Western Europe would have been collapsing right now if daddy cold capitalist didn't show up with gas and guns to drive away the Russian bear.
Western Europe has been on vacation for 30 years. There is no future where they can stay on the path they have been on. European leaders recognize this, but how the hell do you get a generation raised with an easy life to recognize this?
Germans work 400 hours a year less than Americans, and they celebrate that. Good luck.
This is what working in a toxic working culture does to a person. "Because I only have one week of PTO a year and have to be constantly add afraid of being fired, everyone should be!"
Europe has a borderline shrinking economy, and completely missed out on the tech wave of the last 25 years.
So you have all of Europe using American software, running on American or Chinese hardware, all imported rather than home built.
This "foreign dependent" theme repeats again and again as you go through why Europeans need to get off their asses and drop their perceptions towards industry.
And this doesn't even mention the population age crisis.
I have the savings where I could quit my job, work odd fun part-time seasonal jobs, go traveling, focus on hobbies, focus on friends and family, and live a low stress generally relaxed life. Still live in my house, still drive my car.
I could probably swing this for maybe 5 years.
But after that?
I'd be very low on cash, missing valuable workplace skills, selling my home to downsize, and scrounging for money anywhere I could. Bad financial shape, and forced to give up all those great comforts.
This is what Europe has been doing, on a ~50 yr timescale. They are about 35 years into it, and the writing is on the wall. Euro leaders see it. Unfortunately for Europe, there is now a whole generation that only knows that laid back easy life. Meanwhile Europe needs to double defense spending (cut services) while fostering domestic technology development (cut taxes), all while having a top heavy population (guaranteed generous benefits). All the things necessary to stand on their own, with a hostile next door neighbor who desperately wants the former soviet lands back. And all the things that say "You need to work more for less".
If Europe doesn't get it together in the next 5-10 years, the EU will fracture, and there likely will be another European ground war.
>There is no future where they can stay on the path they have been on. European leaders recognize this, but how the hell do you get a generation raised with an easy life to recognize this?
The call is inside the house. Puritan ethics will not stop China from overtaking the US.
>Germans work 400 hours a year less than Americans, and they celebrate that. Good luck.
You have a dedicated HN work account with 15337 karma.
Western Europe has been on vacation for 30 years. There is no future where they can stay on the path they have been on. European leaders recognize this, but how the hell do you get a generation raised with an easy life to recognize this?
Germans work 400 hours a year less than Americans, and they celebrate that. Good luck.