A Good Question

[Kathianne]

Obama keeps saying that in spite of all the spending for the financials and stimulus, he needs to implement healthcare, education, etc., spending; as they are the 'heart' of the problems. If so, why is Europe, with all those programs fully implemented, in worse shape than the US? Why are they looking at the US to bail the world out of the mess? It could just be that they are able to be "Europe" because the US has been the US. What happens when the US become Europe?

[Classact]

Obama keeps saying that in spite of all the spending for the financials and stimulus, he needs to implement healthcare, education, etc., spending; as they are the 'heart' of the problems. If so, why is Europe, with all those programs fully implemented, in worse shape than the US? Why are they looking at the US to bail the world out of the mess? It could just be that they are able to be "Europe" because the US has been the US. What happens when the US become Europe?This is an excellent point! And, Europe doesn't invest in national defense at the rate the US does either so they can fund the social programs. We can look a little closer than Europe to see Obama's agenda in action and how it's working... it's that state Hollywood is located in...

[Jagger]

Obama keeps saying that in spite of all the spending for the financials and stimulus, he needs to implement health care, education, etc., spending; as they are the 'heart' of the problems.
Source?

[Jagger]

Why is Europe, with all those programs fully implemented, in worse shape than the US?
How exactly is Europe in worse shape?

[sgtdmski]

How exactly is Europe in worse shape?

The EU experienced a 6% economic decline (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/14/2491486.htm) in the Fourth Qtr of 2008 compared to a 3.8% decline in the US. That right there alone shows that they are in worse shape. But it only the beginning. 2009 shows little improvement (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/03/content_10758280.htm) and mainly more contraction of their economy.

This page (http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2160480.ece) lets you see the overall of the EU and each individual country.

So much for the lefts rosy picture for us becoming more like Europe.

dmk

[Jagger]

The EU experienced a 6% economic decline (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/14/2491486.htm) in the Fourth Qtr of 2008 compared to a 3.8% decline in the US. That right there alone shows that they are in worse shape.

That is the only area where we're doing better than Europe. In every other area, we're doing worse.

[Monkeybone]

That is the only area where we're doing better than Europe. In every other area, we're doing worse.

source?

[Jagger]

source?

http://www.nrc.nl/international/article2160480.ece

[Kathianne]

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aQGG.mWeZ4eU&refer=worldwide


U.K. Bond Auction Fails for First Time Since 2002 (Update2)
Share | Email | Print | A A A

By Kim-Mai Cutler

March 25 (Bloomberg) -- The U.K. failed to find enough buyers for 1.75 billion pounds ($2.55 billion) of bonds for the first time in almost seven years as debt investors repudiated Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s plan to stem the worst economic crisis in three decades.

Gilts slumped after the London-based Debt Management Office, which manages bond auctions on behalf of the Treasury, said investors bid for 1.63 billion pounds of the 40-year securities. The last time the U.K. government was unable to attract enough investors was in 2002 when it tried to sell 30- year inflation-protected bonds. The yield on the 4.25 percent gilt due 2049 rose 10 basis points to 4.55 percent....

Your data's old:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/d9c5416a-0d13-11de-a555-0000779fd2ac.html


Europe’s recession forecast to persist into 2010
By Tony Barber in Brussels
Published: March 10 2009 02:00 | Last updated: March 10 2009 02:00
Europe's recession risks lasting into 2010, according to a European Union assessment that calls the prospects of a return to economic growth next year "highly uncertain".

The document, obtained by the Financial Times and due to be approved by finance ministers on Tuesday, paints a darker picture of the EU's outlook than previous forecasts published by the European Commission.

In January, the Commission forecast a gradual economic recovery in the course of next year, and said it expected gross domestic product to fall 1.8 per cent in the 27-nation bloc this year but to expand by 0.5 per cent in 2010.

The latest policy paper, prepared for the EU finance ministers' meeting, also says that ministers agree that the International Monetary Fund "requires a substantial increase in its resources to assist countries particularly affected by the financial crisis"....

[Kathianne]

And this should scare all of the politicos:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Stocks-slide-after-weak-apf-14744414.html


Stocks slide after weak government debt auction
Stocks slide after lackluster demand for US debt stirs worries about economic recovery plans

Tim Paradis, AP Business Writer
Wednesday March 25, 2009, 2:46 pm EDT
Buzz up! Print
NEW YORK (AP) -- Stocks lost ground after a weak auction of U.S. government debt stirred worries about how easily Washington will be able to raise money to fund its economic rescue program.

Investors gave an unexpectedly cool response to a $24 billion auction of 5-year Treasury notes Wednesday, which also sent prices for Treasurys lower.

The government is running up record deficits in order to fund an array of plans to provide stimulus to the economy and support to the ailing financial system....

[actsnoblemartin]

we are becoming north west europe


Obama keeps saying that in spite of all the spending for the financials and stimulus, he needs to implement healthcare, education, etc., spending; as they are the 'heart' of the problems. If so, why is Europe, with all those programs fully implemented, in worse shape than the US? Why are they looking at the US to bail the world out of the mess? It could just be that they are able to be "Europe" because the US has been the US. What happens when the US become Europe?

[sgtdmski]

That is the only area where we're doing better than Europe. In every other area, we're doing worse.

What other areas. Explain please cite sources. I take the time to make an argument with facts and sources and you continually offer nothing more than you own uninformed opinion.

dmk

[glockmail]

That is the only area where we're doing better than Europe. In every other area, we're doing worse.
If only that were true. I'd love to emigrate to the German Alps when I retire, but I can't see lowering my standard of living to do that.