Friends, it's been clear for some time that Europe is struggling in many ways: economically, politically, and culturally. Its inability to make babies, and its reliance on Third World immigration to keep population levels stable, is one sign of civilizational decay. Its moribund, socialist economies are another. This week, though, the EU launched a major attack on X, which, coupled with various other machinations against US-based Big Tech companies, may signal a doubling down on the Euro-elite's penchant for censorship and soft authoritarianism. The Eurocrats are peeved by the resurgence of Trumpism in the USA, of course, but they are even more worried about the rising strength of populism in Europe itself. The Reform Party in the UK, the AfD in Germany -- these movements keep European grandees up at night! Their solution, as per usual, is to criminalize dissent, or to attack the platforms that allow dissent in the first place. Elon Musk will play a starring role in this evolving conflict between American/classically liberal values, and European elitism, socialism, and tyranny. So far, we've upheld our commitment to NATO despite these intercontinental squabbles, but can that continue indefinitely???
https://www.npr.org/2025/12/05/nx-s1-5634694/x-musk-eu-fines
https://x.com/shellenberger/status/1997083064141599102
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Wow! Those articles were eyeopeners for me.The idea of the EU's apparent continued "progress "toward ever more extensive dictatorship manifesting purposeful effort on its part to control our freedom of speech is disturbing.
ReplyDeleteGovernment enforced suppression of expression it deems politically and/or culturally offensive is of course essential for the imposition of totalitarianism. And yes, if it violates Nato standards for freedom in its member it brings into yet another question whether continued membership in Nato is in our national interest.
If as Musk advocates the EU were to be dissolved could it bode a return to the endless national conflict which was Europe's curse? Could that generate a reprised and powerful isolationist movement in our country? Could Europe (including Russia) be put in dread of yet another aggressive rise of dynamic Germany?
We have more than enough problems in countering the threat our domestic incipient totalitarians pose. Actual encouragement of that movement by the EU is a serious matter and one our beneficially iconoclastic problem solver President may well be likely to move upon.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: One of the articles noted that a prime motivation for European elites to want to suppress speech is the precipitate rise of
ReplyDeletepopular resolve to end the perceived culturally existential problem resulting from the incursion of immigrants from countries with ways of life inimical to especially Western Europeans. Demonstrated widespread refusal among these groups to adopt the customs of their hosts, together with some declared and forcefully enacted open hostility to those countries who have delivered them from atavistic hellholes, has stung to the quick so many natives.
Part of their outrage stems of course from an often accurate conclusion that their governments are at best imperiously oblivious to the offenses some foreigners commit but , worse, that they excuse them and expect their "subjects" to endure them for reasons of "compassion" from which they, the decision makers ,are conveniently insulated from onerous consequences. The degree to which European elites defend such incursion , often by attacking expressed opposition to it, is a telling measure of their "progress" toward totalitarianism.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Even worse for European populations could be a perception ( with which we in the U.S. are very familiar) that their governments and that of the EU fully INTEND to answer the demands of the far left doctrine they embrace or fear, no matter the onerous effects on their native populations, as long as they do not have to endure such imposition. Such elites seek to assuage their tortured consciences by making their unwilling and thereby condemned "subjects" pay for injustices for which the population deserves little blame.
ReplyDeleteDr. Waddy from Jack: It calls into question the obvious intent of the far left to make present day populations pay for the injustices of their ancestors ( eg.by imposing "affirmative action") so as to make the far left more powerful. This principle is at intense contest in the U.S. and in enactment in Western Europe is productive of ever worsening social and political antipathy. This: despite other sincere and often very controversial measures to afford present justice to groups undoubtedly oppressed in the past.
ReplyDeleteI think it a power grab on the part of a far left which has historically only a record of forcing ALL but for a tiny elite into equitable ill being and unrelenting totalitarian tyranny . They have betrayed every "revolution" in which they have been dominant and there is no reason to think they would abandon the tactics which have brought them complete power in so many unlucky nations. ('Why, just give us another chance. . . ")We are right and prudent to assume this of them NOW and to resist them at every turn. It is impossible to recreate the past in a form more just and any effort to do so is certain to be catastrophic. Resultant anarchy may well be seen by the far left as favorable to their cause.
Dr. Waddy from Jack: Well, Comrade Mamdani has issued the first of the many challenges to the rule of law we can expect of him. Very slick of him to address his advice on how to assert ostensible "rights" in dealing with ICE to "immigrants" as if there is no difference between legal and illegal immigrants . How, pray, do these "rights" apply to illegals , who have not earned the rights of citizens and who are no doubt his chief concern!? He may well see the lawful example set by legal immigrants as a hindrance to the perpetuation of his far left's cynical and treasonous enablement of invasion of our country by illegals. It might serve his "revolutionary" intentions to rile legal immigrants against an America he earnestly intends to help "fundamentally reform"
ReplyDeleteLets hope to see President Trump meet this offense head on!