Benefit scrounging parasites from Europe

[Robinho]

And vice versa with you.

The difference is at least there's a theory behind my position.

[DodgyAgent]

And vice versa with you.

The difference is at least there's a theory behind my position.

Have you ever thought of becoming a recruitment agent?

[Robinho]

God no.

[sasguru]

And vice versa with you.

The difference is at least there's a theory behind my position.

I'm a pragmatist. What works works. I would examine all successful models.
From my travels in Europe, by far the most successful large country is Europe is Germany, and while some of that is down to their culture, I'm sure some of their non-free-market policies are partly responsible for their success.

[sasguru]

God no.

God knows you're thick enough

[DodgyAgent]

God knows you're thick enough

That is not what I meant

[Robinho]

I'm a pragmatist. What works works. I would examine all successful models.
From my travels in Europe, by far the most successful large country is Europe is Germany, and while some of that is down to their culture, I'm sure some of their non-free-market policies are partly responsible for their success.

Can you explain why Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland and Canada (the top 6 in the economic freedom index) are so prosperous then?

Germany is only marginally less "free" according to that index than the UK.

Country Rankings: World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom

The problem we've had here and in the US is that we have had governments that have actively induced booms, and then blamed it on the free market when it all goes tits up.

If we got the government's clumsy hand out of the monitory system we might get somewhere. If the market set the interest rate and not the government it's hard to see how we could have accumulated such a level of personal debt.

[sasguru]

Can you explain why Singapore, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland and Canada (the top 6 in the economic freedom index) are so prosperous then?

Germany is only marginally less "free" according to that index than the UK.

Country Rankings: World & Global Economy Rankings on Economic Freedom

The problem we've had here and in the US is that we have had governments that have actively induced booms, and then blamed it on the free market when it all goes tits up.

If we got the government's clumsy hand out of the monitory system we might get somewhere. If the market set the interest rate and not the government it's hard to see how we could have accumulated such a level of personal debt.

You really struggle with logic and compexity, don't you?
On that list there are countries that are "free" but poor like Mauritius and countries that are "not free" and rich, like Italy.
Germany (28) is not particularly free, yet its standard of living, unemployment rate etc are similar to Switzerland's. The UK (14) is freeer than Germany but much poorer.
The six countries you mention are all prosperous for various reasons, in addition to their freedom, including high spending on education (Singapore) and tough banking laws (Canada), both of which are government interventions.
Stick to IT, it suits your binary mind.
The real world is too messy and complex for your simple, naive theories.
HTH, BIKIW.

[Robinho]

You are the one that's basing your entire theory on one country.

I give 6 examples and there are all flaws with them, indeed the world is too complex and messy to draw conclusions from those examples.

The only example that is fit to draw conclusions from is Germany.

[sasguru]

You are the one that's basing your entire theory on one country.

I'm comparing the UK with the country I think it historicially was most like economically in the 20th Century, also culturally and population size-wise.
I would stick to IT if I were you, you'll make a decent, if not great, living, with your intellectual limitations.
Don't under any circumstances go into anything that requires a modicum of historical knowledge, complexity, nuance, or subtlety.