What will liberals do? After all, they wish that the U.S. would emulate Europe.
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Full Version: The Decline & Fall of Europe
Wow MIB, I bet you just love this type of article--one where the author doesn't cite ANY sources for his "facts".
But I'll help educate you (as usual). First off, his comments on how the EU's per capita GDP has been declining over the past 15 year. That's a very interesting comment since the EU has only been in existance since 1992 and I'm sure there aren't any facts for 2006 yet. So there aren't more than 13 years of data at most. Also, during that time, the EU has admitted countries from the former Soviet bloc that had lower GDPs compared to western Europe. Therefore it is expected that the average would decrease, even if there wasn't any actual decrease by individual nation. The GDP-only based arguments this guy tries to make could be applied to Japan as well, or any other nation that is already industrialized with an aging population structure. India and China are the next economic powerhouses because they already have enormous populations (read: markets) and high growth rates. Did you realize that following World War II, the United States made up 50% of the world's economy and now we are only in the 20 to 25% range? Does he mention our relative "downfall"?
But I'll help educate you (as usual). First off, his comments on how the EU's per capita GDP has been declining over the past 15 year. That's a very interesting comment since the EU has only been in existance since 1992 and I'm sure there aren't any facts for 2006 yet. So there aren't more than 13 years of data at most. Also, during that time, the EU has admitted countries from the former Soviet bloc that had lower GDPs compared to western Europe. Therefore it is expected that the average would decrease, even if there wasn't any actual decrease by individual nation. The GDP-only based arguments this guy tries to make could be applied to Japan as well, or any other nation that is already industrialized with an aging population structure. India and China are the next economic powerhouses because they already have enormous populations (read: markets) and high growth rates. Did you realize that following World War II, the United States made up 50% of the world's economy and now we are only in the 20 to 25% range? Does he mention our relative "downfall"?
This article is oddly written. European countries won't be military 'allies' with the U.S. because of a downsizing in their military? Then who are we going to be allies with? China? Iran? North Korea? Uh huh.
As for Europeans making less than Americans, you also have to take into account several major differences between the United States and most of Europe.
Interestingly in ranking countries by highest quality of life (which takes into consideration GDP per head, life expectancy, political stability, job secuirty, community life, etc), it is European country after European country.
1 Ireland
2 Switzerland
3 Norway
4 Luxembourg
5 Sweden
7 Iceland
8 Italy
9 Denmark
10 Spain
12 Finland
13 United States
16 Netherlands
20 Austria
As for Europeans making less than Americans, you also have to take into account several major differences between the United States and most of Europe.
Interestingly in ranking countries by highest quality of life (which takes into consideration GDP per head, life expectancy, political stability, job secuirty, community life, etc), it is European country after European country.
1 Ireland
2 Switzerland
3 Norway
4 Luxembourg
5 Sweden
7 Iceland
8 Italy
9 Denmark
10 Spain
12 Finland
13 United States
16 Netherlands
20 Austria
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HotlantaTarheel:
Wow MIB, I bet you just love this type of article--one where the author doesn't cite ANY sources for his \"facts\".
But I'll help educate you (as usual). First off, his comments on how the EU's per capita GDP has been declining over the past 15 year. That's a very interesting comment since the EU has only been in existance since 1992 and I'm sure there aren't any facts for 2006 yet. So there aren't more than 13 years of data at most. Also, during that time, the EU has admitted countries from the former Soviet bloc that had lower GDPs compared to western Europe. Therefore it is expected that the average would decrease, even if there wasn't any actual decrease by individual nation. The GDP-only based arguments this guy tries to make could be applied to Japan as well, or any other nation that is already industrialized with an aging population structure. India and China are the next economic powerhouses because they already have enormous populations (read: markets) and high growth rates. Did you realize that following World War II, the United States made up 50% of the world's economy and now we are only in the 20 to 25% range? Does he mention our relative \"downfall\"?
This author is a frequent contributor to ABC News' This Week with George Stephanopolous, so perhaps you ought to take it up with them. I just relayed the article. If you disagree with it, debate it with him.
Wow MIB, I bet you just love this type of article--one where the author doesn't cite ANY sources for his \"facts\".
