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When Europe crafts a single healthcare system for all 27 member nations then they can criticize.
I am actually for a single payer system, or national adoption of a French based model.... but this is actually a good point.
I wonder if Europe would be able to centralize its government and enact a European wide social security, medical care, labor standards, etc.
Based on the reaction of richer Euro nations at having to prop of their weaker economic members, I'm not so sure it would happen without many of the same arguments being had in the US.
(minus the for profit input of insurance companies).
Germany is a big nation. Germany didn't roll over on Iraq, when it decided it didn't want to get involved there.
The United States' power is unprecedented in world history. What it has done with its power (as opposed to, say, the Soviet Union, which steamrolled and expanded right after WW2) is historically REMARKABLE for its RESTRAINT, not its abuse. That is a fact.
There are dozens of incidents of stupid uses of American military force. A lot of it has been done in the name of capitalism, which is a Euro-American interest, often done with the explicit or implicit cooperation or consent of European power brokers and leaders --- who --- believe it or not ---often also don't do what their "people" want.
Can't have democratic socialism without a sound capitalistic system.
People who applaud China's rise (and the re-rise of Russia) may someday learn that the devil you know, is better than the devil you don't.
THAT is true.
But for every hyperventilating, breathless indictment of "European socialism" by a clueless American, is an equally as annoying, equally as cluelss European issuing indictments of "American imperialism and capitalist brutality!"
Yeah, the Russians NEVER demonstrated an appetite for territory. Ever. They just historically have kept to themselves, especially the last 100 years.
What planet?
What is this tendency on CD of using non-responses like "it could be worse!"
Statements like "it's amazing the amount of restraint the US has" are hollow to those of us who demand peace and diplomacy worldwide. Anything else just doesn't cut it.
That's all quite a long time ago. Americans don't remember what it's like to have their own country in ruins. Thus the horror at 9/11.
In Europe on the other hand they still have to defuse bombs from WWII even today. The memory is much fresher.
I don't disagree with this but you can't simply say America has never had a war on it own SOIL.. it has..
Even with the Eastern European countries the fault lies with NATO. Russia is keeping an eye on them as NATO is trying to push into Russia's front yard with missile shields and what not. It's similar to the Cuban crisis on the other side decades ago.
The US wouldn't be doing this though if those countries weren't asking to become part of NATO and for the missile shields now would it? The cuban missile crisis is a rather bad comparison since Fidel was begging Russia to nuke the United States...quite a bit different situation then what the U.S. wants with NATO expansion.
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It is the European position. We sell lots of our products to Russia and we buy lots of their resources like oil and gas. We have an interest in good relations with them and vice versa.
You have an interest not to get into a shooting war with them, but you also have an interest not to be dependent on them.
Even with the Eastern European countries the fault lies with NATO. Russia is keeping an eye on them as NATO is trying to push into Russia's front yard with missile shields and what not. It's similar to the Cuban crisis on the other side decades ago.
It is the European position. We sell lots of our products to Russia and we buy lots of their resources like oil and gas. We have an interest in good relations with them and vice versa.
It is slightly different as in, we are not hostile to each other, and we are using he shield to protect ourselves and Europe.
I don't disagree with this but you can't simply say America has never had a war on it own SOIL.. it has..
American cities have never been bombed int oblivion like European cities. Once that changes Americans will have a much more pacifist approach towards war.
Oh, bull**** they have covered the healthcare debate.
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It's made up by conservatives to score a cheap political point.
Now you are being delusional. If someone was making up European news covering the healthcare debate it would be progressives since they are the ones who seemed to believe Europe is some bs utopia.
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Both Americans and Europeans are ignorant in terms that they think their countries are the greatest on earth.
What is this tendency on CD of using non-responses like "it could be worse!"
Statements like "it's amazing the amount of restraint the US has" are hollow to those of us who demand peace and diplomacy worldwide. Anything else just doesn't cut it.
Peace,
brian
Well give yourself a hand, oh "demander of peace and diplomacy worldwide!" So brave! So thirsty for justice!
Give me a break. When you come back down to EARTH and REALITY, we can have a grown people discussion. Even I - someone who would love for the US to slash its military budget, withdraw from most bases around the world, including Europe - am not so naive.
Yeah, it would be great if there was never war. It would be great if soft power worked to end all conflicts. But that's not how it works, unfortunately.
I often get infuriated, because America INVITES and ALLOWS itself to be criticized by people such as yourself. People like you, who, on balance, spend time chasing the wrong enemies. You and others probably believe the United States is an "obstacle to peace" --- but there are two sides of peace --- Peace MAKING and Peace KEEPING.
Germany is a big nation. Germany didn't roll over on Iraq, when it decided it didn't want to get involved there.
The United States' power is unprecedented in world history. What it has done with its power (as opposed to, say, the Soviet Union, which steamrolled and expanded right after WW2) is historically REMARKABLE for its RESTRAINT, not its abuse. That is a fact.
There are dozens of incidents of stupid uses of American military force. A lot of it has been done in the name of capitalism, which is a Euro-American interest, often done with the explicit or implicit cooperation or consent of European power brokers and leaders --- who --- believe it or not ---often also don't do what their "people" want.
Can't have democratic socialism without a sound capitalistic system.
People who applaud China's rise (and the re-rise of Russia) may someday learn that the devil you know, is better than the devil you don't.
THAT is true.
But for every hyperventilating, breathless indictment of "European socialism" by a clueless American, is an equally as annoying, equally as cluelss European issuing indictments of "American imperialism and capitalist brutality!"
Yeah, the Russians NEVER demonstrated an appetite for territory. Ever. They just historically have kept to themselves, especially the last 100 years.
What planet?
I can't blame Russia, it had been invaded by the Germans, who were after Russian oil and other resources among other things. It is a natural reaction to fight back and many times further than the original borders in order to create a buffer for the future.
Definitely, at least today EU politicians don't do or care for what people want. I really wish European countries would leave NATO and make their own decisions. Being associated with the US is a problem these days.
If confronted with a world map most Americans couldn't even find Europe, nor know any European history, nor current events.
Some Americans say that Europe is shifting to the Right, but cannot provide a reason why. The European Right is nothing like America's right. The Righties in America would be classified as extremists, comparable to the Neo nazis, and National Front.
Freedoms are plenty in Europe. Corporations don't run European media.
Western European workers have longer vacation times and more benefits. Unlike America, where employers are the kings, and workers are the serfs.
Education and healthcare are more accessible to Europeans than to Americans in America.
Poverty rates in Europe are not nearly as high as in America. Many Europeans have homes. In Europe trailers are not considered as homes.
Europe also has less xenophobes, less hatred, and less political hostility.
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