John Burbank’s accolades about the European Union countries being well ahead of the United States in social comforts, etc., is interesting in what it doesn’t mention. (Wednesday column, “Europeans blaze a more efficient path to prosperity.”)
First, why are folks from the EU still coming to the USA in droves, standing in line to do so?
Second, did John take into consideration the fact that for about 60 years the USA has been spending billions of dollars each and every year of our hard-earned money “defending the EU countries” from real and imaginary enemies?
This is a twofold situation. One, the EU countries don’t spend much on individual or mutual defense costs. Second, the billions we send over there to feed and support our troops goes right into their collective country coffers.
Taxes in the EU countries are high. How high would they be if the USA stopped “defending” the EU countries from themselves?
The next time you calculate the glory of a place or thing, add into the equation all the costs that make it what it appears to be.
One other thing: Were there any riots going on while Burbank was there, and what was the cause of them? I think one reason is high taxes and high government costs. And weren’t they in your glorious France?
Richard Jauch
Camano Island
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