But I'll help educate you (as usual). First off, his comments on how the EU's per capita GDP has been declining over the past 15 year. That's a very interesting comment since the EU has only been in existance since 1992 and I'm sure there aren't any facts for 2006 yet. So there aren't more than 13 years of data at most. Also, during that time, the EU has admitted countries from the former Soviet bloc that had lower GDPs compared to western Europe. Therefore it is expected that the average would decrease, even if there wasn't any actual decrease by individual nation. The GDP-only based arguments this guy tries to make could be applied to Japan as well, or any other nation that is already industrialized with an aging population structure. India and China are the next economic powerhouses because they already have enormous populations (read: markets) and high growth rates. Did you realize that following World War II, the United States made up 50% of the world's economy and now we are only in the 20 to 25% range? Does he mention our relative \"downfall\"?
All I'm trying to do here is eduacate you a little. In the future try to read articles critically and don't just believe everything you read. That way you want forward on such drivel. Have a nice day.
Hottar, if Pravda (Faux news) said it, MIB is repeating it. No thought process needed.
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HotlantaTarheel:
All I'm trying to do here is eduacate you a little. In the future try to read articles critically and don't just believe everything you read. That way you want forward on such drivel. Have a nice day.
Who said I believe it or not? I simply posted an article here for discussion. All I'm trying to do here is eduacate you a little. In the future try to read articles critically and don't just believe everything you read. That way you want forward on such drivel. Have a nice day.
I do not need any more education on this. My mind is filled to infinite capacity as it is.
MIB 
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My mind is filled to infinite capacity as it is.
hmmm...if it is "filled" wouldn't that be its Finite capacity? Otherwise, you could use education because you have infinite capacity to absorb the truth...er other view point.
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Aubie In Bham:
Hottar, if Pravda (Faux news) said it, MIB is repeating it. No thought process needed.
Except that FOX News didn't say it. Newsweek did. Nice try, though. Hottar, if Pravda (Faux news) said it, MIB is repeating it. No thought process needed.
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Aubie In Bham:
MIB
No. I used the word "infinite" for a reason. I see I have succeeded.MIB
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My mind is filled to infinite capacity as it is.
hmmm...if it is \"filled\" wouldn't that be its Finite capacity? Nothing unreal exists.
Actually, the original article is not a news article at all; it is an op/ed piece; as are the other two pieces that you cited.
They are editorials.
While I respect Fareed Zakaria a great deal (his books are masterpieces ); I certainly don’t agree with everything he or the others say. Zakaria is in fact a very conservative, almost reactionary import. Among his other honors he serves on the boards of the Trilateral Commission, the International Institute of Strategic Studies, and The Council of Foreign Relations.
To call him even remotely centrist would be a huge disservice.
He is one of a group of recent young conservatives whose writings and opinions are taken as fact by the conservative establishment when they in fact reflect nothing more than editorial license.
R
They are editorials.
While I respect Fareed Zakaria a great deal (his books are masterpieces ); I certainly don’t agree with everything he or the others say. Zakaria is in fact a very conservative, almost reactionary import. Among his other honors he serves on the boards of the Trilateral Commission, the International Institute of Strategic Studies, and The Council of Foreign Relations.
To call him even remotely centrist would be a huge disservice.
He is one of a group of recent young conservatives whose writings and opinions are taken as fact by the conservative establishment when they in fact reflect nothing more than editorial license.
R
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Fareed Zakaria is one of the few regular contributors to Newsweek and the Sunday talk shows whose words strike me as gospel. He is brilliant and has incredible insight to global events.Two of Europe's biggest problems are its falling birth rate and its seemingly hostile attitude toward entrepeneurs. If it follows that path much longer, it will only further to marginalize itself as a global political or economic power. Sorry, MIB, but this is one "liberal" who agrees with Zakaria.
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ITJock:
While I respect Fareed Zakaria a great deal (his books are masterpieces ); I certainly don’t agree with everything he or the others say. Zakaria is in fact a very conservative, almost reactionary import.
But that doesn't mean that he can't be both honest and right. (I know, those qualities are in extremely short supply within the conservative world these days. While I respect Fareed Zakaria a great deal (his books are masterpieces ); I certainly don’t agree with everything he or the others say. Zakaria is in fact a very conservative, almost reactionary import.
) Zakaria is quite often one of the most vocal critics of Bush's foreign policy.
Something which some fail to recognize is this: a higher quality of life tends to encourage lower birth rates. The poorest countries have an almost rabbit-like approach to procreation. Many factors play into this: lack of access to contraception, religious views against contraception (a Central/South American issue more than anywhere else), and an almost instinctual human trait, where the poor believe that they need to have large litters in order to support them when they are elderly. Along the same lines of human instinct, you should throw in the high infant-mortality rates in poor countries, and thus having large litters is necessary in case disease knocks some of them off.
