Europe's Quiet Revolution...

[jbg]

This essay, entitled "Europe's Quiet Revolution" (link) holds up Europe as a model for the future. Excerpts below:

Europe's Quiet Revolution by Steven Hill, RootsActionon August 15, 2011.

The overarching challenge in the world today is: how do we advance the institutions and practices capable of enacting a desirable quality of life for a burgeoning global population of 6.5 billion people? And how do we accomplish that in a way that does not burn up the planet in a Venus atmosphere of our own creation? That is a tall order to fill, yet it is the defining task of the 21st century.

More than anywhere else, Europe has fostered the types of innovations that point the way forward for the world to meet these challenges. Europe's brand of "social capitalism" is better suited for the 21st century than America's "Wall Street capitalism" because it has developed itself on several major fronts.

* Real family values: healthcare and supports for families and workers. European nations score at the top on social and health indicators, with Europeans today enjoying universal health care for all, generous retirement pensions, an average of five weeks paid vacation (compared to two in the U.S.), paid sick leave, paid parental leave, kiddy stipends (about $200 per month for children's needs), affordable childcare (Americans pay at least six times more for child care), low-cost higher education (in some countries it's free), and a shorter work week with comparable wages for their workers. Social spending in Europe runs 35 percent per capita above that in the United States; even in Greece, which has been beset by debt troubles recently, people still have more of these supports than most Americans.

***************

Environmental sustainability, readying for global warming. Europe is leading in preparing for global warming, with widespread deployment of conservation practices and "green design" in everything from skyscrapers, homes and automobiles to low wattage light bulbs, motion sensor lights and low flush toilets.

The drumbeat of the "debt crisis" now affecting primarily Greece, Spain, Ireland and Portugal is but the opening thud of Europe's implosion. For these benefits to exist they must be paid for.

I submit that the payors for this system are U.S. and Canadian taxpayers. NATO supplies a military umbrella which ensures that a very small percentage of Europe's G.D.P. has to be used to provide external security. Even more important, the NATO troops have thrown a wet blanket over more than a millenium of warfare within and among European countries.

The system is now sucking in large numbers of immigrants who, unlike those that came to the U.S. and Canada in the 19th Century, have no plan or intention of joining their new country, or being self-supporting. Far from "point(ing) the way forward for the world" Europe is a nightmare scenario that's a must to avoid.

[Redneck]

Stephen Hill is obviously a believer in one world government. I’m sure he would prefer those same European leaders and revolutionary socialists who engineered Europe’s “quiet” revolution would lead this one world order. Or at least some communists like George Soros and Jack Layton lead the United States and Canada in the interim. France, Spain, Germany and England and many other European countries are experiencing the effects of their “quiet” revolutions and their march toward total government control of every facet of life in their society and it's not pretty.

The fact that Americans (and Canadians) pay more for child care than Europeans doesn’t bother those of us in Canada and the U.S. who sacrificed to raise and educated our children without the nanny state overseeing the rearing of our children. For generations Mothers could choose to stay home and raise families before the socialists realized that if government taxed workers to the point that two incomes were required for families to survive then all mothers would be forced to go to work and be taxed along with fathers, thus giving the government a larger share of the GDP. The rearing of children would default to the state. This philosophy has succeeded in turning most European countries into socialist states with complete control over all citizens by governments and liberals in North America have been doing their best to ensure we follow in Europe’s footsteps.

The fact that Europe has more fortune 500 companies and more small business than the U.S. is a gross misrepresentation. With a population in Europe of 830,400,000 compared to that of the United States of America and Canada combined of about 340 million I would hope so. Mr. Hill calls himself a journalist while he sounds more like a propagandist on a scale with the propaganda machine of Nazi Germany of the 1930‘s. Numbers can mean anything you want them too as long as the people you are trying to influence are naive enough to interpret them the way you want them to.

Hill uses the word “Pay” over and over so many times in this article without mentioning that in Europe while governments pay, pay, pay and pay for everything the government money that pays, pays and pays is taken from working people and doled out by politicians and bureaucrats giving them complete control over individuals in society.

[CANADIEN]

St Or at least some communists like George Soros and Jack Layton lead the United States and Canada in the interim.

