Comments on: How GOP candidates get Europe wrong
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- Still waiting on someone to re-visit this story and make it right. Here is a news bit from the Monday May 7, 2012. after elections in France an. Greece.
Eight of the 17 eurozone nations are already in recession and unemployment across the bloc rose to 10.9 percent in March — its highest ever. - Reply to this comment
- I hope you'll allow me to give a European view on this debate. I am a German who spent an exchange year in the US - one of the best experiences in my life - and it shaped me so much I'm now an American Studies major. I love America and yet my political views might be completly "European", but that's where - and a lot of people have mentioned this before - the problem begins. Europe is a union, yes, and I stand behind that with all my heart, but it is not a tag you can put on anything that is non-American. Over half a billion people live here, and each and everyone has different opinions on politics, economy, and culture - just like Americans. Government structures and economic plans range from very liberal (e.g. GB) to social democratic with high emphasis on welfare (e.g. Sweden). European politics weren't created during the Cold War or from a Marxistic world view but originate from a long tradition of political history (that's why West Germany didn't become a 2nd USA after WWII either, politically and economically speaking, even though the US taught us democratic ideas and values).
So why compare all the time? Why point out that the other side of the ocean handles things in a different manner (of course one's own side always thinks that the other is worse)? Of course we do. And we're allowed to do that. It's part of our political culture.
That doesn't mean, of course, that we're not allowed or able to change things, it doesn't automatically delete this culture, it just makes us more flexible. We can learn from each other - from the good things as well as the bad things, of which both America and Europe have enough.
Do I like my country? Yes, I do. I value the security I have, in health care and other manners. I'm from a family of laborers, economically not well-off, but I know that there's always a security net for us if anything should happen.
Do I like America? Yes, I do. I greatly value the freedom you have, that I saw myself.
I believe that is possible to connect both things. Even though we must give up a bit of one to get the other. Frankly, I don't understand a country's desire to be bigger or better that others(is that too European?!), because we live in world community, the United States themselves were one of the first to shape and create it. I'm no less your neighbor than the guy on the other side of the road. - Reply to this comment
- Enjoy the show and am a regular viewer. One of the best shows on TV.
We cannot agree on everything so here are my comments.
I object to the article "Republicans Have Europe all Wrong". A rosey picture was presented about the benefits of the very generous social programs asssociated with the European Social Democracys.
The fact that many European countries may face bankruptcy is not mentioned. The riots that come when these unsustainable benefits are cut back was nerver mentioned. - Reply to this comment
- I suspect tha few if any of the people writing comments above for certain have lived in Germany or Europe for that matter. First I will admit that the author told not lies, however neither did he tell the entire truth. And that is what is sad. First unemployment: In 1988 when I was living in Germany the unemployment was rapidly rising so to solve the problem they worked an agreement where workers can only work a maximum of 37.6 hours per week. Normal is 35 hours and that simply meant companies were forced to hire more people, they had no choice if they wanted to continue with a financially sound level of productivity. Second education is not free in all states, 5 of 16 states charge tuition for state-ran schools. A very important point is that young Germans must take the Abitur (test) to qualify for university, about 25% are allowed to go to university immeidiately after attending "high school". The others are given "formal career training" like cashier, auto mechanic, etc. Then there are taxes (die Steuer). If you make less than 8,004 Euros you pay no taxes but after that the rates steadly increase up to 45% with an additional 5.5% if you make too much money. Corporations pay 15%. All pay a 19% on anything you buy with exception of some foods and other special products. IF you are lucky enough to own a home your property tax is between 3.5% and 4.5% based upon which city you live in. Oh and then for those that own a house here, the average sq footage is between 300 - 900 sq ft that is for a family of 4-5 and even larger. In the bigger cities if you have more than 300 sq ft you are considered very lucky. I doubt many Americans would tolerate many of these items. I know that if you go to a state university "free" (not really your taxes pay the school) you have to wait until you are 20 -21 years old because of the waiting list to get into university. You can just sit at your parents home until the university calls you. There are other points you can get in college, such as earning a Master Craftsmans Diploma, maybe 5 -10 years after you complete High School. School is interesting in that curriculum is standardized at all levels there are no electives and it is all business. No sports, no extracurrilium activities (sports are local clubs). I doubt that many Americans would give up living in the US where we are truly free than go to the German society. I know that most of those Americans with me were ready to come home. They wanted to be able to go shopping in the evenings and on more than one Sat a month. And one last item. I was on the economy and had to use the medical system that is available to the average German (the rich have real doctors). Here doctors earning approximately $50K a year would send you home for a week with a mustard plaster for the flu or cold. They would send you to a spa for a broken ankle. And there was no pharmacy unless you were pretty well dying. Prety sad medical care no matter what standard and it was available to all. I was welcome to come home to America. My point, the article section wasn;t a lie but it certainly did nont present a true picture. Go liver there if you do not believe me.
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- the GOP appeals to the blue collar redneck who couldn't name a country in Europe and cant even spell Europe. This type of voters think that Europe = communism, and thats how the GOP address the Europe issues as a sort of communism, which is purposefully deceptive and wrong.
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- As a few posters have said already, this report was indeed very accurate, despite many other comments who accuse Sunday Morning of being biased and "pro-Obama". Instead of name-calling and presuming this is propaganda in an election year, do some independent research; basically this story reflects accurately the way that the world now sees the US. And instead of becoming defensive, maybe there is room for improvement that will benefit all Americans, and that doesn't mean adopting so-called "socialist" policies.
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- "Germany has a 5.5 percent unemployment rate, an immense export surplus, and world-leading innovative companies. And its economic system, according to former U.S. ambassador John Kornblum, is closer to what the U.S. was in President Eisenhower's time than it is to socialism."
Yes, the delusional republicans continue to parrot their LIES and DECEPTIONS about their usual scapegoats, without realizing their own perceptions are not reality-based.
In fact, we should be trying to emulate countries like Germany, that have a great sustainable energy economy and rank #2 in the world for exports due to innovation and entrepreneurialism -- instead of embracing social conservatism and republican wedge issues. - Reply to this comment
- "In Northern Europe they're looking at the United States and say, 'Boy, I'm happy to be HERE,'" said Kornblum, "because unemployment is much lower, job security is higher, education is free, medical care is comprehensive, and so they have to be fairly adventurous to believe that they would be better off in the United States than they are here right now."
Yes, the republican perception of the real world will never match reality -- but they seem fine with their frank luntz "buzz words" and fox/rush propaganda, as long as their tin foil hats protect them! - Reply to this comment
- While I agree with the idea that Europe is being tarred with one brush while it is 27 very different countries this does bring up a good comparison between capitalism and socialism. Compare Germany with East Germany. Fifty years of communism was very costly to the fabric of East Germany while West Germany prospered. A more extreme comparison, while not European, is South Korea and North Korea. Capitalism is by far the most productive and the most free economic system. The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings.
"The inherent virtue of Socialism is the equal sharing of miseries". W. Churchill - Reply to this comment
- I like this part the best. But first, who is Kornblum?
"Northern Europe they're looking at the United States and say, 'Boy, I'm happy to be HERE,'" said Kornblum, "because unemployment is much lower, job security is higher, education is free, medical care is comprehensive, and so they have to be fairly adventurous to believe that they would be better off in the United States than they are here right now."
Because education isn't free in the sense you believe. Here, anyone can go to college, not there. But don't worry about the facts folks, you should actually live there like I did if you want to get the real experience. Although I did like almost every part of it better. Looking under the car for bombs every time I got in the car was a bummer. Having to keep an eye out the back of my head for terrorists was a tad distracting, but you get used to it. - Reply to this comment
