Daily Archives: 10 January 2010

The Myth of European Socialism

Euro Zone Grapples With Debt Crisis
The European Commission warns that public finances in half of the 16 euro-zone nations are at high risk of becoming unsustainable

Governments will spend the next year and beyond balancing the urgent need to fix public-sector debt and deficits — without imperiling what appears to be a feeble economic recovery.
(Read more from online.wsj.com)

Commentary by Patrick Barron: Many people support increasing social welfare programs in the U.S. by citing the experience of Europe; that is, that Europe has far more generous welfare benefits than the U.s. and seems to be doing “just fine”. Well, the European Commission itself disputes the long-term viability of many of Europe’s finances.

[But] None of the welfare plans in any of the Eurozone countries are financially sound. They are simply state-sponsored Ponzi schemes that must crash when the demographic reality of a declining birthrate makes their payment impossible.

Three Cheers for the Swiss People

In this great article, Paul Green discusses how Switzerland remains resolutely free and prosperous.

Guns and the military are yet another example. Guns are everywhere – and crime is nowhere. In fact they have at least two of the most peaceful, crime-free cities in the world – according to various online authorities. Zurich even has a half-holiday in October for the “boy shooting” contest and American-style fair where young boys – and girls too – compete with assault rifles at targets.

Chilling quote from an American socialist

Norman Thomas was an American socialist and frequent presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. He said the following:

The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of ‘liberalism’ they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.

Edit: Did he really say that? www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/socialism.asp