The Republican candidates unleash these attacks on Obama because so many Americans have in mind a caricature of Europe as an effete, failed socialist system. As Romney puts it: “Europe isn’t working in Europe. It’s not going to work here.”
... But the basic notion of Europe as a failure is a dangerous misconception. The reality is far more complicated.
What is true is that Europe is in an economic mess. Quite aside from the current economic crisis, labor laws are often too rigid, and the effect has been to make companies reluctant to hire in the first place. Unemployment rates therefore are stubbornly high, especially for the young. And Europe’s welfare state has been too generous, creating long-term budget problems as baby boomers retire.IT SEEMS TO ME THAT KRISTOF HAS UNKNOWINGLY PROVED THE GOP'S CASE:
WE SHOULDN'T BECOME MORE LIKE EUROPE AS THEY ENDEAVOR TO BECOME MORE LIKE US.
OBAMA HAS INCREASED REGULATIONS ON BUSINESSES AND INCREASED THE SIZE OF THE WELFARE STATE - AND HE SEEKS TO FURTHER INCREASE THESE BURDENS ON THE PRODUCTIVE PEOPLE AND MAKE US MORE LIKE EUROPE IN WAYS THAT KRISTOF ADMITS ARE BAD.
WHY CAN'T KRISTOF MAKE THE SMALL LEAP FROM SEEING THE POLICIES SUCK TO SUPPORTING THE GOP'S POSITIONS AND POLICIES?
BECAUSE LEFTISTS ARE PARTISANS FIRST.
AND ADMITTING THE GOP IS RIGHT ON THIS FRONT WOULD LIKE HIM REMOVING HIS FINGER FROM THE DIKE, LEAD TO HIM BEING DELUGED BY ALL THE DELUSIONS OF THE LEFT AND FORCE HIM TO ADMIT HE'S BASICALLY WRONG ABOUT EVERYTHING AND HAS BEEN FOR MOST OF HIS ADULT LIFE.
THAT'S SEEMS AWFULLY DAUNTING TO LEFTISTS LIKE KRISTOF.
I KNOW FIRST HAND - HAVING BEEN A LEFTIST FOR MOST MY LIFE.
BUT I SAW THE LIGHT AND MADE THE LEAP.
I INVITE KRISTOF TO DO THE SAME.
WE'RE WAITING HERE ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH OPEN ARMS.
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