US-Style Capitalism Criticized, Europeans Take Comfort In Social-Market Economy

A day after Chinese and Russian leaders blamed a free-wheeling U.S. financial system as the source of the global economic crisis, Europeans here are taking comfort in what they see as their kinder, gentler version of capitalism.

"In Europe, we have a social-market economy," European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said in an interview. "We have universal health care, a more generous system of social security, a general principle of almost free university education. And we want to keep that."

Read the whole story here.

Comments

[PhilipTaylor]

We are seeing a Clever way for the RICH Elite Bankers to TAKE Back All the Taxes they paid over the last Eight Years.

PLUS These Corrupt Elite Bankers are also taking All that Average Americans have PAID in Taxes and putting it into the Pockets of the Elite Bankers.

We must find ways to BYPASS this ELITE SYSTEM and Take the Bankers out of the Pockets of America.

Found a HIGH TECH Government Bank that competes with the Corrupt Banks and forces them to offer Lower Rates and Fees and Simpler Easy to Understand Contracts.

[PhilipTaylor]

IS THIS SIMPLY ANOTHER BIG FAKE-OUT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE?

The President and his close friend Senator Claire McCaskill come out LOUDLY against Wall Street for their Corruption and Greed!

Yet in the background Geithner, Summers and Bernake are doling out money to the very same people that Paulson did!

Why are they giving a DIME to the Corrupt Banks that caused this Crisis!

Make the Hard Decision and force the Banks to Automate their mathematical formulas and use the Internet to deliver services from a Government Run Bank that competes and if necessary fills the VOID in Credit these morally corrupt Bankers are not providing.

[Carolab]

Governments across Europe tremble as angry people take to the streets

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jan/31/global-recession-europe-protests

[PhilipTaylor]

Very Sad the suffering simply so Wall Street can have their homes in the Hamptons!

Also, Sick!

This is the strongest Republican admission of the TRICKS the Bankers played on America:

Dylan Ratigan of Fast Money argues against the Bailout of the Banks (skip first 1/3rd):

msmobvid.wmod.llnwd.net/a1602/d1/02/d1/PROD/Msnbc:Race%20to%20the%20White%20House/10151/2f817dfd-75f9-4897-acbf-7426dcb61175.wmv?user=%visitor-id%

He calls them "Bank R O B B E R S" at the END!

Stop Geithner/Bernake from giving anything to these BANKS!

[Carolab]

I told everyone here to fight against the bailout. I did it over and over. I posted the activist links all over HuffPo.

Everyone was so SURE that since Obama supported it, it would be okay.

Now we know, per William Engdahl, that Paulson was taking orders from "England".

Dylan Ratigan: "WHAT HAPPENED WAS A TOTAL CORRUPTION OF THE CAPITALIST SYSTEM."

Me: "BASED UPON A TOTAL CORRUPTION OF OUR MONETARY AND BANKING SYSTEM!"

[Carolab]

Does it occur to you, what with the F E M A camps and all, that we are being deliberately pushed toward in s u r r ection worldwide?

[sarojin]

Europe can't wait for obama to carter our economy with his marxist agenda so they can feel superior.

[brighterlight]

Thanks for your good points about sharks DLBSR. Thanks. This is exactly why I don't care for the ReThuglicans and Big Corporations and Other Countries (Canada) trying to persuade Congress and Obama to get rid of the "Buy American" provision in the Stimulus Bill.

We're in a crisis and each country should be looking out for its own citizens and its own interests. The rest of the world must hate us now, but what can we do about how Bush ran the country at this point? Obama, I believe, is doing all he can. But we must strengthen the U.S. first.

Obama Will Review Buy American Provision in Stimulus
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/30/us-style-capitalism-criti_n_162522.html

[blurredtruth]

Which is why the average citizen would rather live here than there. No citizen was to be taxed at 80 percent and have 20 percent unemployment. The elitists get the best hospitals and keep the poor poor.

[ThatOne4Me]

This is a Global Recession.­.. What the heck are they talking about? Greed is everywhere.

[DLBSR]

Aahhhh....­...the sharks smell blood in the water. Your blood, my blood, and the blood of 300 million other Americans. The sharks are beginning to circle the USS America in search of finding an easy meal. It's more of the same old tired story line. When all is well in the world, the bankers and investors in the world's financial markets are making millions by investing into the US economy, they still blame America for the remaining ills in their societies. When all the roses have wilted in the vase, the wine has soured and unfit to drink, and the bankers and investors are losing much of their ill-gotten fortunes, America is still to be blamed, only more so. As Americans, the most giving people in the history of the planet, the protectors of free societies around the globe, keepers of the light guiding the world's unfortunate to liberty and slf-determination, we are accustomed to the blame-it-all on America mentality. We have seen it many times in the past and are sure to experience it again during our lifetimes. But let me say this, we have faced potentially end-of-nation adversity in the past. With steel in our spines and courage in our hearts we have always prevailed. To all of the sharks, know this, we Americans are becoming more united and will soon bond as the indomitable American Family. Coming soon to a continent near you.

[brighterlight]

You make some good points about sharks DLBSR. Thanks. This is exactly why I don't care for the ReThuglicans and Big Corporations and Other Countries (Canada) trying to persuade Congress and Obama to get rid of the "Buy American" provision in the Stimulus Bill.

