CIA gives grim warning on European prospects

Scotsman ^ | January 16 2005 | NICHOLAS CHRISTIAN

[Publius6961]

These sorts of studies go on all the time, as well they should. The authors, however, are merely playing with ideas. They do not intent to "predict" anything - these studies are merely touchstones for thought, discussion and policy making. This article mischaracterizes and exaggerates the intents, claims and the meanings of these studies.

Ah.

Exactly like the misuse of simulation "studies" as the basis of the ongoing brouhaha on global warming/cooling/ohmygawdtheweatherchanges!

[Publius6961]

And think how bad-off Sweden and other European countries would be if they had to support a military in the same way that American taxpayers do...

Imagine how much better off the U.S. would be if we didn't bleed ourselves of gold and blood protecting those delusional ingrates from each other!

Why do we have troops in other countries? To protect the interests of American corporations? Let them fund their own armies.

[riri]

I was just read about this last night. In Norway, for the first year you will get 80 percent of your salary, paid by the state. The company has to give you the same position back after that year.

Then if you choose to stay a second year, the state pays you 30 percent of your former pay.

They are having serious debate about extending this benefit into the 3rd year.

[demlosers]

And they get 'kinder geld' from the state.

[SAMS]

That too..

[Semper Paratus]

Considering the CIA's analysis of East Germany being on an economic par with West Germany I'll file this right behind the 9/11 commission report.

[riri]

VAT Taxes in Europe

Country	Tax
Austria	20 percent
Belgium	21
Czech	22
Denmark	25
Germany	16
Estonia	18
Greece	18
Spain	16
Finland	22
France	19.6
Ireland	21
Italy	20
Hungary	25
Netherla	19
Portugal	19
Sweden	25
UK	17.5

Plus the same panopoly of corporate, personal, inheritance, property taxes we have here in the states.

Plus other odd tax fees such as Britians $170 tax per year to fund the BBC.

This was my first attempt at a table, so cut me some slack!

[knighthawk]

At your service!

[MegaSilver]

Of course the "sophisticated Europeans" see only utopia in the EU.

Actually, most Europeans are rather pessimistic about the future.

[americanbychoice2]

Remember, I said "Sophisticated Europeans",.
The class conscious society does not include average people in that.
I agree, especially the Germans like to lament and blame everyone else for their problems. However that is their makeup.
:)

[CasearianDaoist]

Those creating these sorts of "simulations" make no pretense of them being "scientific" nor are the results purported to be facts, theories or the results of any sort of empirical findings or analysis there of. If one could term the results put forward "hypotheses" they are only so in the logical, rhetorical or colloquial senses of the term, not in the any scientific or mathematical senses of the term, and carry none of the precision nor formal weight that we associate with said term in science, mathematics or engineering.

It is a completely specious argument to compare them with "simulations" used by those hawking mathematical formulas and computer "models" as "science." This is a wholly other issue, an issue that has to do with mistaken notions about the very nature of science. Yes, the global warming community misuses the notion of "simulations." This, however, is not the situation that obtains in the case under discussion here as so far as we are talking about the practitioners. How the media misuses them is another issue, and it was the one I wa addressing in my prior post.

[meema]

Let them fund their own armies.

Amen!

[Max Combined]

Come to Texas. My wife is an Indo from Den Haag, and while she likes to go back to Holland to visit her family, she likes living here in Houston.

[Danae]

Hmmn, and the house of cards begins it's long slow fall...

[Hank Rearden]

I like your homepage essay. I like it a lot; thank you.

[William of Orange]

thanks :-)

[hinckley buzzard]

"Considering the CIA's analysis of East Germany being on an economic par with West Germany "

Since when? The west is still being bled to prop up the east. Recent documentary by Deutsche Welle on NWI detailed the resentment on both sides. Germans from the eastern zone expect and get major benefits, such as virtually unlimited unemployment benefits at 60% of former wages, 20-30% subsidies for goods and services compared to equivalent products in the west. At the same time, they bitch about how the people in the west have so much money, and just rip off the easterners. 20% of Germans say they want The Wall back up!