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May 26, 2005 I had wanted this to be a a piece where I address several points briefly – I was going to call it Nuggets Vol.2, but I'm just too much of a rambler – Nuggets Vol.2 will come later. I will address a few points though: Europe, Liberal myths, and email correspondence with Conservatives. First, Europe – that place that Conservatives love to point to as an example of Liberal policies gone wrong, and that place that Liberals love to point to as an example of Liberal policies gone right ;) Brooks picked Germany as his example. Currently, it has high unemployment rates. It's also lower on the UN Standard of Living Index than we are, and lower on the Index of Economic Freedom. A few things to remember: 1. Germany just voted against their leadership because they attempted to apply Conservative principles which seemed to have failed. 2. Germany, about 15 years ago, doubled in size and joined with a failed state which was loaded down with ancient industries and broken infrastructure. I was in Berlin just after the wall came down. Going from West Berlin to East Berlin was like walking from a scene in a color movie into a black and white one. Brooks could have picked on France – after all, we love to hate them – France is even lower on the Economic Freedom Index, and their economy is having issues too. France also tried some Conservative reforms in the last decade or so. At the top of the world, nevertheless, are the most liberal countries you could imagine. Brooks forgot to actually give an example of a model, Conservative state: Super low taxes, super small government, Biblical sensibilities. The whole world is adjusting – the biggest change since the industrial revolution – it's called globalization. Our education system is rotting from the bottom up, Europe's education system is not. I think in the long term, the EU will be able to hold its own against NAFTA; trading blocks are the way of the future folks. Are we working on our shortcomings, or adding to them by attacking science? We are 8th on that Standard of Living Index, and 12th on the Economic Freedom Index. On the latter, five European countries are ahead of us – each have higher tax rates, slanted at their rich, with national health care. These aren't “failed” states by any measure. Europe can compete while giving its citizens high standards of living and with super high energy costs. We have much to learn... Finally, a note about standards. The Index of Economic Freedom is American – no anti-Americaness going on there. The Standard of Living Index is a UN thing. It's an average of several factors. I looked into Brook's assertion that infant mortality rates are skewed because other nations do not report them as we do. I was unable to find anything conclusive, except that Cuba seems to have a better rate than we do – on that point I think I will side with Brooks. However, the other bits in the index aren't so easily glossed over. Life Expectancy, for example. If Shaivo is any indication, and if we are to believe the Right's mantra that Europe euthanizes people to keep their health care systems afloat, than surely, America would have much higher rates in this regard – perhaps enough to move us up overall? This isn't the case, however. Education and literacy are also part of the equation, and here is where we really falter. Per capita GDP rounds out the equation – a bit hard to fudge that one too – the money that the whole country brings in, divided by the number of citizens. Folks live longer, healthy, educated, rich lives in very liberal countries. They pay higher taxes, but they get what they pay for – with health care and education assured, who really has more pocket money? And we haven't even touched on factors not in the Index: crime rates, homelessness, number of folks in jail, and other social factors; on these issues, we as a nation fall flat on our face. Would I pay higher taxes if it meant that I could safely drive through any neighborhood at any time without fear? You bet your arse I would. I'd rather not base US policy on hypothetical, non-existing, Conservative Utopian states. Just like communism, it might look good to some on paper, but in the real world... Second, Craig “exposed” a Liberal myth, citing a Forbes article that suggested that red states are better places to start up a business and to live in (by implication). I fear that Crag is searching for dry land and has found something – a seemingly dry leaf, floating in the ocean. I myself have never argued the whole “blue state vs. red state” deal. I'm a a bit of a federalist – I like to view America as one nation, not 50. In any case, many Liberals and Conservatives engage in this kind of thing, so here is what I've known and a link which backs it up, complete with sub-links to the actual data. Blue states are more productive, and if blue and red separated, The United Red States would be a third would country. Sure it might be better to fire up a venture in a red state – it's also better for some of the same reasons to fire up such a venture in China or India. Finally, I'm in email contact with several of the Conservatives here at UK. Most are respectful and will engage in conversation, some will even put up with my oft lengthy rambles. There is real hope that this current national-divide is temporary – I agree with each of these folks on specific issues – there is indeed common ground. They will pose questions, and I attempt to answer them, and vice versa. One gentlemen, however, didn't like the nature of my questions, even though he invited me to ask them. His response to my question was something on the order of, “Liberal views are warm spit ... I will delete all future email from you without reading them”. Oh well, I guess some people cannot be reasoned with. ------------ About the author Frederick Smith: I enjoy writing about the positive virtues of humanism - humanists are the good guys. Email: dahlek65@yahoo.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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