We're in a crisis and each country should be looking out for its own citizens and its own interests. The rest of the world must hate us now, but what can we do about how Bush ran the country at this point? Obama, I believe, is doing all he can. But we must strengthen the U.S. first.

Obama Will Review Buy American Provision in Stimulus
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/30/us-style-capitalism-criti_n_162522.html

[brighterlight]

Thanks for your good points about sharks DLBSR. Thanks. This is exactly why I don't care for the ReThuglicans and Big Corporations and Other Countries (Canada) trying to persuade Congress and Obama to get rid of the "Buy American" provision in the Stimulus Bill.

We're in a crisis and each country should be looking out for its own citizens and its own interests. The rest of the world must hate us now, but what can we do about how Bush ran the country at this point? Obama, I believe, is doing all he can. But we must strengthen the U.S. first.

Obama Will Review Buy American Provision in Stimulus
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/30/us-style-capitalism-criti_n_162522.html

[DLBSR]

All this fuss over a party that ran out of booze. All of our friends across the pond were very happy to drink from the cup of US-style capitalism so long as the US was refilling the cup. Now that the cup is empty and no more booze to be found, they want to complain the party ended before they all had an opportunity to re-fill the cup one last time.
As for the two monolothic capitals of dictatorial rule, China and Russia have no basis, no authority, and absolutely no integrity. The greatest violators of human rights on the planet, rapers of the environment, and murderers of college students now know they will be forced to drink the filthy water from their polluted lakes and streams as opposed to gorging themselves on the fine wine and honey provided them by the hard-working servants of capitalism. You were a willing participant in the great game of greed and duplicity, now you must live with the consequences while you watch the greatest democracy on earth re-energize it's economy to where it is once again the most dominant on the planet.

[magibrotherhood]

why no mention of the French strikers or the Paris Riots of the past few days---whats the matter Davos-Delu­sionals???­?----Hidin­g in your snob bubbles are you????

[emily00011]

The French are famous for their demonstrations. They take liberty and worker's rights rather seriously. Holding one country up as an example is kind of weak, given the diversity over here.

[magibrotherhood]

I TAKE MY LIBERTY AND RIGHTS SERIOUSLY as well----my point was apparently lost on your ability to make the comparison­------Fren­ch people will take ACTION when their humanity is being exploited by these rich parasites while the Americans appear to all be hypnotized into a stupor by their disingenuious MEDIA who kiss-up to the Davos crowd.

[workmatw]

Capitalism as a system just can't go on indefinitely. Welfare capitalism that Europeans are so smug about leads to unemployment in the Western world and virtual slavery in poor countries. Right wing capitalism leads to virtual slavery in all countries, with the exception of a few captains of industry at the top.

[jeffp26]

Maybe the rest of the world sees our overriding greed in a way that would be useful for us to understand?

[Lagniappe]

Someone here was discussing CNN and the Saudis.

I,too became completely disenchanted with CNN in general,and Lou Dobbs in particular-just before the November elections. He's gone WAY off the deep end. Shame.

Here's a link that will be of particular interest:


Political Friendster - HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal - Connections CitiGroup. Prince Alawaleed Bin Talal owns a stake of more than 9 billion U$D ... Prince Alaweed bin Talal has over 932 million U$D invested in CNN's parent ...
www.politicalfriendster.com/showPerson.php?id=4495&name=HRH-Prince-Alwaleed-bin-Talal - 21k - Cached - Similar pages

[Lagniappe]

Here's an interesting and timely link to awards at Davos for best and worst corporations.

Definitely worth a look.

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: Disgraceful Distinctions Lucy Komisar, a New York journalist, said that Citigroup had engaged "in tax evasion ... In October 2004, Chilean authorities brought a suit for tax evasion ...
ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=31914 - 67k - Cached - Similar pages

[Americanium]

Nothing wrong with the US economic system. It was built for honest people involved in honest work for fair wages.

What is wrong is the caliber of people managing the board rooms of America. If the US election can be stolen without consequences, why not steal money? The American businessman is corrupt and therefore the system has taken a hit as a result. Send these people to prison, and institute strong regulatory measures that are actually enforced and it will be fine.

[NoMercy]

"It was built for honest people involved in honest work for fair wages."

People will in general get away with what they can. Don't you believe that "the love of money is the root of all evil" (St. Paul) or Lord Acton's "absolute power corrupts absolutely?"

People are fallible and everybody fails, especially when greed for money or power is able to be satisfied.

[BritishColumbian]

As usual too many Americans like to dish out criticism but can't take it. Just like the mistake of the Iraq war which many countries warned against but were met with hatred and stupidity. Economic leaders in your own country have identified that the economic disaster did start in America with its weak regulatory system. It will be a VERY long time before the world trusts you again.

The false attacks on other countries' universal programs based on ignorance and support for a society built on the American Dream of "me" rather than the Canadian and European focus of "us", just increases the divide with your allies.

[1982Sucked]

Very well stated and spot on........­........th­ere was a time when Americans were well liked here......­..Not any more.

[emily00011]

Europe is chafing too. Living outside the US for 8 years, teaches you a lot. Too bad most Americans don't view themselves as part of the global system instead of trying to be some kind of supreme overlords.