Across Western Europe, the “lifestyle superpower,” the assumptions and gains of a lifetime are suddenly in doubt. The deficit crisis that threatens the euro has also undermined the sustainability of the European standard of social welfare, built by left-leaning governments since the end of World War II.
Europeans have boasted about their social model, with its generous vacations and early retirements, its national health care systems and extensive welfare benefits, contrasting it with the comparative harshness of American capitalism.
Europeans have benefited from low military spending, protected by NATO and the American nuclear umbrella. They have also translated higher taxes into a cradle-to-grave safety net. “The Europe that protects” is a slogan of the European Union.
But all over Europe governments with big budgets, falling tax revenues and aging populations are experiencing rising deficits, with more bad news ahead.
Another take on this entire problem is found here:
http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/05/20/not-just-their-big-fat-greek-funeral/
President Obama wants us to be more like the Europeans.
The Republicans evidently also want us to be more like the Europeans becasue under the Bush administration we got the No Child Left behind and the Perscription Drug Benefit Programs that greatly expanded federal spending and we also had absolutley NO recall of any of the socialist agenda done by the Democrats. In fact, I am ashamed to admit that Bill Clinton did more to reduce welfare dependence than George Bush. Republicans cannot get away with just pointing to Obama, Pelosi, and Reid and saying, “Gee, we aren’t as bad as them.” That won’t cut it anymore. The Republicans need to “man up” and start FOLLOWING THE CONSTITUTION! Cutting a figure as Democrat-Lites isn’t going to work anymore.