On Jul 12, 2011, at 11:35 AM, Eric Beck wrote:
> It is a jumbled mess, but I think the main point might be worth
> thinking about: why, despite Europe's more vibrant oppositional
> institutions, is it right now more austere and disciplining than the
> U.S.? In this instance, there seems to be no connection between robust
> social pressure and increasing social democracy.
One reason is that the austerity is being directed by supra-national authorities - the EU, ECB - and the bond markets, which aren't terribly responsive to popular pressure.
Doug