Europe now has to address the catch-22; the quality of life led to lower birthrates, and now the lower birthrates jeopardize the quality of life. I have faith in human instincts, though. If the situation worsens, those procreative instincts will kick in and I would expect higher birth rates in the next couple of decades.
[ February 15, 2006, 08:53 AM: Message edited by: Herr Tiggee ]
Europe now has to address the catch-22; the quality of life led to lower birthrates, and now the lower birthrates jeopardize the quality of life. I have faith in human instincts, though. If the situation worsens, those procreative instincts will kick in and I would expect higher birth rates in the next couple of decades.
[ February 15, 2006, 08:53 AM: Message edited by: Herr Tiggee ]
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Herr Tiggee:
Europe now has to address the catch-22; the quality of life led to lower birthrates, and now the lower birthrates jeopardize the quality of life. I have faith in human instincts, though. If the situation worsens, those procreative instincts will kick in and I would expect higher birth rates in the next couple of decades.
They could also look at what is in their midst already, that causes such consternation. The large immigrant populations, which could be integrated better into their economies.
Europe now has to address the catch-22; the quality of life led to lower birthrates, and now the lower birthrates jeopardize the quality of life. I have faith in human instincts, though. If the situation worsens, those procreative instincts will kick in and I would expect higher birth rates in the next couple of decades.
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aquaman:
Sorry, MIB, but this is one \"liberal\" who agrees with Zakaria.
No need to apologize, because I tend to agree with you who agrees with Zakaria.Sorry, MIB, but this is one \"liberal\" who agrees with Zakaria.
Can't you just feel the love now?
[ February 15, 2006, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]
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MIB:
Can't you just feel the love now?
EWWWWWWWWWWQUOTE
aquaman:
Sorry, MIB, but this is one \"liberal\" who agrees with Zakaria.
No need to apologize, because I tend to agree with you who agrees with Zakaria.Sorry, MIB, but this is one \"liberal\" who agrees with Zakaria.
Can't you just feel the love now?
I need a shower.
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Lksimcoe:
EWWWWWWWWWW
I need a shower.
I'll say.
EWWWWWWWWWW
I need a shower.
Look who's talking. Now that is the pot calling the kettle black.
MIB: been to Europe lately? Know much? Didn't think so. IGNORAMUS.
Now just what the heck are you talking about, boy?
(A) I've been to Europe probably more than you've been, but that doesn't make a difference.
(
This is a discussion thread, one where I simply posted an article and left it open for discussion. I took no position either way, so your post above is, as usual, stupid and irrelevant.
[ February 17, 2006, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: MIB ]
(A) I've been to Europe probably more than you've been, but that doesn't make a difference.
(
This is a discussion thread, one where I simply posted an article and left it open for discussion. I took no position either way, so your post above is, as usual, stupid and irrelevant.[ February 17, 2006, 08:24 AM: Message edited by: MIB ]
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millerbeach:
Look who's talking. Now that is the pot calling the kettle black.
miller, please, for the love of all that is human, get a sense of humor. If you can't, then just go away. You're as humorless and depressing as my mother, God love her. Look who's talking. Now that is the pot calling the kettle black.
You obviously take after you Mother.
There's nothing more pathetic than someone who *thinks* they are actually funny and you meet that definition.
There's nothing more pathetic than someone who *thinks* they are actually funny and you meet that definition.
"Honor thy Mother and Father." Sound familiar, MIB? Publicly insulting your own mother. Mighty Christian. Hypocrite.
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HornFan:
You obviously take after you Mother.
There's nothing more pathetic than someone who *thinks* they are actually funny and you meet that definition.
Jealous now are we, horny? I'm flattered.You obviously take after you Mother.
There's nothing more pathetic than someone who *thinks* they are actually funny and you meet that definition.
Surely you can come up with something better and more original than that.
[ February 17, 2006, 02:18 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]
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Seph:
\"Honor thy Mother and Father.\" Sound familiar, MIB? Publicly insulting your own mother. Mighty Christian. Hypocrite.
(A) It's honor they father and mother, not the other way around. Get it right if you're going to play Moses.\"Honor thy Mother and Father.\" Sound familiar, MIB? Publicly insulting your own mother. Mighty Christian. Hypocrite.
(
Who said I'm insulting my mother? Just saying she has no sense of humor or that she's negative isn't an insult. It's the truth. In fact, she and I have discussed this, and she's told me, "that's the way I am."Speaking for Mom now are you? How sanctimonious of you.
[ February 17, 2006, 02:25 PM: Message edited by: MIB ]
OK, we're digressing here and going off track, and I'm not blameless in that. Let us refocus on the topic at hand, which I think was Zakaria's article.
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