Layton, a communist? :lol:

[Michael Hardner]

Layton, a communist? :lol:

We can add Redneck to the list of folks who overstate the leftism of Democrats and New Democrats.

[Oleg Bach]

Layton, a communist? :lol:

God loves communists - or maybe he doesn't - time will tell.

[Oleg Bach]

Mothers should take pride in themselves and stay home and rear our future citizens properly. Those that say "What - you are a stay at home mom and you don't work? " As if motherhood has lost all of it's importance and value - that a female doing the most important job in the world is not as good as someone sitting at a keyboard in some office wasting twenty years of her life making no positive change in the world? The positive change in the world is the rearing of a good human being - the rest is propoganda.

[Redneck]

Layton, a communist? :lol:

In a word, Yes! He certainly is a communists as are the majority in the NDP. Of course no communist would ever admit it until they achieve complete power.

[CANADIEN]

In a word, Yes! He certainly is a communists

And Steve Harper is a fascist. I know, I know.

[Sir Bandelot]

I submit that the payors for this system are U.S. and Canadian taxpayers.

No, the payers for this, if they choose to pay at all will be German taxpayers.

[lukin]

Stephen Hill is obviously a believer in one world government. I’m sure he would prefer those same European leaders and revolutionary socialists who engineered Europe’s “quiet” revolution would lead this one world order. Or at least some communists like George Soros and Jack Layton lead the United States and Canada in the interim. France, Spain, Germany and England and many other European countries are experiencing the effects of their “quiet” revolutions and their march toward total government control of every facet of life in their society and it's not pretty.

The fact that Americans (and Canadians) pay more for child care than Europeans doesn’t bother those of us in Canada and the U.S. who sacrificed to raise and educated our children without the nanny state overseeing the rearing of our children. For generations Mothers could choose to stay home and raise families before the socialists realized that if government taxed workers to the point that two incomes were required for families to survive then all mothers would be forced to go to work and be taxed along with fathers, thus giving the government a larger share of the GDP. The rearing of children would default to the state. This philosophy has succeeded in turning most European countries into socialist states with complete control over all citizens by governments and liberals in North America have been doing their best to ensure we follow in Europe’s footsteps.

The fact that Europe has more fortune 500 companies and more small business than the U.S. is a gross misrepresentation. With a population in Europe of 830,400,000 compared to that of the United States of America and Canada combined of about 340 million I would hope so. Mr. Hill calls himself a journalist while he sounds more like a propagandist on a scale with the propaganda machine of Nazi Germany of the 1930‘s. Numbers can mean anything you want them too as long as the people you are trying to influence are naive enough to interpret them the way you want them to.

Hill uses the word “Pay” over and over so many times in this article without mentioning that in Europe while governments pay, pay, pay and pay for everything the government money that pays, pays and pays is taken from working people and doled out by politicians and bureaucrats giving them complete control over individuals in society.

You are correct on so many levels. Too bad the sheeple have lost the capacity to think. That's what happens when a population has been programmed to be more interested in 'American Idol" than what really goes on in the world.

great post redneck.

[lukin]

Stephen Hill is obviously a believer in one world government. I’m sure he would prefer those same European leaders and revolutionary socialists who engineered Europe’s “quiet” revolution would lead this one world order. Or at least some communists like George Soros and Jack Layton lead the United States and Canada in the interim. France, Spain, Germany and England and many other European countries are experiencing the effects of their “quiet” revolutions and their march toward total government control of every facet of life in their society and it's not pretty.

The fact that Americans (and Canadians) pay more for child care than Europeans doesn’t bother those of us in Canada and the U.S. who sacrificed to raise and educated our children without the nanny state overseeing the rearing of our children. For generations Mothers could choose to stay home and raise families before the socialists realized that if government taxed workers to the point that two incomes were required for families to survive then all mothers would be forced to go to work and be taxed along with fathers, thus giving the government a larger share of the GDP. The rearing of children would default to the state. This philosophy has succeeded in turning most European countries into socialist states with complete control over all citizens by governments and liberals in North America have been doing their best to ensure we follow in Europe’s footsteps.

The fact that Europe has more fortune 500 companies and more small business than the U.S. is a gross misrepresentation. With a population in Europe of 830,400,000 compared to that of the United States of America and Canada combined of about 340 million I would hope so. Mr. Hill calls himself a journalist while he sounds more like a propagandist on a scale with the propaganda machine of Nazi Germany of the 1930‘s. Numbers can mean anything you want them too as long as the people you are trying to influence are naive enough to interpret them the way you want them to.

