Human nature

From David French at NRO's The Corner:

As we watch Europe’s unfolding debt drama, it’s worth asking a question: If socialism and central planning can’t succeed in Europe, where can they succeed? After all, Europe possessed tremendous advantages when it launched its slow-running experiment in cradle-to-grave welfare statism and post-national political unity many decades ago: historically dynamic economies, educated citizens, relative religious unity (around a lack of belief), a commitment (born out of sorrow and blood) to peace, and military protection provided by the world’s great superpower. The result was something resembling a social-democracy Disneyland, a virtual theme park for believers in nationalized health care, progressive social views, soft power over hard power, and carefully managed democracy.

Yet human nature still prevails, doesn’t it? It turns out that the euro couldn’t turn Greeks and Italians into Germans, that cradle-to-grave welfare benefits have the same impact on the work ethic and productivity of millions of Europeans as they had on millions of Americans, and that “post-Christian Europe” was hardly a more-rational Europe.

We can’t just shake our heads at the Europeans, however, not when our current president looks across the Atlantic and sees not a cautionary tale but instead a model for our American future. Name one Obama administration policy goal that wouldn’t make us more European. From nationalized health care to more “progressive” taxation to state/corporate ownership models to a shrinking defense, every significant policy choice is dragging us closer to the model that is collapsing before our very eyes. Does he think that Americans are better at being French than the French?

In reality, we’re all just people. And if there’s one thing that history’s proven and keeps proving, it’s that socialism and real people simply don’t mix.

How true.  Unfortunately for the Europeans, they are providing a preview of what may very well happen here in America.  And unfortunately for Americans, many aren't learning that lesson from the European crisis.

Some thoughts on Europe

From the always thoughtful and insightful Richard Hernandez at PJ Media:

France, Greece or Spain? It doesn’t matter, says Daniel Hannan, a Conservative MEP (European parliamentarian) who says of recent events in his commentary: “France and Greece are just the beginning – Europe is entering a downward spiral.”

The key problem, he writes, is the false choice between increasing the tax burden to retire debt and increasing the debt. Having failed to do the former, the European parties are prepared to return to the latter. “So why do voters hope to solve the crisis by accelerating the policies which led to it?”

Much of the blame must attach to the Centre-Right parties currently in office in most national capitals. Though they talk of fiscal prudence, many of them are in reality locked into Euro-corporatism. With a handful of honourable exceptions, they have presided over crony capitalism, more spending, more taxes and more debt. Their failure has opened the door to the angry and populist Left. When the ‘Right’ is represented by Samaras and Sarkozy, it’s no surprise that voters cast around for radical alternatives. After all, when it comes to the euro, the Trotskyists have been proved right. They argued all along that, while the single currency would suit the suits, working people would suffer.

Because they don’t know anything else. Because it has seemed to work for so long they don’t know how to do anything else. Because it has always been a case of “heads we win, tails the public loses”. Both the “populist left” and the “centre-right” drink from the same river of public funds. The sole distinction is that while the first fatten one set of cronies, the second fattens a slightly different set of cronies.

And the worse things get, the likelier people are to demand the high-tax, high-spend policies which caused the mess. The eurozone is now in a vicious circle,” Hannan concludes.  The cure, having caused the disease, will be used to treat the disease. 

I like Hannan's observation of the false choice of taxes or debt.  Much the same is the MSM "debate" here in the USA.  What is almost always significantly missing is that third unnamed choice; to reduce spending to have it come into line with revenues.  But it is almost as if government spending is locked into place, immovable as granite, and everything else much adapt to fit.  Can anyone say cart and horse?

Loons across the ocean

While we have our own leadership election this year to keep our attention, the French are also in the process of selecting a president.  Two of the leading candidates from the left have truly redistributionist views.  First, there is Francois Hollande, the main Socialist candidate.  He advocates a tax rate of 75% on income over €1,000,000 ($1,327,000).  Talk about a disincentive to success.

But that's a piker in the world of European left-wing thought.  Jean-Luc Mélenchon is a hard left, anti-capitalist activist who is rising in the presidential election polls.  He advocates capping "fat-cat" salaries at €360,000 ($477,000), after which income tax would be set at 100%.  Think about that.  The government says, "You have earned enough.  Anything more you make goes to us."

The scary part - there are many who think this is a good idea.  The even scarier part - many in the Democratic Party think that the USA needs to be more like Europe.

Quote of the Day

The transformation of “human rights” from restraints upon state power into a pretext for state power is nicely encapsulated in the language of Article 14 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which states that everyone has the right “to receive free compulsory education.” Got that? You have the human right to be forced to do something by the government.

From Mark Steyn at NRO.  Hat tip for the pointer to Proof Positive.