Benefits Bankrupting Europe

[pnkpanther]

LONDON (AP) (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fiscal-crises-threaten-apf-242192521.html?x=0) -- Six weeks of vacation a year. Retirement at 60. Thousands of euros for having a baby. A good university education for less than the cost of a laptop.

The system known as the European welfare state was built after World War II as the keystone of a shared prosperity meant to prevent future conflict. Generous lifelong benefits have since become a defining feature of modern Europe.

Now the welfare state -- cherished by many Europeans as an alternative to what they see as dog-eat-dog American capitalism -- is coming under its most serious threat in decades: Europe's sovereign debt crisis.

[Vegas]

And we're trying to follow that failed system.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

And we're trying to follow that failed system.


We are? Who has six weeks of vacation per year? When did the SS retirement age drop? Where can one get a college education for less than the cost of a laptop?

[Vegas]

We are? Who has six weeks of vacation per year? When did the SS retirement age drop? Where can one get a college education for less than the cost of a laptop?

Public sector employment is increasing at an unreal rate. Public sector salaries are higher than in the private sector. Many public sector employees retire young with full salary benefits. There is a push to pay for college for more people at taxpayer expense. If you can't see this going on, you're not paying attention.

[pnkpanther]

Public sector employment is increasing at an unreal rate. Public sector salaries are higher than in the private sector. Many public sector employees retire young with full salary benefits. There is a push to pay for college for more people at taxpayer expense. If you can't see this going on, you're not paying attention.

doesnt mean its working. In MN, which i'm told is very liberal, Public college tuition has increased by large % over past 10 years.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

doesnt mean its working. In MN, which i'm told is very liberal, Public college tuition has increased by large % over past 10 years.


Same thing is going on in Pennsylvania. In terms of private colleges and universities, the costs are staggering.

[Jiddy78]

Public sector employment is increasing at an unreal rate. Public sector salaries are higher than in the private sector. Many public sector employees retire young with full salary benefits. There is a push to pay for college for more people at taxpayer expense. If you can't see this going on, you're not paying attention.

Home prices will always increase...so we're good.

[pnkpanther]

Home prices will always increase...so we're good.

When in doubt, put it on your heloc

[Vegas]

Private pay shrinks to historic lows as gov't payouts rise

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/income/2010-05-24-income-shifts-from-private-sector_N.htm

Paychecks from private business shrank to their smallest share of personal income in U.S. history during the first quarter of this year, a USA TODAY analysis of government data finds.

At the same time, government-provided benefits — from Social Security, unemployment insurance, food stamps and other programs — rose to a record high during the first three months of 2010.

Those records reflect a long-term trend accelerated by the recession and the federal stimulus program to counteract the downturn. The result is a major shift in the source of personal income from private wages to government programs.

The trend is not sustainable, says University of Michigan economist Donald Grimes. Reason: The federal government depends on private wages to generate income taxes to pay for its ever-more-expensive programs. Government-generated income is taxed at lower rates or not at all, he says. "This is really important," Grimes says.

[Jiddy78]

Private pay shrinks to historic lows as gov't payouts rise

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/income/2010-05-24-income-shifts-from-private-sector_N.htm

Paychecks from private business shrank to their smallest share of personal income in U.S. history during the first quarter of this year, a USA TODAY analysis of government data finds.

At the same time, government-provided benefits — from Social Security, unemployment insurance, food stamps and other programs — rose to a record high during the first three months of 2010.

Those records reflect a long-term trend accelerated by the recession and the federal stimulus program to counteract the downturn. The result is a major shift in the source of personal income from private wages to government programs.

The trend is not sustainable, says University of Michigan economist Donald Grimes. Reason: The federal government depends on private wages to generate income taxes to pay for its ever-more-expensive programs. Government-generated income is taxed at lower rates or not at all, he says. "This is really important," Grimes says.


"Get ready for inflation Jiddy"

[KinjaKahn]

We are? Who has six weeks of vacation per year? When did the SS retirement age drop? Where can one get a college education for less than the cost of a laptop?No one said we are currently at that system.

Deduction Fail.
Reading Comprehension Fail.

[Vegas]

"Get ready for inflation Jiddy"

So do you have gold buried in your back yard yet?

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

LONDON (AP) (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fiscal-crises-threaten-apf-242192521.html?x=0) -- Six weeks of vacation a year. Retirement at 60. Thousands of euros for having a baby. A good university education for less than the cost of a laptop.

