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Charlemagne is a wonderful column in The Economist, and definitely one that we'll keep under the next, Undiscipline-ruled regime: Britain is proudly, and distinctively European, so it's a wonderful segment of the magazine. The column mostly deals with Europe and the European Union, and this week does not absolutely disappoint(s).
It's not that strange that a falling empire — Europe = museum; can't produce anything but bad policies — is grasping for ways to fix its dire situation. It is strange that the intelligentsias' minds are so detached from where they need to be. (#890832)
A peninsula dense with countries that once ruled vast swathes of the planet has watched uncomfortably as former colonies caught up or insolently forged ahead. It knows full well change is necessary.
No, I don't think Europe 2025 knows "full well" that "change is necessary" (#968401) —see this idiotic column. I think most Europeans live in the delusion that all is great here, that we're still the envy of the world (dEmOcRacy and wElFare sTatez!), that we're the moral and upstanding citizens of the otherwise broken and backwards world.
Having long relied on China’s market for growth, Russian gas to fuel its industry and American military heft for security, the EU has been rocked by three years of war in Ukraine and three months of Donald Trump’s agressive transactionalism in America. ike a noble family belatedly realising it must trim the retinue of butlers and housemaids to stay solvent, Europe should start by ditching the luxury policies it has long taken for granted—but are now indulgences it can ill afford.
True. I wonder which one Charlemagne will go with...

He (for apparently Charlemagne is written by Stanley Pignal...) goes with...
  • The Brussels effect: [= trying to impose its standards and project "power" and influence well beyond its borders]. Dictating growing conditions in Indonesia...eh, no; don't do that. "Europe is a shrinking force in the global economy. It is a luxury to pretend otherwise"
Fucking 100%. Scrapping that doesn't do much for Europe, but it's the right thing. 6 points.
  • red tape: IMF estimates that administrative red tape between EU countries is equivalent to 110% tariffs. Try chewing on that.
Every Brussels wonk’s desk is weighted down by an increasingly dusty 400-page report released last year by Mario Draghi, a former Italian prime minister, brimming with sensible ideas of how to deepen economic integration. Hardly any of them have been acted on.
Not that I trust Mr. Draghi's judgment on literally anything, but that European bureaucrats aren't even trying is a deep worry. Cut that shit. 8 points.
  • The demographics are crap: "Pushing Europeans to have more babies has proved unsuccessful; importing migrants is politically contentious." Can't afford that nonsense... linking retirement age to life expectancy is now a must.
absolutely the right thing to focus on. Yes, fuck the social security Ponzi (#929503). Downside with demographics? Nobody knows how to get more babies. Douze points.
  • Military: The UK is strong, its military and geopolitical clout could help Europe in Ukraine(!).
Unconscionable. A falling empire doesn't need warriors, bombs, and constraints; it needs productivity, relevance, and to be economically unleashed. Minus fucking 25 points.
  • Military #2: Europe's biggest flaw in recent decades = "scrimp on defence."
Get. Out. Of. HERE! Minus 100.
Also, the summary paragraphs sets out the retardation of Europe and Europeans more than anything else:
Ditching luxury policies is worthwhile in itself. It also ensures other policies that really matter get more attention. The EU’s ambitions to cut carbon emissions to “net zero” by 2050 are costly but necessary—though some other green rules might deserve a second look. Aiding Ukraine is no indulgence, on the contrary. Nor is financing the welfare state, to which many Europeans are attached.
Green stuff is pathetic; not only are they not necessary, they are immaterial for the goal you set out—What Europe says or does in climate regs have no bearing on the world... just stop. Ukraine is a needless distraction, well out of Europe's hands anyway. And the days of the welfare state are over — ditch it entirely, tomorrow.
So, I'm gonna say Mr. Pignal gets... checks score sheet... -99 points. (But extra bonus star for openly admitting that demographics are a problem... and somewhat focusing on the right issues; but my god talk about shitting the bed).

