The German magazine Spiegel says 'Political Radicalization in US Unworthy of a Democratic State'

[Democrats Ramshield]

(I am cross posting this article that I wrote earlier today at the Daily Kos.)

"As an American expat living in the European Union I've come to rely on the European mainstream press corp for opinions and information that is essentially unaffected by the influence of Fox news and right wing talk radio.

This diary is essentially an annotated bibliography of European media sources which are unavailable in the US which contain information and opinion from published German news sources listed by the German Spiegel magazine. Additionally there is also a sampling of news sources outside of Germany, to include Britain and France. This diary attempts to add value to the reader's experience by providing an international perspective on the Arizona tragedy from capital cities in the European Union. It is important for American readers to note that mainstream European news outlets essentially speaking have universally condemned what's happened in Arizona in siding with progressive America. It is important for American readers to understand that this condemnation comes from the subtext of a strong European style social safety net.

While we can all be proud Americans, we sure don't have to be proud of the broken American social safety net. There we can do better.

Because Europe in general and Germany in particular has learned its lessons very well, given the combined experiences of the last century within the collective European memory. Additionally that a strong social safety net prevents politically motivated killings and promotes a more civil discourse on a continent where extreme rhetoric cannot take hold, which indeed by many social scientists is the reason that a European style strong social safety net exists which provides cradle to grave universal medical access, paid sick leave, paid maternity leave, paid annual leave and dental care to all workers to include low wage workers. Even Germany's unemployed receive medical benefits, as do their family members as part of a jobless benefit package, (which includes jobless benefit 1 and wherein jobless benefit 2 never runs out). Clearly people who are supported by a strong social safety net are going to be more satisfied and therefore harder to radicalize, because these people are not pushed to the wall economically."

(Click here to read full article) http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/1/12/935423/-The-German-magazine-Spiegel-says-Political-Radicalization-in-US-Unworthy-of-a-Democratic-State

[Uncle Joe]

1. That's a good analysis.

Thanks for the thread, Democrats Ramshield and welcome to D.U.:hi:

[Democrats Ramshield]

2. This is my first thread at DU

So I am newbie here.

I've written a diary series at the Daily Kos called the American dream vs the European dream. I've been able to publish this with the support of the progressive community there. For anyone who is interested in the series, here is a link to my author's page at the Daily Kos.
http://democrats-ramshield.dailykos.com

Thanks also for the warm welcome to DU. Happy belated new year all! :hi:

[Denninmi]

4. I've read parts of it. Excellent.

Thank you for the unique perspective on our problems.

America came to the rescue when Europe faced destruction at the hands of radical fascism. Unfortunately, I think we are very close to a situation where Europe may need to return the favor.

[Democrats Ramshield]

7. The European Union countries are America's strongest allies

They are also America's strongest trading partners. I think this is a fact that Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin and the Tea Party often forget.

[Democrats Ramshield]

8. We can be proud Americans but we don't have to proud of the broken social safety net in America

A friend recently asked me how long the diary series of "the American dream vs the European dream" will go on for. My answer is, I'll keep writing until everyone of the 59 million Americans who are uninsured becomes medically insured. Because living in the European union, when I look out the window, everyone I see is medically insured. No one is left behind in the European style social safety net. The American working class deserves nothing less. To that end, let's please help each other to get the word out. We can all be proud Americans but we sure don't have to proud of America's broken social safety net. There we can do better!

[provis99]

3. yeah, I'm real interested in criticism from a country where nazis run entire towns.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,737471,00.html

[Uncle Joe]

6. Every nation has its' own set of demons and baggage from the past but the fact that a village

in Germany is having problems doesn't detract from the overall logic of the argument.

""Now," says Horst Lohmeyer, "they see Jamel as a 'nationally liberated zone'" -- a neo-Nazi term for places foreigners and those of foreign descent must fear to tread. The extremists took over the village in just a few years. They now own seven of the 10 houses and have driven out anyone who couldn't come to terms with them. They battered down doors and broke windows, slashed tires, flew the German imperial war flag and celebrated Hitler's birthday. In the 1990s, they stuck dead chickens on one family's garden fence with the warning, "We'll smoke you out."

[truedelphi]

5. K & R.

From the article:
Additionally that a strong social safety net prevents politically motivated killings. And promotes a more civil discourse on a continent where extreme rhetoric cannot take hold, which indeed by many social scientists is the reason that a European style strong social safety net exists which provides cradle to grave universal medical access, paid sick leave, paid maternity leave, paid annual leave and dental care to all workers to include low wage workers. Even Germany's unemployed receive medical benefits, as do their family members as part of a jobless benefit package, (which includes jobless benefit 1 and wherein jobless benefit 2 never runs out).

Last year's Congress voted for a 33 Billion dollar economic enabling of our war in Afghanistan. Cuts to social programs will be the logical outcome of this vote. And the new, more conservative Congress of 2011 will continue the decline of needed social programs, as well as the jobs that those programs
provide.

Sad when continual, unending war trumps ability to be a democratic nation. We are now officially a banana republic.

[maryf]

9. Human needs

are relinquished when the profit garnered from oil, minerals, and weaponry comes into play. Quality of life is now a casualty of war. I recommend your post!

[maryf]

10. Welcome to DU!!

Thanks! and K&R!

[Democrats Ramshield]

11. To maryf - Thanks for the warm welcome

May I please ask what did you and some of the other readers think of the article? Thanks for posting.