Political Crossfire Forums

[Nixon]

Quote: Compared to the United States, other developed countries, particularly in Continental Europe, put up more regulatory impediments to entrepreneurs, particularly the important subset of entrepreneurs that I will define below as change agents. In underdeveloped countries, regulatory impediments are compounded by crime and corruption, creating an environment even less conducive to entrepreneurship. . . . If the United States is exceptional because of our entrepreneurial culture, then our natural allies may not be in Continental Europe, in spite of its democratic governments and high levels of economic development. China seems more dynamic than Europe, but I would argue that China's government-controlled financial system ultimately is not compatible with American-style entrepreneurship. Instead, we may have more in common with other nations of the Anglosphere, as well as such entrepreneurial outposts as India, Israel, and Singapore.

- Arthur Kling


The social agenda in Europe has changed that entire region, unrecognizable from the capitalist, economically dominant Europe that spawned America lo' those many years ago.

To look for like-minded entrepreneurship, the U.S. now gazes to the East, not the West. It is they who most resemble American capitalism. They don't spend their wealth on mindless social programs, or universal healthcare. They spend their wealth to create more wealth, which is what makes the capitalistic world go round.

Which is why it scares me when the the #1 wish of every liberal in America is for us to be more like Europe. People who honestly believe this shoudn't be elected dog catcher, much less control high levels of political office.

[chris_mthomas]

I disagree. While continental European governments do play a rather heavy hand in their economy, its nothing compared to Asia.

It's not only China and the fact that basically everyone of their major corporations the government holds at least 50% of the equity. In Korea and Japan too, the government and business are incredibly intertwined. The relationships are complex, and very different from their European counterparts. In Japan, it is said that the country is ruled by a sort of "Iron Triangle" of the LDP, the Bureaucracy, and the major corporations. Indeed, in Japan it would be incredibly inaccurate to say that government interferes with business, or even that business interferes with government: the two entities are act as though they are one in the same.

I see the author's point. In Asia, you see a lot of good things going on. In general, the trend is that the government is getting less and less involved in business. In continental Europe however, it seems to be trending in the exact opposite direction.

[Eduffy80911]

chris_mthomas wrote: I disagree. While continental European governments do play a rather heavy hand in their economy, its nothing compared to Asia.

It's not only China and the fact that basically everyone of their major corporations the government holds at least 50% of the equity. In Korea and Japan too, the government and business are incredibly intertwined. The relationships are complex, and very different from their European counterparts. In Japan, it is said that the country is ruled by a sort of "Iron Triangle" of the LDP, the Bureaucracy, and the major corporations. Indeed, in Japan it would be incredibly inaccurate to say that government interferes with business, or even that business interferes with government: the two entities are act as though they are one in the same.

I see the author's point. In Asia, you see a lot of good things going on. In general, the trend is that the government is getting less and less involved in business. In continental Europe however, it seems to be trending in the exact opposite direction.

I agree that the perception is magnified by the trend.
China's capacity to become the dominant global economic power, for example, has been greatly overestimated I think. I also think the assumption that they will continue with straight line or exponential economic growth is incorrect.

Europe seems to be dead set against fixing any economic problems by allowing market forces back into the market. When such solutions are proposed they are immediately smacked down by the same mobs demanding that something be done.

The US is also trending toward more entitlement and more regulation.

It doesn't matter how many times the welfare state is proven not to work, the desire to exert control and instill order seems to override common sense. I think we will need a global economic collapse on the scale of the dark ages before we see a resurgence of real capitalism.

[Charlie Man]

Oh, silly switzerland, why must you prove that the welfare state fails so badly?

[callous]

Charlie Man wrote: Oh, silly switzerland, why must you prove that the welfare state fails so badly?

I know, the first thing I think of when someone says Switzerland is hypodermic needles all over the streets, homeless people, high crime rate, obese children....

The welfare state has truly become an eyesore of the intelligencia.