"Extra, extra, Greed all about it"
- Thread starter Walter Brennaneer
- Start date
I wish this were the case. Unfortunately, IMO, the only thing these nationalist movements want in Europe is the ability to remain "socialist" within their own borders. Their voters ultimately still want the "freebies" associated with their own govt's promises, while not having to fund every other country's socialist utopian dream too. Nothing will structurally change for the better as it relates to personal responsibility and individual freedoms.
They have essentially ripped the bandage off a fatal wound and blindly believe all will get well. They actually believe they will have more money doled out to their own populations. It will be exactly the opposite. It opens the door for more govt control and greater restrictions on the individual.
Even thats better than full on hard core socialism, but eventually those paying for those who arent will also revolt.
I think this is the beginning of global protectionism under the guise of nationalism. The blue collar and middle class folks are seeing the decline of the "Industrialized World" through the rise of the "Emerging Markets". The average Joe may not understand exactly why things work the way they do, but he knows his job got taken away and his country is importing the thing he used to make. In his eyes, the way to stop that is to retrench.
Europeans really haven't "worked" for 3-4 decades. If they do work....they want months of paid leave, paid vacations, guaranteed govt pensions, cheap housing, etc. IMO, Its not about "jobs" for Europeans. Its about maintaining their own govts ability to pay their own citizens govt benefit checks and no one else.
People desire to be free and safe. This is just more proof of that. We would see the same thing in many other parts of the world if people weren't held at gunpoint.
