Euroland, the Horror Movie (James Howard Kunstler)

[Tace]

James Howard Kunstler -- World News Trust

Feb. 15, 2010 -- An Olympian game of musical chairs in global finance heads for a climax in the days ahead as so many eyes are diverted to alternate festivities in British Columbia, where grown men compete for gold by riding things that look like cafeteria trays down icy mountainsides -- is this the moment that comes every four years when you wonder why you didn't get your kid a luge for Christmas?

The advertisers must be lovin' it, but six thousand miles away a whole lot of European bankers are wondering how to get their fannies in a dwindling number of seats at the money trough. Greece is going bust. History is great prankster this way. Just when you're wondering how America will make Afghanistan safe for democracy, or whether Venezuela will blow itself up along with the oil markets, along comes kindly, picturesque, inoffensive old Uncle Greece -- land of antiquities and pizza entrepreneurs -- to fuck things up.

Those who run Europe have three choices: to bail out Greece, to let Greece sink (into a desperate economic depression), or to pretend to bail out Greece. The sad truth of the situation is that there is not enough productive activity in Europe to really support all the members of the European Union in the style they're accustomed to. (Which also happens to be true of the USA and its constituent states, but you probably know that already.)

Europe is a sad case, really poignant, because it became such a darn nice corner of the world after the convulsions of the mid 20th century. Who, for instance, can spend two weeks walking the lovely ancient streets of Bruges or Orvieto, or Lisbon and not fall to their knees in overwhelming despair on return to the slum of Kennedy Airport? Europe rebuilt itself so beautifully after the war while America became a utopia of overfed clowns riding in clown cars around the plasticized cartoon outskirts of our ruined cities. Europe had wonderful public transit while America let its railroads rot away. European men went about their business in grown-up clothing while Americans men dressed like five-year-olds and got flames tattooed on their necks as though contemplating a barbarian invasion of Akron, Ohio.

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[proudohioan]

1. "...contemplating a barbarian invasion of Akron, Ohio."....???

Why does everyone like to bash NE Ohio?

As far as "...American men dressed like five-year olds...." goes, I can't say that I've ever seen such a thing. What exactly does a five-year old dress like?

Just wondering.....

:crazy:

[thereismore]

2. I don't know who this guy is but he puts out a lot of guesses. He guesses that Europe

will join the worldwide struggle for oil, for example. Does he not know that France is almost self-sufficient in electricity because of their nuclear power, and there are states that produce more than they need? Does he not know that Europe has a tremendous lead over us in terms of wind energy? I think he is projecting America into EU. And he likes flowery words.

[RainDog]

4. agreed. n/t

[RainDog]

3. this reads like b.s. to me

no mention of German policy for YEARS that has set goals for 30 renewables for energy use, with a population that is not anywhere near as stupid as the U.S. in terms of love of oil.

France has long had nuclear energy (not to defend, just to note), that it has viewed as an alternative to fossil fuel.

in general the people of Europe are far more progressive than the people of the U.S. AND they have the political will to get out in the streets.

anyway, I've read Kunstler's stuff off and on - with this one, he doesn't seem like he has any idea what he's talking about. but he's making good $$ scaring people, I guess.

[BlueMTexpat]

5. It reads like BS to me too.

And it completely omits the roles of Goldman Sachs and other Wall Street players whose actions have helped precipitate the financial crisis in Greece.
BTW, Kunstler, "Euroland" is actually doing just fine.