Europe's Entitlement Reckoning

[carpro]

If 'entitlements', as you call our welfare states, were the problem, our economies would have collapsed decades ago (the Welfare State in the UK has been in existence since the 1940s and Germany's for much longer than that). Roger is correct: the real problem is the Greeks and others effectively lying on their 'Euro-club application forms' and then continuing to lie about their true state once they were in the club.

I expect Europeans to turn a blind eye to the problem. They like their welfare states too much too give them up easily, until it comes crashing down around their ears. Then there will be riots and anarchy when their freebies get taken away.

I'll enjoy the show and try to do everything I can, which isn't much, to keep the U.S from heading down the same road.

Even some of the brighter heads in the EU have stated that their social model is unsustainable. Borrowing to keep paying benefits they can't afford eventually will catch up to the all. France now wants to unite with Geermany, primarily to have someone to save them when their time comes.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

France now wants to unite with Geermany, primarily to have someone to save them when their time comes.

Huh? France wants to unite with Germany? I've missed that one. Where did you see that?

 

[Matt Black]

I expect Europeans to turn a blind eye to the problem. They like their welfare states too much too give them up easily, until it comes crashing down around their ears. Then there will be riots and anarchy when their freebies get taken away.

You don't address the point I made at all: welfare states aren't the prime cause of this; if they were this would have happened decades ago. They will come to an end in their present form because of this situation, but they haven't in themselves caused it.

 

[carpro]

Wake up.

Of course, they have.

You're probably getting your fair share of entitlement goodies.. I don't blame you for being in denial.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Wake up.

Of course, they have.

You're probably getting your fair share of entitlement goodies.. I don't blame you for being in denial.

Apparently there is no substance to back up your supposition so it is easier to just attack Matt.

 

[billwald]

For the first 100,000 years the human social contract demanded that family members respect and care for their own people - young and old. Now the family is kaput and young people are more concerned with accumulating consumer goods than caring for the kids & old people and WANT the government to take over.

 

[hillclimber1]

For the first 100,000 years the human social contract demanded that family members respect and care for their own people - young and old. Now the family is kaput and young people are more concerned with accumulating consumer goods than caring for the kids & old people and WANT the government to take over.

Your dissing God's 7 days of creation noted.. But yes, this nation is comprised of a near majority that favors governmental interference in all aspects of our once free society.

God of course knows all of this and I think it's now clear that these are the last days, where the world is being positioned to accept the magic man who says he can fix this mess..

 

[freeatlast]

For the first 100,000 years the human social contract demanded that family members respect and care for their own people - young and old. Now the family is kaput and young people are more concerned with accumulating consumer goods than caring for the kids & old people and WANT the government to take over.

Since there is no history past about 6 thousand years you are really really old to know all this. :laugh:

 

[Spear]

Hi !

€ is a great idea, but i agree that we need an alignment of our economical policies alltogether with the other european countries. I hope we'll slowly, but surely move to a Federal Union of States in the next decades. I recently read that China has all its interests in the survival of Euro, so that US Dollar doesn't come back as the only " main " money, because then they would have much less weight considering the fact they own thousand billions of US $, without a concurrent money.

About the welfare thing, i hope we'll keep our health system. Even if they say " Mat, we'll have to take 10 % of your monthly income to keep the health system ", i'll sign with both hands. I'm never sick, so i don't cost much, but who knows in 10 years, maybe i'll cost more, and then i'll be glad others will finance that for me, without a limitation (in fact, the limitation of private insurance is the MOST scaring thing for me when i think about it, as if a mid-class person with a really bad thing on health could hear " Your treatment is too expensive, we won't take it in charge anymore, die now ").

Anyway, about Euro's fall, if this happens, would be the " market vultures " attacking the states one by one. Cause i think it's part of the matter ... I'm not sure that basically the market is made to " bet on loose ", and that " betting/hoping a state will fail " to make money, is scandalous. Some will argue that it is authorized, but is everything being authorized normal or moral ?

 

[Matt Black]

Hi, Spear, good to see you again. Agree with what you say, particularly with regard to the health service. In The United States of Europe: The Superpower that Nobody Talks About (written of course before the Euro crisis!), T R Reid, the author and an American living in the UK, recounts his relief of being able to take his sick daughter to the local ER, get her treated promptly, and not have to worry about bills or insurance...

Wake up.

Of course, they have.

You're probably getting your fair share of entitlement goodies.. I don't blame you for being in denial.

Thanks for the ad hominem. Since we've had what you would doubtless call 'socialised medicine' and other welfare benefits since the 1940s in this country, please explain therefore why our economic system did not collapse in the 1950s since, according to your analysis, it should have done.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Thanks for the ad hominem. Since we've had what you would doubtless call 'socialised medicine' and other welfare benefits since the 1940s in this country, please explain therefore why our economic system did not collapse in the 1950s since, according to your analysis, it should have done.

I am still waiting for an explanation of how Ireland's status as a pervasive nanny state has impacted Ireland more than the corrupt alliance of Fiana Fail and the land developers. I am also waiting for support for the contention that France wants to join Germany. I wouldn't hold mh breath if I were you Matt.

BTW, as a minor pet peeve, I am not surprised that Americans capitalise 'euro' but we should remember that the old euro commission decided that it should not bf capitalised and that it's plural is still 'euro' .