The comeback continent

[Skybird]

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...528002,00.html

In short, Europe continues to be a big-government sort of place. And that's why it's important to get the real story of the European economy out there.

According to the anti-government ideology that dominates much US political discussion, low taxes and a weak social safety net are essential to prosperity. Try to make the lives of Americans even slightly more secure, we're told, and the economy will shrivel up -- the same way it supposedly has in Europe.
But the next time a politician tries to scare you with the European bogeyman, bear this in mind: Europe's economy is actually doing O.K. these days, despite a level of taxing and spending beyond the wildest ambitions of American progressives.

terminated

[Tchocky]

Originally Posted by Wave Skipper

I know Europe liked to imagine itself as a continent back when it ruled over the dusky men with its 'white man's burden'. Yet, Greenland is a better continent than Europe. One day Europe will get a lesson in this when it realizes that there is nothing standing between it and China's 1.3 Billion and Indians billion+'s, except those poorly utilized farm fields in Russia.

Oh no! Foreigners!

I like being a European

[SUBMAN1]

I find that funny. Your idea of an economy doing OK is an economy that is not going backwards, but one with on 1 or 2 percentage point gains. Sad. America adds another Saidi Arabia in economy every month, and what exactly are the Europeans doing? Adding an Ethiopia? We are over double the gains of what Europe has.

This is what Americans don't want - a pathetic state of growth.

I guess this is another Skybird feel-good thread is all.

-S

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Originally Posted by Wave Skipper

I know Europe liked to imagine itself as a continent back when it ruled over the dusky men with its 'white man's burden'. Yet, Greenland is a better continent than Europe. One day Europe will get a lesson in this when it realizes that there is nothing standing between it and China's 1.3 Billion and Indians billion+'s, except those poorly utilized farm fields in Russia.

Well Europe has a country called Great Britain. Great Britain.




By the way, isnt Greenland actually white? :rotfl:

[XabbaRus]

Huh, what has Greenland got? A few eskimos and polar bears.
Wave Skipper could I have some of what you have...?

[SUBMAN1]

Why is Greenland called Greenland? All they've got is a bunch of ice!

[Skybird]

The snooty attitude of some guys replying in this thread is exactly what the (American!) author of that essay is adressing, and deserves no serious attention. The article has been first printed in the NYT.

[SUBMAN1]

I love it when people disgree with you! Attack attack attack!!



Too bad your article is just that - a feel good article for Europe.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Kapitan_Phillips

Well Europe has a country called Great Britain. Great Britain.

That's only because back before old King John gave it away, the territory of Brittany was called 'Less Britain'.:p

By the way, isnt Greenland actually white? :rotfl:

Not now that the glaciers are melting.:rotfl:

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by SUBMAN1

Why is Greenland called Greenland? All they've got is a bunch of ice!

Does thet mean Germany is full of germs, or Poland is full of poles (the wooden variety)

[AntEater]

Medieval war period.
When Vikings colonized Greenland around 1000 (AFAIK) the southern part was pretty green. In 1500 the whole colony had died.

Re the Article, I agree with it. Right now, Europe (and Germany) is doing quite well, despite the best efforts of our politicians...
Modest growth is better than a bursting bubble. Incidentally, the reason why Germany's economy is not growing faster is the decline of the US Dollar.

[SUBMAN1]

Originally Posted by AntEater

...Re the Article, I agree with it. Right now, Europe (and Germany) is doing quite well, despite the best efforts of our politicians...
Modest growth is better than a bursting bubble. Incidentally, the reason why Germany's economy is not growing faster is the decline of the US Dollar.

Yeah, that might hurt you guys a bit since we will tend to manufacture more over here because of it, and it makes your products expensive. The problem is though, your increases have only been increases at the 0% to 2% range for years, long before the slide of the US dollar.

If I had to guess, it is the fault of the ever climbing Euro as to your slow growth.

-S

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Originally Posted by AntEater

Medieval war period.
When Vikings colonized Greenland around 1000 (AFAIK) the southern part was pretty green. In 1500 the whole colony had died.

As the great Al Murray would say:

"They didnt think it through."


Another example:

Regarding Jean Paul Sartre (1905-1980):

"Hell is other people"

Al's response:

"Oh yeah? Fact is, Jean Paul Sartre here has made a cardinal error. Thing is, he was French, so his only experience of other people was French people, so little wonder he arrived at this conclusion.

If he had simply got out more and visited, say, Britain, he might have discovered that Hell isn't other people, but is infact France. Think it through, Jean Paul, get a little perspective mate. If he'd said "Hell is French People" he would have caused little argument. Jean Paul also went on about how the universe is a figment of your own imagination, but that's b0llocks becauseif I had imagined the universe, I would have imagined it without France in it - and therefore not old JPS himself the whimpering git.

Think it through! And lets not forget, the French word for 'think' is 'ponce'"

:rotfl:

Great book Murray has brought out :rotfl:

[SUBMAN1]

By the way, all your welfare prgrams probably also further drag down your growth rate. Forgot to mention that.

-S