And how does the rest of the world, of whose tender sensibilities then Senator Obama was so mindful, feel about the collapse of American consumer excess? They’re aghast, they’re terrified, they’re on a one-way express elevator down to Sub-Basement Level 37 of the abyss with no hope of putting on the brakes unless the global economy can restore aggregate demand. What does all that mumbo-jumbo about “aggregate demand” mean? Well, that’s a fancy term for you — yes, you, Joe Lardbutt, the bloated disgusting embodiment of American excess, driving around in your Chevy Behemoth, getting two blocks to the gallon as you shear the roof off the drive-thru lane to pick up your $7.93 decaf gingersnap-moc...

And how does the rest of the world, of whose tender sensibilities then Senator Obama was so mindful, feel about the collapse of American consumer excess? They’re aghast, they’re terrified, they’re on a one-way express elevator down to Sub-Basement Level 37 of the abyss with no hope of putting on the brakes unless the global economy can restore aggregate demand. What does all that mumbo-jumbo about “aggregate demand” mean? Well, that’s a fancy term for you — yes, you, Joe Lardbutt, the bloated disgusting embodiment of American excess, driving around in your Chevy Behemoth, getting two blocks to the gallon as you shear the roof off the drive-thru lane to pick up your $7.93 decaf gingersnap-mocha-pepperoni-zebra mussel frappuccino, which makes for a wonderful cool refreshing thirst-quencher after you’ve been working up a sweat watching the plasma TV in your rec room all morning with the thermostat set to 87. The message from the European political class couldn’t be more straightforward: If you crass, vulgar Americans don’t ramp up the demand, we’re kaput. Unless you get back to previous levels of planet-devastating consumption, the planet is screwed.

They minimized their economy? Whatever you mean by that, it doesn't sound like the path to prosperity. Europe is lucky to have immigration or they would already be broke. In case you haven't noticed more and more European countries are backing away from the failed socialist utopias. The rest of Europe is so burdened by entitlements it sinking like a stone. For so long they have given out entitlements to their people that they have robbed from them their ability to fend for themselves. And, as I suspect from your comments, many of their citizens are still drinking the kool-aid of socialism. Your political class, however, realized the problem a decade ago, that they were short of tax r...

They minimized their economy? Whatever you mean by that, it doesn't sound like the path to prosperity. Europe is lucky to have immigration or they would already be broke. In case you haven't noticed more and more European countries are backing away from the failed socialist utopias. The rest of Europe is so burdened by entitlements it sinking like a stone. For so long they have given out entitlements to their people that they have robbed from them their ability to fend for themselves. And, as I suspect from your comments, many of their citizens are still drinking the kool-aid of socialism. Your political class, however, realized the problem a decade ago, that they were short of tax revenue. Since no one in these countries saw fit to have children anymore they had to go outside of Europe for a new revenue stream. Hence, the mass migration of Muslims to Europe. I don't think I need to tell you how that story is going to end. Mumbai, Madrid, Barcelona, London, New York, Indonesia. Islam's greatest hits.

I've asked this before, and I ask again; what kind of fantasy world do you live in? They've minimized their economies by reducing the amount of areas that are covered by commercial enterprises, in favour of nationalized plans. None of them are failing. They had a hiccough in their economies due to the American screwup, but that's nothing. America is the one that failed with its unrestrained capitalism. Europe is growing faster than ever, even moreso now that America has sung its swan song. Soon, America will break up into smaller countries due to the deep schism in the country, and Europe, China and India will be competing to be the dominant world economy.

Again; irony that a delusional per...

I've asked this before, and I ask again; what kind of fantasy world do you live in? They've minimized their economies by reducing the amount of areas that are covered by commercial enterprises, in favour of nationalized plans. None of them are failing. They had a hiccough in their economies due to the American screwup, but that's nothing. America is the one that failed with its unrestrained capitalism. Europe is growing faster than ever, even moreso now that America has sung its swan song. Soon, America will break up into smaller countries due to the deep schism in the country, and Europe, China and India will be competing to be the dominant world economy.

Again; irony that a delusional person like you should use the kool-aid analogy. Social democracy is what works, and it's what the savvy nations are moving to — that is those nations that aren't deluded and full of themselves.

And what the hell is wrong with Muslims in Europe?

the world doesn't care what Americans do anymore. They are nobodies in the world stage.

Last time I checked the US was the leading military force in the world and has bases and staging areas set up throughout the globe. We spend far more then anyone else has ever spent on our military budget and sell arms at a horrifying rate to thug regimes.
We are still slaughtering the people of Iraq and Afghanistan directly and using our proxy thug troops to kill and destabilize in many other countries. Not to mention our nuclear arsenal with which we threaten the entire world.I think most countries in the world are rightly concerned about what America does-since we are a direct threat t...

the world doesn't care what Americans do anymore. They are nobodies in the world stage.

Last time I checked the US was the leading military force in the world and has bases and staging areas set up throughout the globe. We spend far more then anyone else has ever spent on our military budget and sell arms at a horrifying rate to thug regimes.
We are still slaughtering the people of Iraq and Afghanistan directly and using our proxy thug troops to kill and destabilize in many other countries. Not to mention our nuclear arsenal with which we threaten the entire world.I think most countries in the world are rightly concerned about what America does-since we are a direct threat to everyone else.

And in the economic sphere surely the fact that the US consumption rate is so high would mean the collapse of the US economy would be a concern to the rest of the world. The fact that up to this point countries have been willing to accept the US dollar despite the smoke and mirrors Ponzi schemes means the world still cares about the millions and billions of US dollars they are getting. When the US dollar reaches the same state as the Zimbabwe (231 million annual percent inflation rate) dollar then you will see what it really like when the world doesn't care about the US