Its seems more and more that the US is sliding even further into the economic morass, according to the Heritage foundation the US economy is less open then it was in 2003. The US dropped from 10th to 12th place with nations like Chile, Australia, and Iceland taking over. http://www.newratings.com/new2/beta/article_612600.html I think the Heritage foundation put it best: http://www.heritage.org/About/Bookstore/Index_of_Economic_Freedom_2005.cfm
Unfortunately I cannot determine from this article what exactly makes a nation "economically free". Does government spending levels determine how much of our money we are able to spend elsewhere, determining the level of freedom? If Hong Kong is economically free..., their civil freedom is certainly becoming a memory of the past.
Economic freedom is the general measure, the least amount of government interference in the economy. The Fraser institute has an even more comprehensive list of economic freedom. This is the Heritage foundation you really can’t get much more conservative, and this obviously doesn’t bode well with the neo-liberal Bush administration. .
Another bit of bad news...the US is rated as the 13th best place to live in the world, ahead of the US is Ireland at #1, Spain at #10, Singapore at #11, and bad news for Canada too...we are at #14. Source: The Year in 2005...the economist.
These factors: >Income >health >freedom >unemployment >family life >climate >political stability >security >gender equality >family/community life
A scathing reportage: I just got access to the 2005 list from the Heritage foundation and they made no bones about it: With the Bush policy team the US will not change course…admitting failure is not in the cards. As we continue down the list we see that America’s fiscal burden is very high, out of a score of 5 (meaning repressive) to 1 meaning (free), the US’ score on the fiscal burden is a 4: What does the US need to do? Raise taxes, that would actually help the US in the long term, freeze spending, cut spending in areas like the military, and possibly even privatize parts of the government which can be privatized. We cannot forget that the States also have massive deficits and debts which only further exacerbate the eroding fiscal situation in the US. If the US does not raise taxes soon the fallout will be worse then the temporary fall in consumption, and the badly needed recession.
I fear that as our economy collapses, people will start blaming the wrong things, and cling to the wrong beliefs. We're just entering a new age of Christian Oppressors. The Catholic Church came into power towards the demise of the Roman empire. Evangical Chuch anyone?
When the USA falls, and Russia falls, the world has a chance at survival. Oh, China must go too. Total war, and nothing but, forevermore.
I'm sorry but you can not rate "qualitative" criteria as that is subject to too much interpretation by those conducting the report. Health, freedom, family life, climate, political stablity, security, gender equality, well shit...everything on there is actually qualitative, but some are quantitative IF some other factors are included. For instance: Income vs. cost of living. Climate vs. damage of property and in lives by climate vs. cost to recover vs. success in recovery. (Thailand, Malaysia, they are very screwed by this Tsunami, but we have been hit by Hurricanes every year for hundreds of years and have always managed to recover and expand and grow.) Unemployment vs. needing employment. That's about all I can think of as remotely approaching "quantitative".
The Catholic Church came to power long before the fall of Rome (by the late 2nd Century the Catholic Church had precedence with the nobility of Rome). Don't try to confuse history with your retarded "theories of religion". The Catholic Church has been one of the best forces for Western Civilization, it has spawned a numerous amount of educated men, such as Hobbes, and the Jesuit Priests. The Rennaissance was not an act against, but for the Church...
You don't think that a Unified Europe will be a boost to the power of the Catholic Church? You are on my list of "dolts" on this forum, I don't like having to have such a list, but you're forcing me.
I'm sorry but you can not rate "qualitative" criteria as that is subject to too much interpretation by those conducting the report. True...but most of these are relativist, and the economist is by far one of the most respected organizations in the world. We know for sure that the US is not the best place to live in the world…that there is no question. But sure there can be variations about what is better on those criteria…but generally speaking that’s as good as its going to get. You don't think that a Unified Europe will be a boost to the power of the Catholic Church? No and I don't see why you are calling him a retard...that's not appropriate because you haven't show us in any qualitive way why this assertion is true. If anything the EU is antithetical to the US conception of religion, Europe is very secular while America isn’t. If anything the Church has been weakened by two factors: The EU has denied the word God in its constitution Turkey may join and break the Christian-ness of the Union. I don’t want Turkey to join, but it seems it will. So really in reality the Church may as well lose out in the long run.
