<p>""European countries have lower employment compared with population than the US; that’s a mixture of higher unemployment, lower female participation, and earlier retirement. But since 2000 the US employment record has been weak, while Europe has done much better at creating jobs. As a result, the gap has narrowed substantially. This gets at a theme I’ve written about in the past, and will surely return to: a lot of the American image of Europe as a moribund economy is, like, so 1990s. They’re doing better now — and we’re doing worse. "</p>
<p>It’s just another one of those myths, like the waiting list for health care in Canada.</p>
<p>Mini, why is a higher unemployment rate combined with “lower female participation” a positive sign in the EU economies? They have a lower percentage of their population in the work force and they still can’t provide enough jobs for all of them. That’s a bad sign, not a good one. The fact that things have improved in the last five years looks more like going from worse to bad than from good to better.</p>
<p>Mini, are you saying that the difference in labor participation between the EU and the US is that in the EU mothers are taking longer maternity leaves? I’m asking because otherwise you seem to be ignoring my point, and offering a seeming refutation by citing a marginally-relevant factoid.</p>
<p>katliamom: I don’t necessarily buy the idea that Europe is economically better off in aggregate compared to the US. Some European countries might be, but as a whole, in all aspects? I’m not sure.</p>
<p>But I do agree with the general point you make about 60 years of brainwashing. There are far too many people with a very closed mindset in our country, who do not think it is possible that <em>any</em> other approach to solving problems could be superior to the ones we have adopted. This is true in the realm of economics and in other areas as well. </p>
<p>Wouldn’t it be great if we were more willing to look at how other countries tackle problems and then maybe borrow some elements from them that might work?</p>
<p>I have heard but cannot confirm that much of the growth in EU employment has been in the public sector. I don’t like unemployment numbers because they have too many asumptions. Anyone have a source for employment numbers by job sector–manufacturing, public, etc by country?</p>
<p>How relevant is country-by-country data if the EU considers itself an economic entity? Would analyzing state-by-state data of the US be relevant? I’m not arguing, just asking…</p>
<p>I don’t think the state-by-state data is relevant because our states are not as autonmous as Europe’s individual countries. I am not sure there is a good parallel. </p>
<p>But coming back to the topic of taxes and health care I feel that high taxation is not necessarily a bad thing <em>if</em> it provides better value for money. I live in a community full of highly taxed affluent people who nevertheless periodically vote to raise the already high local property taxes because they want to make sure we have top quality public schools. </p>
<p>Similarly if we had a national publicly funded health care system (the one critics like to call “socialized medicine”) that provided top quality health care then a lot of people would be happy to pay higher taxes for that benefit.</p>
<p>Every country is different but if you are an EU citizen you have a health card that can be used throughout the block. That is something new. I am a resident though an American citizen in a new EU country ( I guess I am like a green card holder) that just adopted the euro. There are major birthing pangs going on. I have benefited from their health care scheme where I have gone through breast cancer treatment and follow up medicines and I never pay a thing. It is all free. It is a combined bank and government facility. I want to bow down every time I walk through the doors of the building. It is fantastic. As far as comparing economies…I won’t go there. It’s not perfect. Where is it perfect? Barrons, the public section has a stranglehold on the economy here. It is really pathetic. Since I am a private sector worker, I don’t get as many benefits, as high a salary as government workers. I think this is a major problem all over the EU.</p>
<p>What are all you people going to do when your “inspiration” falls to earth and you realize we have 4 more years of his inexperience? He is a very clever and lucky politician, not a savior and he be drop-kicked when he realizes that the GOP is not afraid to attack him.</p>
<p>I’m looking forward on how he handles his Iraq “promises.” No way in hell he’s going to get the troops out in 16 months, nobody will. He’s going to have generals on TV, a republican congress, and moderate dems saying we can’t withdraw in just a year. At the same time he’s going to have his whole base saying that he promised them that he would get them out in 16 months…either way he’s going to look bad. </p>
<p>Great article about how reality will bite Obama if he gets in WH. </p>
<p>Who really believes Hillary when she says she’ll start troop withdrawals within 6 months of taking office? Hillary is as hawkish as McCain, just totally dishonest about it.</p>
<p>LaxAttack09: Thanks for the link. I agree with much of what it says. The Bush administration is going to pass on such a huge mess to the next president that I sometimes wonder why anyone would want to take on those challenges. I agree that it is not going to be easy to get out of the Iraq quagmire. It is not going to be easy to lift the economy out of its funk, and the deficit will severely limit what the new President can do. The election season is nice because it is full of hope and optimism but the reality is going to be much uglier thanks to 8 years of Bush.</p>
<p>Yeah, I just can’t wait to watch the Republican attack machine try its nastiness on Obama and watch how he continues to respond with class and optimism and keeps syphoning off those Republicans who are sick and tired of the politics of fear and cynicism. Bring it on. This is not 2004.</p>
<p>Bush was also handed an economic mess by Clinton. The Dotcom boom became the dotbomb collapse and we were in a recession. Since then there was a complete recovery with unemployment back down and home values soaring. Even with the recent drop the average US home gained over 70% in value since 2000 (Shiller Index). So now some of the excesses are getting wrung out and we may have another recession. They come pretty much every 8-10 years no matter who is in office. It’s the natural cycle. We’ll survive–we have gone through far worse.
Iraq- yes it has not gone as hoped but there’s still a decent chance for it to work out. Meanwhile there is no way of knowing what Saddam would have been up to if he were still around.</p>
<p>We’re so fortunate he’s running! Thank goodness we have a candidate with his knowledge, experience, wisdom, honesty & integrity!</p>
<p>It’s amazing - we have a real-life HERO running for President! AND he’s loaded with qualifications!</p>
<p>Sure, some of the far right don’t think he’s conservative enough - that just shows he isn’t an extremist & is a “team player”, and is proof that if anyone can unite this country, it’s McCain!</p>
<p>Those other candidates offer nothing but platitudes. McCain gives it to you “straight up”! Sure hope Americans will keep thir heads out of “La La Land” and vote for McCain! As awful as it might be sometimes, we have to face REALITY. Not only does McCain know what the reality is, but he knows how to deal with it!</p>