[lbo-talk] Europhilia

[Seth Ackerman]

Angelus Novus wrote:

>Seth Ackerman:
>
>  
>
>>Angelus, I thought you were against the welfare
>>    
>>
>state 
>  
>
>>in the first place. It's a racist, nationalistic 
>>travesty, right?
>>    
>>
>
>I've never said anything remotely like this, but this
>sort of willful misattribution is par for the course
>on lbo-talk.
>  
>

What's with this "willful misattribution"? I was under the impression 
that you're against the welfare state, based on comments like the one 
below. But I phrased it in the form of a question to give you an 
opportunity to explain your position.

http://www.mail-archive.com/pen-l@sus.csuchico.edu/msg20658.html

"As I stated on lbo-talk, full support
for open borders is the *minimal* demand for any
communist today.  This to me is a non-negotiable
position.  Anyone arguing for some sort of
social-democratic welfare state measures to cushion
the blow of neo-liberalism for workers in the advanced
countries, but not supporting open borders, is
defending racial privilege and welfare chauvinism of
the advanced countries."

>>And this Wikipedia article doesn't mention that the
>>    
>>
>SPD > has decided to rescind large parts of Hartz IV
>
>*LOL* this just confirms my suspicions about how
>woefully misinformed American Europhiles are about
>actual developments in Europe.
>
>No, the SPD has not "decided to rescind large parts of
>Hartz IV".  The SPD has voted to support Kurt Beck's
>initiative to pay out Arbeitslosengeld I for a year
>longer in the case of older (i.e. over 45 years of
>age).  This does nothing to touch Hartz IV.
>
>  
>

Angelus, I'm sure you know much more about the German scene than I do. 
All I know is what I read in the papers. According to Der Spiegel:

//Kurt Beck, the leader of Germany's Social Democrat Party (SPD), caused 
a stir several weeks ago by announcing his intention to revoke 
significant parts of Agenda 2010, a welfare-reform package introduced 
under former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in 2003. The announcement led 
to a long dispute between Beck and German Vice Chancellor Franz 
Müntefering, who feels Beck's proposals endanger much of what the SPD 
has achieved. Now Müntefering has capitulated, recognizing the 
persistent unpopularity of Agenda 2010 among Social Democrat voters.

The declared aim of the Agenda 2010 reforms is to trim Germany's 
generous welfare state and stimulate the economy. One of the most 
controversial elements of Agenda 2010 is a new unemployment benefits 
regime known as Hartz IV. Hartz IV shortens the period of time during 
which full unemployment benefits are paid out. Beck wants to extend this 
period again, in accordance with a model developed by the German 
Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB).//


>I think Europhilia on the American left is related to
>the Angophilia of the American right.  Just as
>middlebrow right-wingers will eat up anything from
>_The Economist_ as long as it is spoken with an
>English accent, American liberals go weak in the knees
>for anything continental.
>  
>

Angelus, come to America and enjoy our marvellous political culture. See 
with your own eyes how it's not the slightest bit worse than Europe's! 
Workers here are eligible for unemployment benefits just as long as in 
Germany, I gather? You know how the SPD is inserting the words 
"democratic socialism" in their program to appeal to voters on the left? 
See for yourself how well that would play over here! Really, it is 
puzzling why Americans who identify with the left might be envious of 
the situation in W.E.

Seth