Does David Brooks know *anything* about Europe?
Another day, another display of epic cluelessness by the Serious Mr. David Brooks - this time when he takes on the American welfare system. His latest article in the NY Times contains some classic Serious-isms. Take this bon-mot for instance But many Republicans have now come to the conclusion that the welfare-state model is in its death throes ... the first phase of that collapse [of the welfare state] is playing out right now in Greece, Spain and Italy. Really dude? Really ? Does he actually know anything about Europe, other than a reflexive " Europe sucks! U.S.A! U.S.A! " response? If he'd bothered to use The Googles, he'd find that in Europe, countries spending more on welfare than Greece, Spain and Italy include (get this!) Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, and the Netherlands ! In fact, Spain is actually waaaaay down on the list, with basically most of the rest of the European countries ahead of it! I mean, Germany! Switzzerland!...