Europe's Crumbling Economy
I heard an interesting commentary the other day whilst driving home from work on NPR. The commentator was remarking at how America was transfixed by Hurricane Irene, despite the fact that in the realm of hurricanes it did relatively little damage. I have to say I watched a little bit of the media coverage myself--it was weird to see Times Square totally empty. The commentator went on to decry the fact that we will have 24 hour coverage of a natural event, but little to no coverage of a human event: the European debt crisis. America was glued to its collective television sets when European leaders are making one bad decision after another. If they don't do something, the commentator said, the state of Europe will be far worse than any Hurricane Irene.
I have to admit that as I listened to this report I found myself saying aloud "I wish" to the commentator's dire predictions that the Euro-zone would collapse. If the Euro-zone collapses, will it be bad? Yes, yes it will. If the Euro fails as a viable currency, will it mean terrible (even more terrible?) economic conditions for the European people? Yes, perhaps. If the Euro fails, will it effect the world at large? Yes, perhaps. But will the European people be better off without the European Union, without the Euro as their currency? Yes, most definitely yes! Why? The European Union and the Euro has effected to strip the European peoples from their individual national sovereignty, identities, and to some degree even their cultures. Only if the E.U. fails will Europe be able to redeem itself culturally and morally.
So as the E.U. continues to pressure debt-strapped nations within the Euro-zone to enlarge their austerity measures and as the citizens in individual nations continue to protest (as is the case in Spain the day of this writing), a paradigm shift is taking place: individuals are moving further away from a continental-centralized-supranational government to what is traditionally thought of as the old Europe. And here is the heart of the matter: only within an old Europe can monarchy be restored as the government of choice among nations. So the sooner the E.U. collapses from its own debt, the better I say!
3 comments:
Nick,
I second your sentiments and wishes. Though such will mean a time of difficulty for Europe's citizens, it is the 'reset' so desperately needed. Maybey the fixation on materialism and rampant consumerism will finally be broken as people of all walks are caused to turn once again to family, community and faith as sources of strength and integrity, rather than 'stuff', and the persuit of the unholy dollar.
80% of ordinary Germans, according to news reports here in australia, are sick and tired of not only shouldering the necessary taxes for the running of their own nation, but those of other nations who wantonly mismanaged their finances and gorged themselves with no thought to 'tomorrow'.
Couple this with the US seeking to take legal action (little short of suing) against Deutschebanke (as one of several financial institutions with its paws all over toxic monitary products during the 'GFC', we are approaching interesting times. Even at university, one of my lecturers mentioned that Poland; pooor, bloodied, battered, trampled-upon Poland, has suggested that war will be an inevitable, and even necessary endpoint/game changer for the horrid mess that is secular, atheistic Euro madness.
Search www. abc.net.au for related information.
Further to this, all across the West, local communities are coming up with their own solutions to the problems that Govt's have created, sustained, and will doubtlessly solve inefficiently at best.
http://www.fastcompany.com/1781341/life-after-fast-money-and-fast-food
http://www.transitionnetwork.org/support/12-ingredients
and
http://www.slowfood.com/about_us/eng/popup/campaigns_future.lasso
These local initiatives lend themselves wonderfully to 'Subsidiarity' (by no means 'socialism lite') and speak to the way things have been done for millenia.
The Prince of Wales, for instance, is a mighty champion for the local approach and active in the Transition towns movement. Highgrove (the Prince's estate) is an incredible example of the 'slow food' manifesto put into action. People mocked him a quarter of a century ago when he raised the alarm and pointed to a better way, with others, to living our lives. Now the mockers aren't laughing so hard, as the proverbial chickens come home to roost.
Keep speaking the truth.
Blessings,
Sarah,
Australia.
I'm sure you've seen this, http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/mixed-reaction-to-proposed-british-monarchy-law-reform/ .
Sadly the various royal families here in Europe are part of the problem and closely associated with greed. Sorry, but there is no way on earth that Monarchism will help the current economic situation.
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