the kids.

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