European Attitudes
CNN and other news outlets are reporting that Europeans prefer Obama to McCain by a 5:1 ratio.
CNN: Cafferty File
Why do we care do much about European opinions? These people don't have a single popular leader in their own nations. France's president is below 30% in the polls, Number 10 is (ironically) between 10 and 20% favorable, and even Germany, with a decent economy, doesn't give majority approval to the chancellor.
So, these are relatively unhappy people, politically. They are beyond cynical — they're just plain unhappy.
Part of the problem is that when you have a parliamentary system, the leaders in power seldom win leadership posts with a clear majority. You can cobble a parliamentary majority together with a 30% plurality and a dozen smaller, usually more radical, political parties. The end result is that no one is content.
But, there is a larger reason: their systems, which they resoundingly claim are better than the U.S. system and our economic model, have problems: high unemployment, entrenched unions, tethered corporations.
Universities in France are literally crumbling, but they won't change anything for fear of "Anglo-American" influence. (See: Crumbling French Universities Look for Help/)
In other words, the Europeans hate what they have, but fear change even more. They'll defend their systems, while complaining about them.
And we care what these people think? They can't even organize themselves without skirting the public will.
Maybe Obama will be an okay president, but I think he's more likely to be torn apart within a year of winning. No one can match this level of hype. Even Europeans might sour on him within a year or two.
CNN: Cafferty File
Why do we care do much about European opinions? These people don't have a single popular leader in their own nations. France's president is below 30% in the polls, Number 10 is (ironically) between 10 and 20% favorable, and even Germany, with a decent economy, doesn't give majority approval to the chancellor.
So, these are relatively unhappy people, politically. They are beyond cynical — they're just plain unhappy.
Part of the problem is that when you have a parliamentary system, the leaders in power seldom win leadership posts with a clear majority. You can cobble a parliamentary majority together with a 30% plurality and a dozen smaller, usually more radical, political parties. The end result is that no one is content.
But, there is a larger reason: their systems, which they resoundingly claim are better than the U.S. system and our economic model, have problems: high unemployment, entrenched unions, tethered corporations.
Universities in France are literally crumbling, but they won't change anything for fear of "Anglo-American" influence. (See: Crumbling French Universities Look for Help/)
In other words, the Europeans hate what they have, but fear change even more. They'll defend their systems, while complaining about them.
And we care what these people think? They can't even organize themselves without skirting the public will.
Maybe Obama will be an okay president, but I think he's more likely to be torn apart within a year of winning. No one can match this level of hype. Even Europeans might sour on him within a year or two.
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