A reader noted some of the serious problems America is facing these days. Staggering deficits, trade imbalances that boggle the mind, the weak dollar, exporting jobs, crime, poverty, unaffordable health care, involvement in an expensive war against terror that is probably still closer to the beginning than the end. Yep, we do have our share of problems and our society is a long way from perfection.
But let us pause and give thanks for our many blessings. One of which is we are not Europe. Admittedly, like many Americans I don’t pay a whole lot of attention to the goings on in the land of my forefathers. Face it, Europe is increasingly irrelevant in the global scheme of things. But one can’t help but notice how Europe’s death spiral seems to be escalating. Demographics that will not support the socialist programs they love to tout and a lack of political will to deal with the problem. Immigration and birth rates that will likely lead to Muslim majorities in a generation. Double digit unemployment. Crushing tax burdens. A lack of moral compass or vision. Antiquated militaries that are incapable of projecting power and likely could not even provide adequate self defense from a determined enemy (absent American intervention). Societies every bit as sick as ours (although admittedly less violent). And a blind unwillingness to recognize these threats, let alone the courage to face up to them. In short, Europe is an ostrich, and the wolves are on the hunt. It’s gonna get real ugly sooner rather than later.
While I am sometimes offended by the arrogance of our European cousins, I don’t take the ramblings of doddering old fools much to heart. Despite their grand dreams and delusions of grandeur, Europe’s time has passed. Their contributions in science, art and literature will certainly live on in history books, but I see little evidence that these pathetic welfare states will have much to say about the shape of the world in the 21st century (although I expect there will be many headlines as they fall one by one under the oppressive boot of Islamofacism.
So America needs to look east. It is in Asia that we will find our greatest opportunities and our greatest challenges. China, not Europe, will provide the counterbalance to American power that Mr. Chirac has been dreaming of. Other great democracies like India will fill the void in world leadership that Europe has abdicated. And that is as it should and must be.
It has been said that all things must pass. Perhaps that is true. But unlike Europe, America will never surrender. We are still ascending (hell, we are only two hundred years into Jefferson’s great experiment). Our current problems will be overcome and new ones will appear. But we thrive on that kind of dynamism.
These are interesting times indeed. And I will always be thankful for having the good fortune to be living them as an American.
Oh yeah, I was inspired to write this post after reading this article and some gentle goading by the irascible EuroYank. America will neither repent nor perish, my friend. We‘ve only just begun, and our best days still lie ahead of us. Today’s problems are simply tomorrow’s victories. Bring it on. Let’s roll. Remember the Alamo. And all that jazz.
Hat Tip: Asymmetrical Information
John your great blessing is a government contract. My great blessing is not living in the USA. Enjoy your contract and your rationed blessings.
America is becoming increasingly more relevant in its own mind. The USA is living on Asian and European credit, and the dollar is just a paper tiger backed by China and Europe which is all that is keeping it afloat.
John and stop kicking around little countries with a few million people in it so you can live on those socialist american government contracts. its blood money you are living on. and its socialist
and IRASCIBLE what kind of government double-speak word is that… speak english
and Europe will reach from Spain to Alaska put that into your socialist american government contract and smoke it.
and Europe will reach from Spain to Alaska, put that into your socialist american government contract and smoke it.
and europe will reach from spain to alaska. put that into your socialist american government pipe and smoke it.
John…Europe will reach from Spain to Alaska. Put that into your American socialist government pipe and inhale.
and europe will reach from spain to alask. put that into your socialist government contract and smoke it.
john be thankful you have a socialist government contract and enough small countries to kick around. europe will reach from spain to alaska, and someday china and europe may call in its holdings of american debt which the usa cannot fund on its own merits. you sure need everybody elses money to fund your socialist lifestyle.
Gosh honey I love America as much as you do but Europe is on the cutting edge of medicine, engineering and physics. Pay more attention to where the Nobel Prizes are awarded. America’s dominance is in computer technology. Muslims are on the rise in this country too as is the hispanic population. For all their crushing tax burdens Europeans still save more money than Americans and enjoy a nice standard of living. Germany is still reeling from the reunification of East Germany but they are recovering. Most European countries had to make some adjustments after the formation of the EU but the biggest indicator that they aren’t doing nearly as bad as you seem to think is the fact that they aren’t immigrating. Historically when things are bad in Europe immigration to America or Australia increases. Well it isn’t happening. Yes they have problems but they aren’t as bad as you seem to think. Europe irrelevant? I don’t think so.
John sorry for the repeats. My robotic half blew a fuse.
I feel very blessed to live in America…True we have many problems to be solved…I have no quarel with Europe….Except France…America will be able to slove its problems as soon as we make a top priorty of doing so…..God Bless America…
Nobel Prize, um like the one Jimmy Carter got, nobel prizes awarded by leftists in Europe, Please
Okay KO you got me there. Doesn’t change the fact though that Europeans excel in the sciences. That their kids tend to do better in school or rather test better, or that they aren’t lining up to leave to the old country. When John makes comments that Europe is irrelevant I have to wonder irrelevant in what respect? Certainly it isn’t irrelevant to the people who live there. They are irrelevant to American but then haven’t they always been? So what is really being said by declaring them irrelevant? I cannot help but interpret the statement as being a how dare you not support America and go along with our dictates. That does not sit well with me being from the land of free.
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