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On the Coffee Table

Sunday, July 02, 2006

The United States of Europe by T. R. Reid

Basic premise: Europe (EU) is rapidly emerging as a global economic/political power that does some things way better than the US. With 25 nations and 450 million citizens their influence will only grow compared to America.

I'm about 60% through this one, and a few impressions are already clear:

This guy is clearly a Europhile - not a problem but clearly a bias.
So far he has not touched on the immigrant problem that is (I think) the greater threat to modern Europe.
Ditto the falling birthrates.

That said he makes a good case for the emergence of the EU as an equal world partner - only with way fewer tanks and aircraft carriers. Add in China, and the days of the sole superpower model may be fewer than we think.

One final note: the publishing industry is in big trouble, I believe. Although printed in 2004 this book is already hampered by current events that the author would surely have taken into account. The Internet has forever changed what many of us expect for political/economic analysis.

More when finished.

¶ 6:21 AM 0 comments

: Name: John Phipps; Location: Chrisman, Illinois, US

Jan and I farm 1700 acres near Chrisman, IL. I have also written humor and commentary for Farm Journal and Top Producer for 13 years. Please visit my website (www.johnwphipps.com) to learn about my speaking services for your group's next meeting.

View my complete profile

On the Coffee Table Sunday, July 02, 2006 The United States of Europe by T. R. Reid Basic premise: Europe (EU) is rapidly emerging as a global economic/political power that does some things way better than the US. With 25 nations and 450 million citizens their influence will only grow compared to America. I'm about 60% through this one, and a few impressions are already clear: This guy is clearly a Europhile - not a problem but clearly a bias. So far he has not touched on the immigrant problem that is (I think) the greater threat to modern Europe. Ditto the falling birthrates. That said he makes a good case for the emergence of the EU as an equal world partner - only with way fewer tanks and aircraft carriers. Add in China, and the days of the sole superpower model may be fewer than we think. One final note: the publishing industry is in big trouble, I believe. Although printed in 2004 this book is already hampered by current events that the author would surely have taken into account. The Internet has forever changed what many of us expect for political/economic analysis. More when finished. ¶ 6:21 AM 0 comments About Me Name: John Phipps Location: Chrisman, Illinois, US Jan and I farm 1700 acres near Chrisman, IL. I have also written humor and commentary for Farm Journal and Top Producer for 13 years. Please visit my website (www.johnwphipps.com) to learn about my speaking services for your group's next meeting. View my complete profile ARCHIVES 06/01/2006 - 07/01/2006 / 07/01/2006 - 08/01/2006 / 08/01/2006 - 09/01/2006 / 02/01/2007 - 03/01/2007 / advertisement MORE FROM JOHN What's for Dinner
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