Hill uses the word “Pay” over and over so many times in this article without mentioning that in Europe while governments pay, pay, pay and pay for everything the government money that pays, pays and pays is taken from working people and doled out by politicians and bureaucrats giving them complete control over individuals in society.

You are correct on so many levels. Too bad the sheeple have lost the capacity to think. That's what happens when a population has been programmed to be more interested in 'American Idol" than what really goes on in the world.

Great post redneck.

[Michael Hardner]

You are correct on so many levels. Too bad the sheeple have lost the capacity to think. That's what happens when a population has been programmed to be more interested in 'American Idol" than what really goes on in the world.

They watch American Idol in Europe ?

[bush_cheney2004]

They watch American Idol in Europe ?

No, they watch their own "Idol" brand, which is international (but originated as Pop Idol from....Europe (UK) ).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_Idol

[lukin]

They watch American Idol in Europe ?

Wake up. Michael "politically correct" Hardner has spoken.

[August1991]

More than anywhere else, Europe has fostered the types of innovations that point the way forward for the world to meet these challenges. Europe's brand of "social capitalism" is better suited for the 21st century than America's "Wall Street capitalism" because it has developed itself on several major fronts.

...

Environmental sustainability, readying for global warming. Europe is leading in preparing for global warming, with widespread deployment of conservation practices and "green design" in everything from skyscrapers, homes and automobiles to low wattage light bulbs, motion sensor lights and low flush toilets.[/indent][/indent]

...

The drumbeat of the "debt crisis" now affecting primarily Greece, Spain, Ireland and Portugal is but the opening thud of Europe's implosion. For these benefits to exist they must be paid for.

I realize that I am mixing quotes of different sources but anyway....

----

We do NOT face a debt crisis. And it is absurd to pretend that anyone can borrow money from the future. To do so, we would violate Newton's and Einstein's view of the universe - as well as Max Planck's.

I agree that we must care more for the environment. In general, rich organized societies - societies that rely on market relations - do this better.

But this article/link/rant/plea misses a far more serious point - IMV, the great failure of European societies.

----

What is the greatest challenge of the future?

To me, it is: How do we pass on all the accumulated advice/smart tricks/knowledge/wisdom/ideas from the past to future generations.

Europeans, ever clannish and warring, tend to keep this "knowledge" to themselves - and use it to establish status. We Americans (North/South, French/English/Spanish/Portuguese) generally want to share what we know.

IOW, the great challenge of the future is to assimilate ignorant people into this wonderful body of knowledge we call "Western Civilization".

---

America accepts women and men from around the world and shows them something new. In the past few weeks, I was in Paris, Vienna, Moscow, Frankfurt, Toronto - riding on subways and trams - before returning to Montreal. The immigrant women in Montreal (and in Toronto particularly) are striking. Despite their costume, in Canada, they smile wisely.

We North/South Americans offer the gift of freedom in a civilized space.

Edited August 21, 2011 by August1991

[Oleg Bach]

Wake up. Michael "politically correct" Hardner has spoken.

Michael is a careful sort. Beware of what lies underneath that correctenss...could be more than meets the eye.

[Oleg Bach]

I asked an older man with a young family who recently immigrated from Russia to Canada why they came. He put it in simple terms - That most of Russia was in a state of continued decline..no real work ---but mostly he said - "We can eat here". This last bit could explain the primary reason why immigration is taking place all over the world. It's not about owning a home - or a nice car...it might just be in the fact that when you are hungry - you migrate - just like other creatures..who fly to the feeding ground. I don't believe we in the west who are fat realize this...most nations that are abandoned by immigrants are suffering food shortage - and this will get more intense as time passes. Eventually we will realize that our new friends that we so kindly invited in will eat us out of house and home... Hunger...is a powerful instigator. It is much like the days of the famine in Ireland. Those who had enough strength to leave left.

[August1991]

I asked an older man with a young family who recently immigrated from Russia to Canada why they came. He put it in simple terms - That most of Russia was in a state of continued decline..no real work ---but mostly he said - "We can eat here".

Oleg, most immigrants have an accent and they immigrate for their children.

