As to the comparison between the E.U. and U.S. economies, the numbers are close, but here is a site that compares the US & EU in the same time frame: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_European_Union
If you go down to the bottom of this site you will see a chart "Comparison with Regional Blocks" It lists several "Regional Blocks" including the EU. The EU is shown as having a GDP of 12,025,415 (in millions) . Down below are some "Reference Nations" including the US which is shown as having a GDP of 12,980,000 (in millions). The EU is shown with a population of 496,198,605, and the US with a population of 296,900,571. All these numbers have gone up by now, but the Wikipedia article seems to be interested in putting all these datum in the same time frame.
As to China surpassing the US as the greatest national economy, Mark Steyn has written a book (America Alone) that leans heavily upon demographics in the Huntington tradition. He writes on page 5 "will China be the hyperpower of the twenty-first century? Answer: no. Its population will get old before it's got rich." I've read other things to this same effect. Recall that at one time "experts" were predicting that the Oil Sheiks were buying up America. Later it was the Japanese. Now it is the Chinese. None of these trends leading to these predictions were sustainable.
The Definition of "Work" from the The OXFORD Dictionary OF ENGLISH noun [MASS NOUN]1 activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a result: he was tired after a day's work in the fields.work as a means of earning income; employment: I'm still looking for work.
the place where one is employed: I was returning home from work on a packed subway.
the period of time one spends in paid employment: he was going to the theatre after work.
Lawrence At 10:20 AM 2/26/2007, you wrote:
From: Lawrence HelmI don't believe that Europeans whose emphases are upon entitlements are going to be able to match America economicallyHow does the USA compare with the European Union? The EU has 600 million people. Any numbers on economic activity?I believe in the American work ethic.Do you believe in the Chinese work ethic? They outwork anyone. What will you say when China becomes #1?-- as long as the American work ethic is believed in by most of us.Which "us" do you mean? The people in the USA who actually work? Or the people in the USA who live on the work of others?But what work ethic? The Republican Party's mantra for the last 30 years has been to be rich. Not work. Be rich. They promote lotteries (be rich without working), eliminating the inheritance tax (be rich without working), and stock market wealth (be rich without working.) W. Bush's own life is an example of Republican values.The actual workers have been ground down as far as possible. No universal health care, regressive taxes, and so on.yrs, andreas www.andreas.com ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
