This Time It's NeoLiberalism's Turn
- Thread starter wkmac
- Start date
curiousbrain
Well-Known Member
Not a bad commentary, although two points do seem a little soft.
First, to suggest that the American system is just as statist as what they do over in Germany strikes me as a little dishonest; for one thing, Germany allows the state to purchase shares in companies on a regular basis. And, recent history withstanding (GM, AIG, etc), the American system generally does not. As three quick examples: Volkswagen is ~20% owned by the state, Deutsche Bahn is a government run railway operator, and KfW is a state owned-and-operated bank.
Second, at another point in the article, the author puts forth the argument that because we are taxed at 80% of what Western Europeans are, we should therefore enjoy 80% of what they do as far as social amenities. This strikes me as slightly lazy - for the reason being that this sort of thing is not linear, but rather that it is floating - hence, currency baskets, etc. That is to say, a unit of value in Western Europe has a different value here in the States.
Other than that, interesting.
First, to suggest that the American system is just as statist as what they do over in Germany strikes me as a little dishonest; for one thing, Germany allows the state to purchase shares in companies on a regular basis. And, recent history withstanding (GM, AIG, etc), the American system generally does not. As three quick examples: Volkswagen is ~20% owned by the state, Deutsche Bahn is a government run railway operator, and KfW is a state owned-and-operated bank.
Second, at another point in the article, the author puts forth the argument that because we are taxed at 80% of what Western Europeans are, we should therefore enjoy 80% of what they do as far as social amenities. This strikes me as slightly lazy - for the reason being that this sort of thing is not linear, but rather that it is floating - hence, currency baskets, etc. That is to say, a unit of value in Western Europe has a different value here in the States.
Other than that, interesting.
UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)
Well-Known Member
Well, well...it appears K-mart may have met his match.
Lue C Fur
Evil member
LMAO...i was thinking the same thing. The good thing is BrownBag is not as long winded to get his point.
Similar threads
