tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post4203716467592823865..comments2024-02-26T00:59:26.907-08:00Comments on Ana the Imp: The Strange Death of Socialist EuropeAnastasia F-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-61216084302525418642011-06-15T01:39:36.596-07:002011-06-15T01:39:36.596-07:00Calvin, as always you make a lot of sense.Calvin, as always you make a lot of sense.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-15827199928713354402011-06-14T17:23:34.878-07:002011-06-14T17:23:34.878-07:00There are no longer any major parties in Europe th...There are no longer any major parties in Europe that are not socialist, so those that actually call themselves "socialist" are redundant. At the same time, much of the population has come to realize that the egalitarian ideal that robs the industrious and gives it to the feckless to buy votes has destroyed the value of their enterprise and they are seeking an alternative. Sadly for them, none exists right now, even though the seeds of change are germinating.<br /><br />In the meantime, people do what they hope will help - reject the 'socialist' label, and hope that the politicians will come to realize that they must change or lose their mandate. One might say they already have lost their mandate, given the ever-decreasing numbers of voters who actually cast a ballot. Every country in Europe is ruled by a parties who have received a tiny fraction of the potential votes.Calvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10640148105202971907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-72474545524503069992011-06-14T15:40:20.572-07:002011-06-14T15:40:20.572-07:00Nobby, many thanks for your kind assessment and fo...Nobby, many thanks for your kind assessment and for flagging up Young's article. :-)Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-44838297507786639542011-06-14T15:38:39.463-07:002011-06-14T15:38:39.463-07:00Dominic, the Economist is incredibly uneven. It’s...Dominic, the <i>Economist</i> is incredibly uneven. It’s a bit like the curate’s egg, good in parts (I particularly like the reports from China and South America). But it has the power to infuriate. There was a piece in the Charlemagne column published at the time of the royal wedding advocating republicanism, which irritated all hell out of me. <br /><br />Yes, those elites are best represented in Europe now, the people who have taken us into a post-democratic age, the age of condescending paternalism. <br /><br />I shall have to look a little more closely at the True Finns.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-3697200432213051492011-06-14T15:26:19.384-07:002011-06-14T15:26:19.384-07:00Scott, thank you and a very warm welcome to my blo...Scott, thank you and a very warm welcome to my blog.Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-91059239292917523422011-06-14T15:25:32.417-07:002011-06-14T15:25:32.417-07:00Anthony, I know, I know. :-)Anthony, I know, I know. :-)Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-24150993248545078772011-06-14T05:56:17.084-07:002011-06-14T05:56:17.084-07:00Good afternoon Ana. Regarding your latest blog. Br...Good afternoon Ana. Regarding your latest blog. Brilliant stuff. And, thank you for your generous acknowledgement.Nobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16329815721904353534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-16417597591384814392011-06-14T02:26:08.774-07:002011-06-14T02:26:08.774-07:00I really think that the judgement of the Economist...I really think that the judgement of the Economist (no longer will I semi-affectionately abbreviate its name to `the E' has gone to pot lately. There's persistent evidence of that, in various subject matters. It's old time weaknesses - a failure to comprehend the power (or value) of religion - or to understand...anything at all...about Russia have been accentuated; but their European coverage, which used to be quite good, has also lost it now.<br /><br />The real problem is, as I'm sure you are aware, and may well partially agree, that the "liberal elite" have in many instances put themselves beyond election. Why bother with the vulgarity of having to tout for votes (with discredited and unpopular policies) when you can wheedle you way onto the European Commission of other of the anti-democratic European Communities institutions. Why indeed?<br /><br />(I find the leader of the True Finns, Timo Soinin one of the most fascinating political figures of note in contemporary Europe. Finland is every sense an untypical European country, but the combination of standpoints - on domestic and international concerns, and his general persona - is rather extraordinary)Dominichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00145734042272196687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-26889559136530223942011-06-14T00:57:31.584-07:002011-06-14T00:57:31.584-07:00This is brilliant! They say the pendulum swings. S...This is brilliant! They say the pendulum swings. Some say it stops at times, but I believe not for every nation at once. I hope the people of Europe can swing it away from the power-worshiping collectivists, and keep it away for a good long while.<br /><br />I really liked the point about foreign aid. That money only goes to enrich whatever despot has power; the people get none of it. So the people have decided to come to the money!ScottOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15862732189843248100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-23632366867232448022011-06-13T20:59:02.080-07:002011-06-13T20:59:02.080-07:00What can I say, that I havent already.What can I say, that I havent already.anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02931330128135957439noreply@blogger.com