Interesting nugget from Mark Steyn.
For Britain and Ireland, two relatively dynamic
provinces of a moribund continent, there are only two options: share
the pain and expense and societal upheaval, or decide that you’re not
that "European" after all and begin the process of detachment or at
least semi-detachment. When the Continentals bemoan "Anglo-Saxon"
capitalism, they have a point. Of the 20 economies with the biggest GDP
per capita, no fewer than 11 are current or former realms of Her
Britannic Majesty.
Admittedly, some of the
wealthiest turf is the pinprick colonial tax havens – Bermuda,
Guernsey, the Caymans. But, if you eliminate populations under 10
million, the GDP per capita Top Five are, in order, America, Canada,
Australia, Belgium and the United Kingdom. And if you make it
territories with over 20 million, the Top Four is an Anglosphere sweep.
In other words, the ability to generate wealth among large populations
does indeed seem to be an "Anglo-Saxon" thing. That being so, which is
more likely? That Blair will transform a Europe antipathetic to
Anglo-Saxon ways? Or that Europe will drag its Anglo-Saxons down with
it?
It really does show that we need to become more European, doesn’t it?
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