(01-23-2014 09:04 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]First paragraph is readily vetted. And that's the main point.
I suspect the history provided is a little biased in its recount. Maybe Owl 69 can offer his thoughts whether it's reasonably accurate.
http://www.americanthinker.com/2014/01/f...again.html
It's probably too late. The French culture is built around a government big daddy provider. If they really cut benefits ala Greece, the French receiver class will riot in the streets.
Hollande is a fool but was elected because he promised lots of great benefits and to bring down the rich and make them pay.
Now where have I heard that type of political campaign before?
Looks like some nations are finally running out of other people's money.
(01-23-2014 09:34 AM)VA49er Wrote: [ -> ]Looks like some nations are finally running out of other people's money.
When the US catches a cold, the rest of the world gets the flu.
Some may be more proactive than others.
(01-23-2014 09:34 AM)VA49er Wrote: [ -> ]Looks like some nations are finally running out of other people's money.
IMagine how much sooner they would have run out of money if we did not spend 40 years as the defacto European Military...
Quote:After the 2008 financial crisis, the Socialist Party revived its collectivist agenda. They claimed their manifesto of higher taxes and economic stimulus projects would lead to full employment and eliminate the budget deficit. But the Hollande administration's deficit spending has driven France into the same crisis as Mitterrand's government 30 years earlier. The French government now spends 56% of the nation's GDP, making it one the highest-spending governments in the European Union. Hollande's vast public sector and punitively high tax rates have driven the rich to take their wealth and leave and for businesses to relocate production off-shore. Franc's annual deficit has doubled and the nation's unemployment rate is now at a 15-year high of 11%. Chronic youth unemployment now tops 26% and still rising.
Substitute a couple names, add few years to the history equation and tweak (slightly) a couple numbers, what/where is he describing?
But, let me guess- it hasn't been done quite right, just yet...
(01-23-2014 09:33 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]Not just france, but scandanavia too
http://reason.com/blog/2014/01/22/nordic...giving-wel
The thing about the Nordics is that they are becoming federally less-socialist, but still have different levels at the state/county/municipal level.
Now that's something I can agree with because the feds stay out of things that aren't expressly within their purposes and we can pare down bureaucracy. I believe we could get healthcare, education, employment, and other things solved by putting pressure on the states and cities to solve them.
One thing Reason does not mention is that these countries are highly unionized, with about 80% of all employees in one -- they tend to find unions to be a part of a good business climate (which I believe they can be). Even the teachers in Swedish private schools the lady got the voucher to are organized.
great find. thank you.
wonder why it's so hard for all of us to learn the first time.
(01-23-2014 02:18 PM)blunderbuss Wrote: [ -> ]great find. thank you.
wonder why it's so hard for all of us to learn the first time.
Because it's not the politically easy thing to do.
(01-23-2014 02:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-23-2014 09:33 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]Not just france, but scandanavia too
http://reason.com/blog/2014/01/22/nordic...giving-wel
The thing about the Nordics is that they are becoming federally less-socialist, but still have different levels at the state/county/municipal level.
Now that's something I can agree with because the feds stay out of things that aren't expressly within their purposes and we can pare down bureaucracy. I believe we could get healthcare, education, employment, and other things solved by putting pressure on the states and cities to solve them.
One thing Reason does not mention is that these countries are highly unionized, with about 80% of all employees in one -- they tend to find unions to be a part of a good business climate (which I believe they can be). Even the teachers in Swedish private schools the lady got the voucher to are organized.
Interesting points. Thanks.
France isn't in too bad of shape today. Their electorate is smart enough to see that disaster is where they are heading and just like Mitterand, they will adjust.
Funny enough, I'd argue France is one of the better run nations in the world.
(01-23-2014 02:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote: [ -> ] (01-23-2014 09:33 AM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ]Not just france, but scandanavia too
http://reason.com/blog/2014/01/22/nordic...giving-wel
The thing about the Nordics is that they are becoming federally less-socialist, but still have different levels at the state/county/municipal level.
Now that's something I can agree with because the feds stay out of things that aren't expressly within their purposes and we can pare down bureaucracy. I believe we could get healthcare, education, employment, and other things solved by putting pressure on the states and cities to solve them.
One thing Reason does not mention is that these countries are highly unionized, with about 80% of all employees in one -- they tend to find unions to be a part of a good business climate (which I believe they can be). Even the teachers in Swedish private schools the lady got the voucher to are organized.
The Nordics are also much smaller countries with much smaller populations that tend to be more homogeneous that the U.S. Everything being smaller I think does allow them to be more politically nimble.
Frankly, I think the US would be way better served if more power were held by the states for exactly the same size reasons. That, and states would be free to try different approaches to things to find out what works and what doesn't without wrecking the whole country with some one size fits all monstrosity, ie. Obamacare. We all know this is a non-starter here as the political players on the national level will never allow any power to be given back to the states - to lucrative for those in Washington.
Unions in and of themselves aren't necessarily job killers - just what most of them have morphed into in this country.
(01-23-2014 05:45 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote: [ -> ]France isn't in too bad of shape today. Their electorate is smart enough to see that disaster is where they are heading and just like Mitterand, they will adjust.
Dunno about that. They've had many years w/ rioting in muslim ghettos.
Anti-immigration movement may be getting some traction there, but it's been a long time coming.
(01-23-2014 05:50 PM)DrTorch Wrote: [ -> ] (01-23-2014 05:45 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote: [ -> ]France isn't in too bad of shape today. Their electorate is smart enough to see that disaster is where they are heading and just like Mitterand, they will adjust.
Dunno about that. They've had many years w/ rioting in muslim ghettos.
Anti-immigration movement may be getting some traction there, but it's been a long time coming.
Even with the Muslim rioting I doubt our government would have handled the situation as well, do you?
If it had been us we'd still be arguing that the issue is racist and we should just ignore it, or better yet, support the rioters for being freedom fighters. LOL