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.

The Dimming of Liberty's Light

(PPI) For over a century The United States of America has been a beacon of freedom and liberty for the world. It has attracted people from all over the world to its promise of life, liberty, and prosperity. Many have been drawn to a country were they can be richly rewarded for hard work and determination. The planet has not seen another country of the size of the USA with such a independent desire and spirit. It is like anything that comes from man and is not a perfect place. But it built a reputation for a place that encouraged innovation, hard work, and prosperity. The example set made many other countries step back and respect certain aspects of their citizen's daily life. No other country has the exact freedoms that the Citizens of the United States enjoyed, but many looked to it as an example of the freedoms that they could have or should expect. But many would disagree.

The days of America standing as a beacon may be numbered. The once shining temple for those who face repression is beginning to lose its sheen. As many countries depended on the protection and influence of the US to guide them they have been aware of a relentless pursuit of human rights. But the new attitude of the rulers of the US have made it clear that they no longer are sure of the 230 year old system that has governed that nation. It would seem that they no longer look to the country's citizens and institutions for answers, but look to the rest of the world. With a mighty thud and a lot of protest, the US is moving more toward the European model of government. This will remove the example and will now allow more countries to ignore the once proud traditions that encouraged the rest of the world to follow a path of freedom.

Not all the people of the world look upon the US and see freedom. That is great. The diversity of the world is what makes the human race such a interesting product of this planet. Every culture and society has its own ideas of happiness and security. In this day of communication and travel we should celebrate our diverse cultures. But too many wish to homogenize the world into one government. Such thinking should offend all thinking people. The world and all of its great civilizations, with so much to be proud of should not fall into a trap of standardization. The US has no right to force its culture and government on the rest of the world and it should not follow systems that will damage its great heritage. We can be examples to each other, but that does not mean that we must emulate each other.

So with the failure of the American system to maintain its own freedoms, will the rest of the world follow us into more totalitarian states? That is hard to say. The world is full of those who crave power as those in control of the US currently seem to have. With the open circumventing of the US Constitution, the perceived corruption in the halls of our government, and latest power grab many, including the author, feel that our better days are behind a once proud country. I wish our country could return to a time when the people respected our freedoms and relished the liberties that were given to us. But I fear that we will follow a road that will need to a darker day for many. We have allowed liberty's light to dim. The world may never be as free. May we be forgiven for our own lack of faith in the system and the people that made it. But with hard work, a commitment, a love of liberty, and intelligence we may be able to reclaim some of our freedoms. The next three years will be the critical time.

©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

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

Crash The TEA Party - Part 1

Now comes the time to see where the real majority is in this country. If the Progressives, Socialist, and Marxist outnumber us then we have no hope in regaining our republic. They will enslave us by taken our remaining freedoms. If we outnumber them then they will continue to know the same freedoms that we enjoy. That includes the freedom to succeed or fail. We only have to look at the actions of the CTTP individuals, to see the truth. The goals of the Conservative movement is not to steal but to preserve. We can not allow the left to continue to loot this country. We understand that we can not buy prosperity we must earn it. It is easy to spend other people's money, until they run out. Then everyone will suffer.

Someone at a site called CrashTheTeaParty.org is promising to crash the April 15th TEA Party Rally in Washington. They claim that they have infiltrated the movement and their desire is to sabotage it. Well if all it takes is some sour apples to discredit this movement, then it is not as strong as I believe. But I do believe in it and don't think that a couple of left-wing loons can do any real damage by simply putting up a bunch of misspelled signs and blaming the TEA Party. This is just another sign of desperation on the left. They are afraid of the ire of the American Middle Class. But is there fear justified? I hope so. But the TEA Party movement must prove that it has the will to overcome the lies and hate from the Progressives.