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The Service Economy
by Keith Weiner
I have visited and spent weeks at a time in Europe. On this recent trip however, something clicked for me as I stared out my hotel window at a train station and seeing other public mass transportation moving on the street. In Europe, I think that most people don’t have cars because they’re too expensive.
Then a friend in Vienna said 90% of the people get at least some welfare. I don’t know if this number is accurate, but the reality is surely very high. It’s socialism to a degree that is almost all-pervasive. My American friends should be aware: we are not even close to this (yet).
Europeans are aware that their administered economy isn’t vibrant or dynamic. They know it’s nothing like the US economy used to be, or even the way it is now.
And they’re OK with that.
It’s but a small price to pay, they think, to achieve the goal of everyone being taken care of. The planners of course enjoy the power over people’s lives, not to mention the endless opportunities for graft. The people, well, they are freed from responsibility to worry about the future. It’s all taken care of.
And then it hit me. What is the ideal for these people (not all Europeans, but the ones who love this system)?
They want a world in which the government services them. The government is supposed to feed, water, clothe, shelter, doctor, and move the people where they need to be.
It’s a view of man like livestock.
I am helping put together a series of Monetary Innovation Conferences. The first two are in DC on Nov 13, and Phoenix on Nov 17. This is not just for the right wing, but for everyone from the unbanked to Wall Street. At the conference, speakers will discuss gold and how innovators are using it to solve real problems for real people. Please click here to register.
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That first sentence...ouch. Someone hasn't done their research. The US is way behind many European countries on per capita ownership and spending related to automobiles. Everyone thinks we are the number one for cars...except that we are more like #25 or so. I won't get all link crazy but just wanted to point that out.
I can only assume the author is also under 20 years of age as he presents this "serve me" observation after decades of socialism have permeated Europe. Yes, your friend is correct, and perhaps even a bit low depending on the country...everyone gets assistance in socialism. Maybe that is subsidy, maybe that is direct aid, maybe that is indirect aid disguised as opportunity, but yes, that number is painfully high in the EuroZone. At least you have friends who know about what they are speaking.
The EuroZone ideal is to Robin Hood the shit out of everything everywhere and ensure equal outcomes for everyone and every company. It is to berate and vilify everyone and every company for populist purposes. Take as much as they can as much of the time and give away as much as they can as much of the time to continue their cycle in power. BMW earnings? MINE. Banks deposits? ALSO MINE. MINE MINE MINE.
I would guess there will be no drug cartel members on the upcoming panels, but to be fair to that massive employment sector you do know that gold is the standard mechanism for high value exchange, yes? A discussion on innovation in gold wouldn't be complete without including the drug cartels. The purest form of capitalism on the planet. Even better than the arms trade. A mid level dealer could run circles around some Wall Street panelists on innovation in gold exchange. But that won't happen for obvious reasons as this is only about societally acceptable innovations in use of gold. Very best to you, though.
Congratulations on your short trip to Europe.
I resent the fact that you chose to base an advertisement of some upcoming boondoggle on one 5 minute conversation with some person you met.
You are pathetic.
What do you think I am? Livestock?
To Serve Man.
Wait until those dumb ass Euro countries add a million or two refugees to the lack of economy.
That will fuck the tax payer into the middle of next week....................
Ain't no such thing as a free lunch unless you are a crow or a seagull, and really quick.