Neoliberalism’s discontents are fighting back in Europe. The “Polish plumber”—a symbol of cheap labor—became a catchphrase in France’s “No” camp during its referendum on the E.U. constitution. His specter, wrench in hand, is rising again. Since the start of the year, public opposition has foiled two attempts by the European Union parliament to pass sweeping “liberalization” laws in the shipping… return to article
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Reader Comments (8)Page 1 of 1 pagesIt is good to see that some of the people of the world still have a backbone and will not just lie down and be steamrolled. When will the sheepeople of the us stand up for any of their rights? Are they still capable of standing?
Posted by lost2 on Apr 13, 2006 at 7:04 AM You are lost, all right.
So, why is it that unemployment in the USA is one-third that of Old Europe, and growth in the USA is three times that of Europe?
The Soviet Union came crashing down from the corruption and inefficiency of the communist system. Socialist Europe is slightly less corrupt and inefficient than the Soviets, so instead of crashing, Old Europe is merely disintegrating before our eyes.
Individual and economic rights are much more secure in the USA than in Europe, where the massive socialist bureaucracy runs over the people. So, do not expect us to abandon our freedom and prosperity for Europe’s socialist repression. Will. Not. Happen.
Posted by scorp on Apr 14, 2006 at 7:40 AM Scorp,
Even though I have never been a union backer I must agree with lost2 on the lack of opposition by US labor to the globalization debacle.
Those low unemployment numbers they keep dropping on us are bogus. I don’t think Europe’s numbers are necessarily correct either. A politician, whether foreign or domestic, will always opt for a good lie when ever possible.The latest realistic number I have read is around 12 percent unemployment (US).
You said, “Individual and economic rights are much more secure in the USA than in Europe, where the massive socialist bureaucracy runs over the people.”
I wish I could still believe that.
Our individual rights have been evaporating for years. Try walking down the street with a rifle, in a case, unloaded — see how far you get. Today we: must be buckled up, can’t burn leaves, got thanked for not smoking for a few years — now it’s a law, have no slides and teeter-totters, have packaging which requires a knife to open, but better not take it on a plane.OK, it’s “for our own good,” but it hardly leads to survival of the fittest.
As for economic rights — just try to file a claim against a Chinese counterfeiter. Watch out for eminent domain. Check out the ratio of CEO income increases to the employees at his company.Have you noticed the price of gold lately? The dollar is just beginning a down spiral which will likely be a truly wild ride with widespread negative results for most of us.
Without resistance GLOBALIZATION will let world income seek a common denominator for all goods and services — except of course for the elite management class.
Posted by whattheheck on Apr 14, 2006 at 1:45 PM Exactly what Economic/Individual rights do we have that ‘Socialist Europe’ does not?
Posted by Harrower on Apr 14, 2006 at 6:05 PM Scorpy
We have a rightwing government here in frogland, and you may have noticed we’ve been giving them a little hell recently. Something to do with this globalisation shit the americans are also afflicted with.
Not sure if we have more bureaucrats than you, but here we give poor people money instead of foodstamps. Now that is a gigantic difference.Your unemployment figures are plain wrong. American U6 for feb2006 is 9%, which is comparable to french figure of 9.8%. Add on people who escape the official figures and you get around 12 or 13% everywhere.
When I get on the road at 8 I see lots of other white vans and trucks, going off to build houses, barns, roads, deliver stuff, repair things, all busy.
One of my employers is a rich german doctor, spending a fortune renovating a large holiday home here.
He complained that I was too expensive ---- he pays his Polish gardener 8E an hour under the table.
I explained that I had as much right to a pension plan and social and health insurance as him, and anyway, if I had an accident he would face heavy fines and all the medical costs.
I’m sorely tempted to fire him, he’s a horrible little man.We are not supposed to light fires anymore, but the normandy peasants are cleaning their “bocage” hedgerows and burning the small stuff, so smoke everywhere. There are more farmers than cops .
Thinking of the plutocrats and other crooks, there are more of us than there are of them, too ....
20000 or so of us were in Cherbourg on saturday, in the rain, because we believed it better to spend EUR 3Bn on employment in energy-saving than on a new nuke-power station.
One thing is sure. Our rulers ain’t going to do anything sensible unless we force them to.
Posted by frog on Apr 19, 2006 at 6:35 PM Very much in agreement with whtthe. As the stock market has been on the rise as of late and corporate profits are up, the average compensation package for the worker is flat at best. Which if you consider inflation and cost of living increases the reality is the avrege worker is on the big slide down. Talking with all of the people I know I have not spoken to anyone that has had an increase in their health benefits, only takeaways increased co pays and deductibles along with real wages on the slide. The game has been global for years the workers need to wake up and start playing the game globally also
Posted by lost2 on Apr 20, 2006 at 6:27 AM One thing is sure. Our rulers ain’t going to do anything sensible unless we force them to.
Posted by frog on Jul 1, 2006 at 1:21 AM Page 1 of 1 pages -
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Posted by well on Jun 30, 2006 at 5:57 PM 
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