Non-paywalled here: https://archive.md/t2DL8
250 sats \ 1 reply \ @aljaz 2 May
I think you are absolutely right on people not seeing the problems. Everyone is aware that something stinks in their respective country but things are going wrong for so long that lots of people are confused. Trump is an excellent outside enemy, Putin has always been one. All the bad things are externalized instantly (energy costs are up because of Putin not because of decades of retarded green policies). Welfare state is falling apart because we dont pay enough taxes, not because its inherently idiotic and corrupt. This just goes on and on.
I think majority of EU population still thinks that their governments will fix their problems with more leftist policies (not realizing that they cant really afford to be taxed more to still eat) or are so far down the apathy hole and just enjoying the good food and wine while it lasts.
One of the problems is also that there is not many places in the world where its really better, at least on easily comparable terms for people to see. And its much easier to put your head in the sand and spread your ass cheeks for Ursula a bit more.
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All the bad things are externalized instantly (energy costs are up because of Putin not because of decades of retarded green policies). Welfare state is falling apart because we dont pay enough taxes, not because its inherently idiotic and corrupt.
yeeeees!
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As someone in the EU about about to get raped by the Euro soon , i feel like the issue is there is no stopping the suck train. I think this applies to a lot of places too, not just Europe. Most countries now have totally broken money and birth rates below the replacement level. purchasing power down, freedom down etc etc
it's going down in slow motion, and I have absolutely no faith or expectation that anything will change, not the red tape, shitty money or Brussels being gay about everything.
We all know that social security is a Ponzi, but no political leader would ever change it because it's political suicide. even fucking Putin pays lip service to pensioners (he did famously increase the pension age after promising not to , but he's a dictator, he can do what he wants).
Personally, all I can think of is focusing on stacking sats and living in somewhat isolation. Keep plodding along and get comfortable with the idea of being a prepper. Money is a big piece of the puzzle, and having something that no gov or group of central bankers can mess with is pretty incredible tho
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YEEES, excellent assessment
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28 sats \ 7 replies \ @OT 2 May
How long until the EU breaks up? During Trumps term?
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No way, most EU countries are too small to go in alone. The EU isn’t going to break up. The EU has been on the whole a good thing for the world, allowing many people to live and work in Europe, and collectively build wealth using a common currency. Where bitcoin hits Europe is that it cannot control it. EU really likes its rules and regulations, and free and open source software, especially peer to peer software is fundamentally uncontrollable once released on the Internet. (However, further transport protocol encryption and obfuscation is worth exploring here).
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75 sats \ 3 replies \ @OT 2 May
IDK
Europe has always been segregated until recently. I could see more "brexits" happening in the coming years.
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Not sure about that. Europe made sure that Brits believe that Brexit has been a net negative for them. Many are worse off now than before Brexit. If that's because of Brexit, that's another question, but many people associate their current misery with Brexit. There haven't been more calls for Brexits, as far as I know.
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i dont know, most of the smaller eu countries love milking the subsidies and getting free euros. most have delusions of grandeur about how they will be a strong independent country but in reality, some bigger country will always be fucking them. eu might just be the better of two evils
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @OT 16h
Isn't it basically southern Europe (Greece/Italy/Spain) in debt to Germany and France? Greece is something like 300% debt/GDP so it will never be paid back.
I think it will fracture, but since I don't live there it's possible that I'm missing something.
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Most of those benefits are well in the past.
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Nah, stupid shit can go on for longer than anyone thinks
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Slogans, slogans, slogan this is what they are all about i don't think they will be achieving anything these later days or even from the previous. not a single accomplishment
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enjoy the decline
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Not even for once man lol
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Boy, did you nail the problem? Home run!
Even the people who get that things are going catastrophically wrong mostly want to continue or increasingly do other catastrophic shit.
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0 sats \ 1 reply \ @xz 12h
Military: The UK is strong Bullish some defence stocks, regardless of the UK instinctively understanding that military conflict is not good for itself.
Europe says or does in climate regs should have no bearing on the world because nobody requested sci-fi theatre for their own policy.
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sci-fi theatre
<3
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