The New York Times sees a trend and is grief-stricken. In spite of the current economic crisis, European populations are rejecting socialistic political parties and are running into the open arms of the right – in some cases, the far right. “A specter is haunting Europe — the specter of Socialism’s slow collapse. Even in the midst of one of the greatest challenges to capitalism in 75 years, involving a breakdown of the financial system due to ‘irrational exuberance,’ greed and the weakness of regulatory systems, European Socialist parties and their left-wing cousins have not found a compelling response, let alone taken advantage of the right’s failures. Some American conservatives demonize President Obama’s fiscal stimulus and health care overhaul as a dangerous turn toward European-style Socialism…” Gee, that’s a shame.

While America has had its share of turmoil since declaring its independence in 1776, the Euro-weenies have suffered through Bonapartism, International Socialism and National Socialism, in all their various shades of gray. For the Europeans, beating their tinny heads against reality’s brick wall is starting to hurt. Waiting for the free lunch that never comes is like waiting for Godot. The Europeans are starting to wise up to the fact that the alchemy of socialism is very successful at transforming gold into lead. What escapes the New York Times, but is starting to dawn on our Euro-weenie cousins, is that the fairest, most efficient system for redistributing wealth is capitalism – a.k.a., a job. As was the case with the Soviet Union and continues in Castro’s Cuba, redistributing poverty is socialism’s only virtue. Obama is behind the curve on this reality.

– Mr. Curmudgeon