Athough I have never been enamoured with their politics, the situation in France is pretty depressing. It is way up there on the list of favorite places, having been there numerous times to a fair number of the regions. I have no predictions, just hopes.
With that said, I just don't see how the current system can survive. Even Spain, which is run by a socialist government, is saying that they can't afford the system any more, and the socialist government is facing protests from people who want more.
Greece has been selling assets and going to Libya for aid.
While our problems are obvious, why does anyone still want to follow the European model?
Yes, it is concerning to have reality thumping you up side the head, and still there is a large number of folks who just don't get it. I too don't understand what is so darn difficult to understand. How could anyone expect that government can provide a living to non working folks giving them housing, food, medical, public transportation, etc.... for life. Eventually, even a pimp knows you can't give it away for free and survive. Socialists/libs have a pretty pipe dream going on.... it surely would be nice if there weren't the down trowden, the very poor, the lazy, etc... all looking for somebody else to pay there way and that there actually was a bottomless pit of money for their needs. But that's not reality and eventually the pot runs dry. I really don't have all the answers, but I see the results of what happens so far and it's a losing story... People must support themselves ... period .... and if they can't or won't, then they must live or die by their choices. Ya, I know, pretty gloomy position to have but my hunch is that if it wasn't so damn easy to collect handouts, a lot of these folks would find a way to support themselves and many may actually discover that they like being self sufficient.
People have to support themselves, but if they can't there can and should be other alternatives. In the U.S. community and family has always helped those who fell through the cracks. Not perfectly, but it did a pretty good job for the most part. We never had people starving in the streets.
9-11 is the perfect example for me. The nation wanted to help those who were victims. However, there was no need for the federal government to get involved. Even before the federal government passed a give-away, hundreds of millions had been raised by private groups.
There are other examples too numerous to list.
(Obviously, some situations require coordinated federal responses - like the recent oil spill. No one is denying the legit role of the feds in some situations.)
One final thought, a heat wave a little above normal, killed more people in Paris than a force five hurricane passing through New Orleans.
Well, yes, I fully agree that there is a clear role for government to play in providing assistance to those impacted by your examples, particularly when the traditional volunteer methods of public charity are insufficient. My concern is more directed at governments who have managed to establish a full time life support for every conceivable creature comfort all without the recipient having to lift a hand except to cash the check. I'm sorry and maybe I'm cruel too, but I simply cannot bring myself to subscribe to the belief that government somehow has an obligation to take my money so that they can hand it out to those who will not support themselves or who find themselves in need because of the deliberate choices they make. Exception of course for the isolated scenarios you mention.
More Cons on Welfare than Liberals. You have to
include Corporate Welfare, Pentegon Contracts, Agriculture, and Oil industries when talking about Welfare.
And the blood sucking Welfare winners are:
neocons
http://www.amazon.com/Free-Lunch-Wealthiest-Themselves-Government/dp/1591841917#_
http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewmsg.asp?BoardID=39&SortBy=DateCreated%20desc&SearchType=1&Author=xfean&DayFrom=30&DayTo=0&MessageID=130426&frmSearch=1#130426
neocons do not have to do this!;they just get free money
http://www.theeroticreview.com/discussion_boards/viewmsg.asp?BoardID=39&SortBy=DateCreated%20desc&SearchType=1&Author=xfean&DayFrom=30&DayTo=0&MessageID=130833&frmSearch=1#130833
http://www.amazon.com/Free-Lunch-Wealthiest-Themselves-Government/dp/1591841917#reader_1591841917
Perfectly Legal: The Covert Campaign to Rig Our Tax System to Benefit the Super Rich--and Cheat Everybody Else
http://www.amazon.com/Perfectly-Legal-Campaign-Rich-Everybody/dp/1591840694/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b
I was talking about system A (The European Model).
I know you don't like system B (The U.S. Model). But the question is whether system A functions.
I also said in my post that I know there are problems with system B, so your post was not only a change of subject, but it didn't even add anything that I hadn't recognized before.
Now that you went on about the U.S. model, do you think the European one is working?
You obviously know NOTHING about economics or politics...
Tell you what, let me know how people the poor employ and then get back to me.
Keep trying to pinish those who create jobs, and you just hurt yourself.
The reason the unemployment rate is so high is because those who can create jobs do not trust the administration enough to take that risk. If you looked at the cartoon and had 1/2 a brain, you would realize how flawed it is because the erason you need do many jobless benefits is because of the STUPID philosophy of punishing the rich.
GROW UP, it flows down hill, the 10% unemployment rate is proof..
Bird and Fortune - Financial Adviser
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXBcmqwTV9s
Of course it talking about banks and not individual high achievers, so is not really relevent to what we were discussing...
But still funny.
can protest all they want on the streets, stop planes from flying, trains from running which ironically will result in people not being able to work and support the economy. The reality is, retiring at 60 and the host of other governmental freebies St Croix, has mentioned and posted on other threads is not economically sustainable.
By the way, I only have two places I like to visit in France; Normandy and where the Battle of the Somme was fought.
Bird and Fortune - Subprime Crisis :how the market works
John Bird and John Fortune (the Long Johns) brilliantly, and accurately, describing the mindset of the investment banking community in this satirical interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzJmTCYmo9g
-- Modified on 10/21/2010 10:38:15 PM
Bird and Fortune - Subprime Banking Mess
John Bird and John Fortune (the Long Johns) brilliantly, and accurately, describing the mindset of the investment banking community in this satirical interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC31Oudc5Bg
-- Modified on 10/21/2010 10:38:49 PM