And they come to America - in 2010 as in 1910 or in 1810 - because the man wants to make money. The big 21st century surprise is that America is a place for women - far more than Europe.

When a foreign woman moves to America (even from Europe), her value doubles or more. In Canada, a foreign woman can see for the first time her true value in the market place.

This perception of value is liberating.

Edited August 21, 2011 by August1991

[Oleg Bach]

Oleg, most immigrants have an accent and they immigrate for their children.

And they come to America - in 2010 as in 1910 or in 1810 - because the man wants to make money. The big 21st century surprise is that America is a place for women - far more than Europe.

When a foreign woman moves to America (even from Europe), her value doubles or more. In Canada, a foreign woman can see for the first time her true value in the market place.

This perception of value is liberating.

The guy I am talking about did come for his family...as any good father or mother would - but he does not wash his clothing - he smells - he has taught his children to be overly timid and fearful - when they walk his teenage kids cling to him physically as if they were 3 years old. As for his wife - she walks as if she is a non-entity. I would like to tell this guy that if he does not instil confidence in his kids that they will be poor here as they were in Russia...as for the man - I would like to tell him if he does not launder his clothing - wash and shave that he will remain poor also - as in Russia.

The "market place" is not a place for human value to be measured. How do you expect this particular family to liberate themselves - male and female when we do not educate immigrants on the concepts of freedom and presentation - to this "market place" as you put it - Your slightly out of date feminist eccentric idealism does not cut it in the year 2011 - it is about human liberation - not about the division of the sexes.

[Saipan]

"We can eat here". This last bit could explain the primary reason why immigration is taking place all over the world.

People of countries with plenty of food, like Thailand for example, immigrate here.

It's not about owning a home - or a nice car...

Often it is. The gypsies that were "discriminated against" in Czech Republic and came here, found out there are no "free houses" for immigrants (as the rumours went) "plenty of work and lot of money". Most went quietly back.

it might just be in the fact that when you are hungry - you migrate

Tamils (FOR EXAMPLE) paid tons of money CASH to smuglers to get them here. Enough money to eat for years.

More money than most Canadians have in their accounts.

Those who are really hungry never make it here.

[jbg]

Look at Norway, Germany, Switzerland

Not all leftist roads lead to hell

I put this response in what I felt was a more appropriate thread. I really believe that what Europeans call "socialist" is really a throwback to the days of either absolute or more powerful monarchy. Aside from Britain the crown was expected to be paternalistic and take good care of the subjects. This is really more corporatism or statism than socialism. Still my point in the opening post that this system is unaffordable. It broke down in the first place because of war and fiscal ruin. The same seems to be happening again, without the war, courtesy of NATO troops.

Just my thoughts.

[Sir Bandelot]

And yet, despite having lost two world wars, built and dis-assembled the wall, embraced their east German brethren and paid their debts, even gave them jobs and free cash handouts, Germany rises once again above all others in Europe.

"Deutschland, Deutschland, uber alles,

uber alles in der weldt..."

Kinda brings a tear to the teutonic eye...

[Bonam]

And yet, despite having lost two world wars, built and dis-assembled the wall, embraced their east German brethren and paid their debts, even gave them jobs and free cash handouts, Germany rises once again above all others in Europe.

"Deutschland, Deutschland, uber alles,

uber alles in der weldt..."

Kinda brings a tear to the teutonic eye...

Maybe it should try to conquer "all others" in Europe again then? It worked so well the last two times they tried...

[Socialist in Oil Country]

I put this response in what I felt was a more appropriate thread. I really believe that what Europeans call "socialist" is really a throwback to the days of either absolute or more powerful monarchy. Aside from Britain the crown was expected to be paternalistic and take good care of the subjects. This is really more corporatism or statism than socialism. Still my point in the opening post that this system is unaffordable. It broke down in the first place because of war and fiscal ruin. The same seems to be happening again, without the war, courtesy of NATO troops.

Just my thoughts.

I fail to see ANY of these situations playing out in the countries I mentioned

Take off the tin foil for a minute

[bush_cheney2004]

Maybe it should try to conquer "all others" in Europe again then? It worked so well the last two times they tried...

Sure did.....they even financed their own rebuilding and rescued Berlin with an airlift. Oh wait...they didn't.