EU Elections Signal Anger and Disenchantment. (Le Monede – Francaise, July 9, 2009, by Christopher Bickerton.) ” The gains of the far right in the European elections mean a revival not of fascism, but populism – which is unable to transform people’s anger and mistrust into a new political vision.”
To those not familiar with this publication, Le Monde is a far left French newspaper. While in college we used this rag to see socialist political thought in Europe, (Le Monde acknowledged as the best indicator at the time), for our Public Policy and International Relations course work. In the opening line of his article Bickerton acknowledges that the global socialist agenda of the EU and of major European politicians has fallen out of favor. However, he says, that this change towards the right is “unable to transfer peoples anger and mistrust into a new political vision, ” (that in my opinion being wishful socialist thinking.)
Bickerton claims the electorate turnout was consistently between 25 – 30 per cent in those elections across Europe,and that those results indicate apathy rather than a move towards change, ( this again, in my opinion, is wishful thinking. ) On a trip to Europe last year we hired a driver for the day while visiting the Greek Island of Corfu. Early on I couldn’t refrain from asking how Greeks felt about their inclusion in the EU. George, our driver, told us how inflation and increased taxation had undermined the Greek economy and to illustrate his point he mentioned that a loaf of bread cost 6 euros, or about $ 9.00 American - the average monthly wage in Greece is 600 – 900 Euros, (paralellpixel.com), which depending on the euro – dollar exchange rate - is roughly 900 - 1200 hundred dollars a month - you do the math. Bottom line the EU socialist model has bankrupted Europe and this is further indicated in national elections as in England where the Labor Party was trounced. Bickerton though, to his credit did say that, ”it, (the election results),offered a clear proof of the ambivalent relationship between economic downturn and the popularity of left-wing politics.”
Obama who is currently behind the scenes trying to forge an EU type union, (in continuation of the Bush’s globalist policies), between the U.S., Canada and Mexico with a common currency, seems totally clueless and unable to have the ability to see the potential damage in his economic and political policy moves. Obama’s shortsightedness is proof that he has no real vision that can have a positive income in reality – but then he’s on another planet anyway. Just my opinion.
Beaudreaux
