Notes from a broad, no make that Notes from abroad

For nearly two-and-a-half years Lex and the family have had the good fortune and pleasure of traveling about in Europe. A few notes:

People in Europe do not hate Americans. We have not once experienced anything that could even be described as rude behavior let alone hate. I have had political discussions with Scots, Germans, Turks, Italians etc. not once was there a hint of hate. Even those that disagree with the Iraq war are happy to see America changing the political landscape in the mid-east. Most are just envious of America’s strength, wealth, and good nature.

If money talks, it’s a dollar and it speaks English. This has just got to burn the French up. The French and Germans have used the EU to consistently violate the EU’s economic guidelines. They use the EU to run high government budgets to support their unsupportable social programs and in the process suck every available Euro cent out of already flat economies and wind up creating higher deficits than allowed by the EU. And who gets stuck when the Euro suffers? The smaller countries, that’s who. Once outside the Euro zone, the dollar is king. Russians prefer the dollar to rubles. Turks love to see the greenbacks come out. I spoke with an elderly Brit in a hotel lounge in Budapest. He was in some secretive business. I asked twice what it was he did. The more he explained the more confused I became. He spoke of how a weak dollar hurt the world. The world runs on dollars he explained. One reason is that the dollar is backed by the world’s oldest democracy. Another is that oil prices are linked to the dollar. He noted that when Saddam Hussein was caught he had a couple of thousand Euros and a couple of million dollars.

Language. In 1492 the Bishop of Avila presented Queen Isabella with a book on the grammar of the Castilian language. The queen asked the bishop what the book was for. The bishop replied, “What is it for? Your Majesty, language is the perfect instrument of empire.” And what language do most of the people in the southwest US, Central and South America speak to this day? While America is hung up on multilingual, diversity, bull excrement, the rest of the world is yearning to learn to speak English. Anybody trying to make money in Europe speaks English. The only place where we have experienced that English is not spoken to some recognizable degree is among older East Germans. Americans, in spite of what some DemoRATS would have you believe, do not seek an empire. But the power of the dollar and the English language have created the perfect storm where American influence spreads despite any of it own desires. The world will be an entirely different place in the next generation. Ironically, America may be the only place where, in some places, you will not be able to communicate in English.

Population demographics. Lex has warned about this before. The only populations growing in Europe are the Muslim populations. All of Europe is whistling by the graveyard watching Paris burn. They know that they could be next. Lex has noted that European governments will need to change tax policy to encourage population growth. The French have taken the first step. Not surprisingly it’s a timid one. The French have offered a one time tax credit to couples that have children. Russians have degrees of motherhood. Six kids get mom Goldstar 3rd degree status and host of benefits. 8 kids earn mom 2nd degree honors and more benefits. 10 kids and mom is 1st degree and pretty much has a free ride, car, apartment, government stipend etc. How about something everyone can understand, a permanent $5,000 dollar tax credit until age 18 of the kid leaves home? Declining birth rates and insane immigration policies have led Europe to the brink on this issue. Is anyone in America paying attention? No.

The EU is not now nor is it ever likely to be an effective counterweight to US.

Economic. There appears to be as many people who oppose the EU as support it. It’s only saving grace is its economic advantage. As the nation which arguably benefits the most from the EU, the French rejection of the EU constitution is telling. It notes the symptom that papers and other MSM ignore. Politicians like the EU, the people do not. Tony Blair claims he is going to lead England to scrap the pound in favor of the Euro. The people have rejected that idea at least twice and there is no indication that the folks of the island nation are any closer to changing their minds about this central feature to national sovereignty. The Italians continue to toy with the idea of scrapping the Euro. As a traveler, the Euro is great. No money changing and conversion is necessary. But a lot Europeans seem uncomfortable the idea of French and German markets affecting the whole of the European market.

Militarily. What the Europeans (less Great Britain) have for forces, they are unable to deploy in sufficient numbers. European forces are largely conscripted for two years of service. Some of our more skilled US personnel spend that much in training. The idea that EU nations that can’t agree on who makes the best cheese are going to agree on matters of war is preposterous. The EU couldn’t or wouldn’t even inject itself into Bosnia without US political and military (such as it was) leadership. Whatever else the EU becomes, militarily it will never seriously challenge the First Marine Division let alone the entire US.

Politically. The EU is, at this very moment, as effective a political counterweight as it will ever be against the US. Any growth of the EU to include eastern European countries or Turkey will only erode the EU’s ability to double deal the US in the UN. Also, French and Russian duplicity in the UN Security Council is now apparent to anyone who wants to read the Volker report on Oil for (money for French and Russians) food. Where would we be right now in Iraq if the French and Russians had agreed to hand down a second unanimous UN declaration against Saddam? It is truly comical that the MSM gasbags drone on about how the EU is upset with America’s rendition program of sending certain terrorists to Europe. Who is the EU and who are they to say anything to a member country, say Spain, that has entered into an agreement with another nation on rendition? What's Jack Shrack going to do? Send in the French army? They haven't even surrendered to rioters in Paris yet.