Adam's Apple
Senior Member
- Apr 25, 2004
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October 3, 2005
Conflicted Europe
By Victor Davis Hanson
October 3, 2005
After the 2000 elections, George W. Bush became president without a majority vote. Many Europeans snickered at the sorry spectacle of the worlds oldest continuous democracy devolving into Third-World election chaos. Few critics cared to hear about the nature of Americas two-century-old Electoral College.
But the same sort of electoral paralysis now holds Germany. Even though Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Union won a close popular vote over Gerhard Schroders Social Democratic Party Sept. 18, no one knows who will be the new chancellor.
Most Americans admire Europes cultivated lifestyle, public transportation and sophisticated take on world affairs. But they are puzzled as to why Europeans well before the election of Bush seemed to have defined themselves as the anti-United States.
Is it because they dont need us anymore to keep Soviets from their borders? Have they forgotten American sacrifices in two European world wars? Or is it that the European Union is doing no better than the United States and often a lot worse? That frustration might explain why Europes proud, cultured citizens seem so unhappy with or envious of us yokels.
http://victorhanson.com/
Conflicted Europe
By Victor Davis Hanson
October 3, 2005
After the 2000 elections, George W. Bush became president without a majority vote. Many Europeans snickered at the sorry spectacle of the worlds oldest continuous democracy devolving into Third-World election chaos. Few critics cared to hear about the nature of Americas two-century-old Electoral College.
But the same sort of electoral paralysis now holds Germany. Even though Angela Merkels Christian Democratic Union won a close popular vote over Gerhard Schroders Social Democratic Party Sept. 18, no one knows who will be the new chancellor.
Most Americans admire Europes cultivated lifestyle, public transportation and sophisticated take on world affairs. But they are puzzled as to why Europeans well before the election of Bush seemed to have defined themselves as the anti-United States.
Is it because they dont need us anymore to keep Soviets from their borders? Have they forgotten American sacrifices in two European world wars? Or is it that the European Union is doing no better than the United States and often a lot worse? That frustration might explain why Europes proud, cultured citizens seem so unhappy with or envious of us yokels.
http://victorhanson.com/
