http://article.nationalreview.com/428996...eyn?page=1

"Don't bet against America" Yeah right. How about reading some history?

GREAT article!

I'd give the proverbial left nut to be able to put words on paper like Steyn and Hanson.

Quote:And overseas? If America becomes Europe in its domestic disposition and geopolitical decline, then who will be America? Of the many competing schools of declinism, perhaps the most gleeful are those that salivate over the rise of China. For years, Sinophiles have been penning orgasmic fantasies of a mid-century when China will bestride the world and America will be consigned to the trash heap of history. It will never happen: As I’ve been saying for years, China has profound structural problems. It will get old before it gets rich.

Russia? The demographic deformation of Czar Putin’s new empire is even more severe than Beijing’s. Russia is a global power only to the extent of the mischief it can make on its acceleration into a death spiral.

The new Caliphate? Even if every dime-store jihadist’s dreams came true, almost by definition an Islamic imperium would be in decline from Day One.

Awesome writing, regarldless of substance.

His comments about Vienna brought to mind something that I don't think is getting enough attention. One evening last summer, a lady friend and I had dinner in a sidewalk cafe in Covent Garden. Another American couple, expats living in Vienna, sat next to us. The husband and I were both wearing rugby jerseys, so that started a conversation. One observation they had is that the Viennese are the most miserable, unhappy people they had ever been around, something which is apparently freely admitted and the subject of much cocktail party conversation there.

There's a huge problem with cradle-to-grave socialism, whether the numbers work or not. People living in nanny states HATE it. Coffee and tortes along the Karntnerstrasse (or perhaps a latte in Starbuck's?) may be pleasant enough in a superficial sense, but a life where Big Brother takes care of everything is depressingly meaningless. Travelling there frequently over the last 37 years, I've seen Europe go there and start fighting to come back from it, but struggling against well entrenched interests has been difficult (see NHS, for example). I really don't want to see us go there.

(03-25-2010 09:18 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  His comments about Vienna brought to mind something that I don't think is getting enough attention. One evening last summer, a lady friend and I had dinner in a sidewalk cafe in Covent Garden. Another American couple, expats living in Vienna, sat next to us. The husband and I were both wearing rugby jerseys, so that started a conversation. One observation they had is that the Viennese are the most miserable, unhappy people they had ever been around, something which is apparently freely admitted and the subject of much cocktail party conversation there.

There's a huge problem with cradle-to-grave socialism, whether the numbers work or not. People living in nanny states HATE it. Coffee and tortes along the Karntnerstrasse (or perhaps a latte in Starbuck's?) may be pleasant enough in a superficial sense, but a life where Big Brother takes care of everything is depressingly meaningless. Travelling there frequently over the last 37 years, I've seen Europe go there and start fighting to come back from it, but struggling against well entrenched interests has been difficult (see NHS, for example). I really don't want to see us go there.

Yep, that's the thing with entitlement programs, especially the larger ones. Relatively easy to implement, very difficult to take away. The candy-from-a-baby scenario.

I'm encouraged by your news that so many people dislike the nanny state, but also somewhat (pleasantly) surprised. I figured that the minority who's footing the bill would hate it, while a majority - even a slim majority - would enjoy all the "freebies" and would fear having to dabble into some self reliance and personal responsibility again.

(03-25-2010 09:18 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  His comments about Vienna brought to mind something that I don't think is getting enough attention. One evening last summer, a lady friend and I had dinner in a sidewalk cafe in Covent Garden. Another American couple, expats living in Vienna, sat next to us. The husband and I were both wearing rugby jerseys, so that started a conversation. One observation they had is that the Viennese are the most miserable, unhappy people they had ever been around, something which is apparently freely admitted and the subject of much cocktail party conversation there.

There's a huge problem with cradle-to-grave socialism, whether the numbers work or not. People living in nanny states HATE it. Coffee and tortes along the Karntnerstrasse (or perhaps a latte in Starbuck's?) may be pleasant enough in a superficial sense, but a life where Big Brother takes care of everything is depressingly meaningless. Travelling there frequently over the last 37 years, I've seen Europe go there and start fighting to come back from it, but struggling against well entrenched interests has been difficult (see NHS, for example). I really don't want to see us go there.

While I am certainly not the owner of this thought, much has been made of the "old timey theme park" aspect to the beautiful cities of Europe, and to Europe in general.

It's hard keeping the "It's A Small World Afterall" facade up 24/7.

(03-25-2010 08:29 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  http://article.nationalreview.com/428996...eyn?page=1

"Don't bet against America" Yeah right. How about reading some history?

That was a great article(aka "opinion piece"? Did I miss something?

(03-25-2010 10:34 AM)RobertN Wrote:  

(03-25-2010 08:29 AM)DrTorch Wrote:  http://article.nationalreview.com/428996...eyn?page=1

"Don't bet against America" Yeah right. How about reading some history?

That was a great article(aka "opinion piece"? Did I miss something?

,,,, Yeah, its called REALITY..... Something you could not see with the Hubble telescope.