One of the best pieces

One of the best pieces I’ve read in a while is this one by Paul Johnson, a favorite historian of mine, about the European malaise. Johnson tells us that “there is no longer a ‘sick man of Europe.’ The whole of Europe is sick.” He explains that under “constant demands for ‘social protection’ European societies have become a paradise for bureaucrats, trade unionists. . .and those businessmen who prefer to work under government protection.” This has left Europe unable to cope with recession. Thus, just as in the 1930s, the European democracies are too dispirited to confront a growing outside danger, and it is no wonder that they respond to the war on terrorism with little more than spiteful criticism of President Bush.