The system known as the European welfare state was built after World War II as the keystone of a shared prosperity meant to prevent future conflict. Generous lifelong benefits have since become a defining feature of modern Europe.

Now the welfare state -- cherished by many Europeans as an alternative to what they see as dog-eat-dog American capitalism -- is coming under its most serious threat in decades: Europe's sovereign debt crisis.

And we're trying to follow that failed system.

No one said we are currently at that system.

Deduction Fail.
Reading Comprehension Fail.

We are "trying to follow that system???

Sound it out. Say it out loud. I know you can do it. Concentrate.

[KinjaKahn]

We are "trying to follow that system???

Sound it out. Say it out loud. I know you can do it. Concentrate.

Once Again... Reading Comprehension Fail.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

Once Again... Reading Comprehension Fail.


Let me sound it out for you.

If we are "trying to follow the system", then where are all the goodies? You can try to twist logic and language all you want but you know the truth.

[Vegas]

Let me sound it out for you.

If we are "trying to follow the system", then where are all the goodies? You can try to twist logic and language all you want but you know the truth.

Follow as in a few years behind. It's really not that hard to figure out.

[KinjaKahn]

Let me sound it out for you.

If we are "trying to follow the system", then where are all the goodies? You can try to twist logic and language all you want but you know the truth.
ROFL!!! What constitutes a try? Is a fail a try? A success?

"trying to follow the system" in this instance quite simply can mean setting ones goal and making an effort. To which his effort is crystal clear.

Comprehension Fail on your part.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

ROFL!!! What constitutes a try? Is a fail a try? A success?

"trying to follow the system" in this instance quite simply can mean setting ones goal and making an effort. To which his effort is crystal clear.

Comprehension Fail on your part.

Wouldn't an effort entail attempting to put one of the items listed in the original post into practice?

The answer is yes.

[KinjaKahn]

Wouldn't an effort entail attempting to put one of the items listed in the original post into practice?

The answer is yes.
No. There is no rule of order for unknown agendas. Obamessiahs history of personal relationships, and lunatics hes hired is out in the open, from his "church" to his terrorist buddies all have common ideology stemming from the ramblings of Karl Marx.

Benefit of doubt cannot be afforded to this douche who is sitting back and allowing the Oil spill to push his anti-fossil fuel agenda. Which will only help in the cap and trade fiasco...

[kydoty]

I spent last week at my company's offices in Saskatchewan. They couldn't believe it when I told them that in the US our company is not obligated in any way to give us any amount of vacation. They also couldn't believe that we have at will employment where I can be fired for any reason or no reason at all. I guess in Canada it's almost impossible to actually fire somebody outright.

Also, I found out that in Canada, paid maternity leave for a year is guaranteed by the government. When I told them that the women in the US have no paid maternity leave by law, one of them said "What the fuck is wrong with your country?" It was kinda funny.

Now at my company, in the US they get three months of paid maternity leave, which in my mind is very generous of them.

[FatDumbOxycontinAbuser]

I spent last week at my company's offices in Saskatchewan. They couldn't believe it when I told them that in the US our company is not obligated in any way to give us any amount of vacation. They also couldn't believe that we have at will employment where I can be fired for any reason or no reason at all. I guess in Canada it's almost impossible to actually fire somebody outright.

A little perspective sure does go a long way!

[pukematrixx]

The one thing we have going for us Europe doesn't is work ethic. We will continually be on top of the productivity curve, the euros just don't get what real work is. Got a Spaniard on our team, he's like umm you come in at 7am and leave at 730pm?

[Vegas]

The one thing we have going for us Europe doesn't is work ethic. We will continually be on top of the productivity curve, the euros just don't get what real work is. Got a Spaniard on our team, he's like umm you come in at 7am and leave at 730pm?

I don't know how Spain has any economy. They party way more than they work over there.

[Matt]

I don't know how Spain has any economy. They party way more than they work over there.

I'll give you a hint, partying may be part of the economy as well.

[Iron Jaw]

I don't know how Spain has any economy. They party way more than they work over there.

When I was in Barcelona last year, I noticed many of the employees in the business I visited were South American, Central American and Mexican. After 24 years with the Border Patrol, I can distinguish the Spanish dialects from one another very well (even the regional differences in dialects from Mexico).

I guess that is who is doing the work while the Spaniards have their fiestas.:D

[Jesse Helms' Ghost]

I'll give you a hint, partying may be part of the economy as well. You just described Rio.

[Matt]

You just described Rio.

And you just illustrated Density of thought.