Europe Took a Different Path

(PPI) I would like to say that I predicted the outcome of the G20 meeting, but I think it was too obvious. The leaders of the European nations were not going to follow the path laid out by the President of the United States. The unrest in Europe caused by the run away spending and promises that can not be fulfilled and they are willing to stand up to the US and say NO. The idea of taking on more debt is more with an understanding that there is really no safety net is something that they are unwilling to attempt.

President Obama stated that the world could no longer depend on the US for world leadership and they took him at his word. They decided to lead and that left the US in an unusual position. For the first time in decades the major economic powers were willing to chart a new course. This course is to reduce national deficits by 2013 and to raise taxes. They are looking for a way to reverse the dangerous situation that has been building for years. These leaders can see the riots that are occurring due to the agitation from the left, but they move to the right for solutions. It is clear that many see that the socialist policies that the western world has romanticized for so many years are not working.

It is obvious to me that once again President Obama showed his total lack of leadership. To be a good leader you must inspire confidence and be able to project not only your vision but an air of success. This President does not seem to be able to do these things. His ability to campaign was amazing, but when it comes to actually deliver he falls short. Some of this can be explained away due to his lack of experience before taking office, but his ideology driven vision can not be ignored. He is a true believer. True believers are dangerous due to their commitment they often overlook facts that do not fit their worldview. This is a character flaw that could imperial the entire world at times like these. There are too many enemies that are gaining strength who are willing to take advantage of any sign of weakness.

The European insistence on reducing spending is a great start to bring our financially troubled economies to health. It will bring stability that is necessary to encourage private investment and small business growth that can start to fill the tax rolls and treasuries of the free economy countries. I do fear that the agreement to raise taxes will rob will undo all of the promises of reduces deficits The middle class of the USA can depend on an increase in their tax rates, thereby breaking a major campaign promise of Mr. Obama. As the world governments cut spending and raise taxes there will be even more unrest. Will the major economic powers be able to maintain domestic tranquility?

Over the next 2 years there will be a lot of continuation pain around the world as the leaders try to put their financial houses back into order. This could be the first step into the return to free markets or it could be the beginning of the end to many of the freedoms and prosperity that many have enjoyed for many years. We can hope that the path taken will be followed and the destination will be one in which the world will move forward. But there are many that see freedom as the problem. We must not allow our liberty to be lost in the hope of a progressive utopia.

©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Europe Takes a Different Path

(PPI) This year's meeting of the G20 could be very interesting. With the EU in crisis, over the failure of socialist programs and the meltdown of economies worldwide, they are looking for different ideas and leadership. The major difference this time around, will most likely come from new leaders, but many in the USA have been emulating the old ideas of Socialism. The Europeans have flirted with communism for decades. They never had the ingrained near total societal rejection of communistic theory. They understand much more since they faced the Soviet Union for years. Capitalism was not a product of Europe, it was imported. So when the major powers in Europe turn away from socialistic principles this should be a major sign that they may be looking to a different path. They are beginning to look to smaller governments with fewer services.

It can be said that Communism, Socialism, and Capitalism were born from the abuses of imperial rule. Communism/Socialism on one side of the Atlantic and Capitalism on the other. We imported some of their ideas and they imported some of ours. But neither have totally fully embraced each others ideas. The United States has a history of independence and a pioneering history. When the expansion of the country was halted we began to look back to the east and found the new ideas of governance that appealed to many. The current leadership of the US seems to be trying to remake their country into a mirror image of the old world.

With the European experiences they've tried to blend these systems. Their long running experiment with social programs have taught them many lessons. They had a long history of the government providing services that most Americans have historically rejected. This system has shifted back and forth for many years and those on the continent of Europe are accustomed to the shifts. But there is a deep sense of history in these people. They understand how delicate political systems can be when put under pressure. They've seen wars that killed millions. They've seen the affects of the Soviet/Stalinist form of government. They understand totalitarian systems and I believe the leaders wish to avoid a return to tyranny.

The USA is flirting with the disaster and Europe see it. They are trying to save the EU by reeling in the massive debt that the Americans have embraced. History shows that when political systems collapse there are few survivors from the old system. Fear is a strong weapon, but it is hard to control the actions of those who are afraid. It can be very uncertain who the people will turn to when looking for solutions. The last time the US economy collapsed the country was a very different place. In the last 100 years the growth of knowledge in many ways has divided the country, but in other ways it provides an open channel to unite people around causes. The country avoided a civil war that time. I wonder if the American people will unite are divide after so many attacks on the society by the ruling parties.

The United States now has a President who is a Socialist and spent his youth to teenage years being indoctrinated to Communist ideas. He does not look to Capitalist ideas for solutions since he or his staff have no experience in that system. He has no idea how the American system has worked. It is clear that his solutions to all problems are within government. As he meets with the leaders of other major economies, I don't think these ideas will be greeted with much excitement. He is calling for increased debt with no understanding of how wealth is created. His idea of spreading the wealth around can not create wealth or prosperity.

The governments of the world must learn to live within the means of the people of each nation. Great Britain and Germany are leading the way in budget cuts. They understand that the destruction of wealth will never allow anyone to prosper. The riots of government workers in Greece are a warning to us all. The Government worker in Greece are in revolt by demanding far beyond the ability of the government to pay. The failure of leadership to control those in the service of the public shows how close we are to the danger of a totalitarian state.

I don't expect much from this years meeting of the G20 as far as answers from the US President, but I do think that the Europeans will not find any leadership from President Obama. They are going to have to defend their own economies to preserve their nations. If not they may find that others are ready to step forward with answers that will not be good for the world as a whole.

©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.