Your idea that Europe is very secular, is the type of "out-of-touch with reality" attitude that limits your fore-sight. Europe is VERY religious, even France is majorily religious. However, Europeans do place considerable control to their State Governments (national Governments...I'm getting ahead of myself), and those Governments have ideologies the most of which are "non-religious". France for instance, principally Catholic, has a rabidly "liberal" Government that is very much in the minority (as was shown by their recent banning of head scarves and religious symbols from Hospitals and Schools, which not even their President supported except reluctantly). Britain's national religion is non-Catholic, so they'd not enter that fold. Anyway, on to the point, history shows that creating a Union government, reduces the autonomy of the States involved (nations). Whether the Union holds or not is yet to be seen, if it doesn't hold, then the EU falls apart. If it does hold, then the State government's limits on religion will most likely weaken as a "national identity" is found. How that will effect things is uncertain, Europe is VERY afraid of a return of the conditions that existed in the 1300s, but this does not mean that in a Unified Europe, the Pope will not wield a considerable amount of "Advice from the rear" to those in charge of that Union. What will begin as just commments and suggestions, will eventually grow to a precedence, and that can almost be certain. Of the majority of the nations in the EU, only a few are not dominated by Catholics, mainly those of South-Eastern Europe (which is orthodoxy). Of those that are dominated by Catholics, only 1 is significantly secular in Government AND people (that is France, compared to the others). Germany has a strong Catholic group. Spain is immensely religious, Italy also. The numerous principalities that form those near "city-states". Switzerland (their financial power-house). The Scandinavian nations are very Catholic. The only thing that is secular is their "image", their day-to-day lives are still fairly religious and predominently Catholic. I'm not saying they will form a "Union Religion", just that the Catholic Church's role in their society will elevate. After-all, the Catholic Church has many humanitarian concerns that the Europeans want to address as well. Some commone similarities I think will out-weigh some ideological differences. Also, Union would mean a reorganization of "identity" which can have any possible effects. Also, in conclusion, the only way Turkey is joining is if the Europeans see a need to absorb their economy, they can give a rats butt about Turkey as a part of their Union, and most likely its entry would be that of a colony in 50 years, which will result in conflict that the Turks most likely could not win. The European Union is going to be an interesting thing 50 years from now, as people growing-up as "Europeans" instead of Germans or French and etc. start to come to power, and they will start to attack the minorities in an effort to further nationalize their Union. It happens all the time, it happend in Rome, it happend in Britain, it happend in the French Imperialism, Russians, Americans, it will happen in Europe. What identity they decide to incorporate into the European identity will be hard to tell at the moment, but it won't be hindered by the addition of a near all-Muslim nation. Especially with the amount of hate growing in France against the Muslims there (one-reason they banned the head scarves, so there were no more Muslim beatings).
Really I didn't know that, quite strange since as far as i know they are mainly protostant(hmm spelling?) and only around christmas. Funny post.
indeed. The Netherlands have always been divided between a catholic south and a protestant north, with many different factions. This lead to a system of tolerance and a division between state and church. and nowadays the christmas effect is also in place here similar to scandinavia.
Your idea that Europe is very secular, is the type of "out-of-touch with reality" attitude that limits your fore-sight. No I seem to be in touch with reality, Europe is not a very religious continent, if anything the Catholic Church has been in decline in Western Europe ever since the French Revolution. Europeans don't want the Church anywhere near their governments, their history has taught them well, America hasn't had much history and has much to learn. Europe is VERY religious, even France is majorily religious. That's why French churches are routinely empty? Or near empty? Sure the vast majority of Europeans call themselves Catholic or Protestant, or whatever but most don't even practice. To call France a "majorily" religious nation is quite ignorant. France for instance, principally Catholic, has a rabidly "liberal" Government that is very much in the minority Then why would the French people vote in Socialists if it were as you say a "minority" your rhectoric isn't standing up to the facts. Firstly most French support the ban, and secondly I don't see how one can be a "radical liberal" I find that hard to fathom. Britain's national religion is non-Catholic, so they'd not enter that fold. Do you honestly expect me to take you seriously when you say words like "non-Catholic"? Wouldn't it have been more apporiate intellectually to say...Anglican? The only real difference btwn a Catholic and an Anglican is that the Queen is the head of the Church not the Pope, and its easier to get a divorce...woop! Anyway, on to the point, history shows that creating a Union government, reduces the autonomy of the States involved (nations). By definition...yes... Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! If it does hold, then the State government's limits on religion will most likely weaken as a "national identity" is found. No most likely the State (being the EU) will be even more areligious that any European state in existence today. Firstly the EU will have to contend with many forms of Christianity, secondly it has a very large Islamic population, and with the inclusion of Turkey that will grow by 60+ million, so for the EU to be religious would be asking for civil strife, the EU like Britian understands that to keep the Union together, religious freedom is paramount and as a result there shouldn't be a priviledged class in terms of religion. Of the majority of the nations in the EU, only a few are not dominated by Catholics, mainly those of South-Eastern Europe (which is orthodoxy). There to my knowledge is no Eastern Orthodox state in the EU apart from Greece, and Cyprus. To say the least these nations do not wield any considerable power in the Union, they are takers not givers. Those nations with majority Catholic populations in Europe are some of the most secularized, because of the bad history of the Church in those nations affairs. Religion is no where near as important in the EU as in the US. Germany has a strong Catholic group. Spain is immensely religious, Italy also. The numerous principalities that form those near "city-states". Switzerland (their financial power-house). This concept that ppl are "immensely" religious is fallicious, just because it says "90% Catholic" doesn't mean by any strecth of the imagination that these ppl act like Catholics. I am Catholic and I can tell you most Catholics I know really don't care, and don't go to church, we pretty much pay lip service to God. That is a European thing...an apathy towards God. The Scandinavian nations are very Catholic. Now I know for sure you have no idea what you are saying. I'm not saying they will form a "Union Religion", just that the Catholic Church's role in their society will elevate. That seems to go against all the evidence, unless you can show me evidence to support this then this is nothing but mere belief. We know that attendance in church is low in Europe, and that the EU has rejected and notion of the Christian God in its constitution...sorry but it doesn't look that the Church is going to exhert much power. Also, Union would mean a reorganization of "identity" which can have any possible effects. With Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria in or going to be part of the union this idea of a "Catholic" identity will not be allowed to happen. Also, in conclusion, the only way Turkey is joining is if the Europeans see a need to absorb their economy, they can give a rats butt about Turkey as a part of their Union, and most likely its entry would be that of a colony in 50 years, which will result in conflict that the Turks most likely could not win. Well the economist and the EU seem to disagree they've started talks about joining...so think again.
The best place (i have been to U.K, Canada,SINGAPORE,Switzerland,i am now in U.S.) to live is Switzerland which i believe is the best considering all of the above factors...
Bad news for the US! even international drug dealers are going Euro! http://www.newstarget.com/003587.html G.
