Comments on: Just Say No To the E.U. http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/20/just-say-no-to-the-eu/ Life. Liberty. Property. Defending individual freedom and liberty, one post at a time. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:29:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Giles http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/20/just-say-no-to-the-eu/#comment-12438 Giles Wed, 21 Feb 2007 05:13:42 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/20/just-say-no-to-the-eu/#comment-12438 It must be strange for you libertarians that the Nordic countries — that bastion of welfare capitalism (or “‘democratic’ socialism” as you perversely call it) — are actually outdoing the EU with respect to employment and productivity. This new report (.pdf) by the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry looks at data for all Nordic countries. Norway btw, has had 4% growth over several years and unemployment below 3%.

]]> By: Brad Warbiany http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/20/just-say-no-to-the-eu/#comment-12435 Brad Warbiany Wed, 21 Feb 2007 04:20:02 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/20/just-say-no-to-the-eu/#comment-12435 Actually, I would point out that the Germans are really starting to do a lot better than they did in the 1990′s. Of course, the reason they’re doing better is that they’ve reformed their economy to be a more market-based capitalist system, rather than a centrally-planned system, but they’re doing better nonetheless. Not so for the French.

Oh, and John, one of the reasons that Ireland, eastern Europe, etc aren’t used as examples is that they’re not anywhere near as socialist as France and Germany. In fact, the “Old Europe” countries are the ones trying to force Switzerland to raise their taxes because they’re “too competitive”. Ireland and eastern Europe are growing quickly by being free, France and Germany are growing slowly because they’re dominated by government. And France and Germany, who are fairly powerful within the EU, would like to abolish those free policies in the rest of Europe (and elsewhere).

Oh, and I don’t think you’ll hear any authors at this site defending the steel tariffs or farm subsidies. The US isn’t without its warts.

]]> By: John http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/20/just-say-no-to-the-eu/#comment-12430 John Wed, 21 Feb 2007 03:35:00 +0000 http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2007/02/20/just-say-no-to-the-eu/#comment-12430 Why France and Germany as examples? Why not the UK, or Ireland, or any of the fast-growing eastern European countries? Could it be that those two happen to suit your views?

As to protectionism – US steel tariffs? US farm tariffs?

Not that I’m such a fan of the EU – but I’m a fan of facing reality…

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