Sunday - September 09, 2007
Is This What Happens When You Become an Old Socialist?
Recent polls in Europe still show that Europeans have a dour view of not only George Bush, but America and its foreign policy in general. My theory is that as Europe ages, the more the ill effects of years of socialism show.
As a result, many older, socialized Europeans resent a vital America, that takes aggressive actions to defend itself. Additionally, I think, Europeans, weaned on socialism, also disapprove of America's spirituality and its sense of moral purpose. Socialism requires people to think alike, to expect an equality of outcome, and that the state and its elites will take care of most of their problems. It must be very perplexing to look across the ocean to see a vibrant, free thinking people who don't give a damn what the continent thinks.
A new survey of European attitudes toward America released this week holds that: We share your fear of terrorists. We don't like Bush. And we don't necessarily plan on being nice once he's gone. At the same time, another world poll adds: And, please, leave Iraq.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives a kiss of U.S. President George W. Bush. Europe's leaders might play nice with Bush, but their constituencies aren't all that happy about him.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel receives a kiss of U.S. President George W. Bush. Europe's leaders might play nice with Bush, but their constituencies aren't all that happy about him.
A new poll released Thursday by the German Marshall Fund of the United States shows that Europeans are down on America right now and not seeing light over the horizon. The poll is part of the report 'Trans-Atlantic Trends 2007' that surveys 12 European countries in an attempt to gauge feelings about relations between the US and Europe.
When it comes to Europeans' views of US President George W. Bush, his war in Iraq, and his foreign policies, 77 percent disapprove of him and his policies, while 17 percent voiced approval. This compares with American views, which show an approval rate of 32 percent and disapproval rate of 63 percent, according to an August survey released by the Gallup Poll.
Teasing out whether the issue was the US war or Bush himself, the Europeans seemed divided in the trans-Atlantic survey, with 38 percent choosing the war and 34 percent Bush himself.
The survey, now in its sixth year, polled 1,000 people in 13 countries by telephone, including Britain, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Romania and the United States. It is administered by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a non-partisan policy institute, and the Compagnia di San Paolo, an Italian research foundation. The margin of error was plus or minus three percentage points. Read the entire article.
Author: The Machiavellian
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