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CIA gives grim warning on European prospects
Scotsman ^ | 01/16/05 | NICHOLAS CHRISTIAN

Posted on 01/16/2005 8:38:31 AM PST by Pikamax

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To: sergeantdave

Ireland is the richest country in Europe? This alone shows how wrong this so-called report is(so please stop citing it as definitive fact).

Go to http://www.worldbank.org , and you will see that Luxembourg, in term of both GNI and PPP, is by far the richest country in Europe(I am sure it will rank pretty well among US states).


121 posted on 01/16/2005 12:24:38 PM PST by Pussy_Cat
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To: Pikamax
8 “The CIA has predicted that the European Union will break-up within 15 years unless it radically reforms its ailing welfare systems.”

Beyond the big "duh!" that such a statement prompts, it occurs to me that there is one way, other than changing the way they govern, that would allow them to become competitive again and thus avoid collapse. And that is to do everything they can to instill the same level of debilitating socialism in the countries they are competing with.

If you can't bring your own country up, then you can bring the other countries down to your own decrepit state.

--Boot Hill

122 posted on 01/16/2005 12:25:04 PM PST by Boot Hill (How do you verbalize a noun?)
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To: John_Wheatley
Better not pick on Kaiserslautern, John_Wheatley, americanbychoice2 and I will double-team you :>)

longjack

123 posted on 01/16/2005 12:26:15 PM PST by longjack
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To: John_Wheatley
Have you read the EU constipation?
I have, must say they are trying to make the France/ Germany run EU an appointed Government ruling the people without a mandate.
Sovereignty will be a thing of the past
125 posted on 01/16/2005 12:27:40 PM PST by americanbychoice2
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To: Pussy_Cat

There is a big problem using PPP as a guideline.


126 posted on 01/16/2005 12:29:13 PM PST by americanbychoice2
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To: John_Wheatley
What is old and new Europe? Are countries that are 3 times older than the USA now new?

The government/country of the United States is one of the oldest in the world.

Which governments/countries are you thinking about? England’s King George III, France’s King Louis XVI, the German Kaiser, the Japanese Emperor, or …

128 posted on 01/16/2005 12:36:45 PM PST by RJL
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Comment #129 Removed by Moderator

Comment #130 Removed by Moderator

To: Diddle E. Squat
Sorry if life is too complex for you, doesn't mean that we are all doomed.

Don't complain when your taxes are raised when the unexpected shortfall hits the treasury.
131 posted on 01/16/2005 12:39:24 PM PST by John Lenin
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To: John_Wheatley

well, after reading over 1000 pages most people become somewhat constipated.
The American constitution is on 1 page, maybe that's why the world call us simpletons?
It works though..............


132 posted on 01/16/2005 12:40:40 PM PST by americanbychoice2
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To: Southack
Are tough choices often voted into place by the people at large, or more often implemented by newly minted strongmen?

I think history tends to suggest it's the latter. The tough guy gets elected and then changes all the rules. Hugo Chavez would be the most recent notable example.

133 posted on 01/16/2005 12:49:04 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Dog Gone

...And in that history, you now have the odds-on reality for the future of Europe.

They will get their strongman.

134 posted on 01/16/2005 12:52:35 PM PST by Southack (Media Bias means that Castro won't be punished for Cuban war crimes against Black Angolans in Africa)
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To: Southack

But.,.... strong leaders only emerge in desperate times.
A few more years to go, until...............


135 posted on 01/16/2005 12:54:43 PM PST by americanbychoice2
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To: americanbychoice2
In my opinion, the move to the left is irreversible.

I totally agree. Paternalistic big government is here to stay, and it will only get larger and more centralized.

However, we are still far removed from the total and unsustainable socialism that prevails on the other side of the Atlantic

I agree that the situation is as you say at the present time. However, IMHO we have recently begun to accelerate the process at a rate which will significantly reduce the lead the Euros have on us in our race to the bottom. They are nearing the bottom at this point in time while we still have some time left, but their lead diminishes with each session of Congress.

As much as I appreciate many aspects of the Bush administration I am nevertheless greatly disappointed by what I believe to be it's fiscal irresponsibility. Tax cuts are excellent policy, but they should be complimented by a corresponding reduction in spending IMHO. Or at least by holding spending to the level necessary to offset inflation. I'm no economic wizard so I'm quite sure my argument can be picked apart by those who are, but it's my intuitive theory and I'm sticking with it until it's shown to be wrong.

136 posted on 01/16/2005 12:57:01 PM PST by epow
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To: epow

I disagree somewhat, Europe is accellerating at an incredible pace. The gap widens.


137 posted on 01/16/2005 12:59:29 PM PST by americanbychoice2
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To: John_Wheatley
Yes.

I lived there for 13 years.

I only played basketball for Kaiserslautern. Americanbyhoice2 is a star, he played football.

longjack

138 posted on 01/16/2005 1:03:04 PM PST by longjack
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To: John_Wheatley

socialism


140 posted on 01/16/2005 1:06:03 PM PST by americanbychoice2
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