In the short term the US has no choice but to raise the debt ceiling, as cost cuts and tax raises take month or even years to kick in. At the same time, massive cuts in government spending are inevitable. If the US does not learn to keep its national budget in order, the Chinese (who have financed the US debt by buying treasury bonds) and other investors will soon start asking for a higher return, leading to a debt spiral and finally default. Look whats happening to Greece at the moment to know what this could mean for Americans.
[1 point]198 days ago by FewReplyEdited 198 days ago by Few
I partly agree with taz101. The French have a fairly socialist and very centralistic approach to politics. That's why Americans (and Swiss) tend to regard the French political system and its approaches quite sceptical. We are used to more individualistic / market based and federalistic approaches. We tend to see state involvment in any way much more sceptical than the French.
So in general, when France adopts a new policy for dealing with - say - the cost explosion in the health system, I think it's wise to think twice before you adopt such a system in another country.
But nevertheless I can still admire French savoir-vivre, art and culture.
[1 point]2 years ago by FewReplyEdited 2 years ago by Few
Actually in Switzerland right now many new built homes are heated with geothermal energy instead of oil or gas. But guess what: Hydro-extractors need electricity to function. This is a good solution for the heating pollution in Switzerland, because we get 60% of our energy from our dams in the Alps. Nuclear power is a way of doing that for countries that don't have mountains or other geographical opportunities. Same goes for electric cars: they're only good if the electricity used to reduce carbon dioxide is green too.
Of course I prefer wind and solar energy over nuclear. But although these alternative energies are gaining ground fast, they're not fast enough to fill the gap.
[4 points]2 years ago by FewReplyEdited 2 years ago by Few
Cowboy 
Switzerland
Few's Recent Comments See all 97
In the short term the US has no choice but to raise the debt ceiling, as cost cuts and tax raises take month or even years to kick in. At the same time, massive cuts in government spending are inevitable. If the US does not learn to keep its national budget in order, the Chinese (who have financed the US debt by buying treasury bonds) and other investors will soon start asking for a higher return, leading to a debt spiral and finally default. Look whats happening to Greece at the moment to know what this could mean for Americans.
I partly agree with taz101. The French have a fairly socialist and very centralistic approach to politics. That's why Americans (and Swiss) tend to regard the French political system and its approaches quite sceptical. We are used to more individualistic / market based and federalistic approaches. We tend to see state involvment in any way much more sceptical than the French.
So in general, when France adopts a new policy for dealing with - say - the cost explosion in the health system, I think it's wise to think twice before you adopt such a system in another country.
But nevertheless I can still admire French savoir-vivre, art and culture.
Actually in Switzerland right now many new built homes are heated with geothermal energy instead of oil or gas. But guess what: Hydro-extractors need electricity to function. This is a good solution for the heating pollution in Switzerland, because we get 60% of our energy from our dams in the Alps. Nuclear power is a way of doing that for countries that don't have mountains or other geographical opportunities. Same goes for electric cars: they're only good if the electricity used to reduce carbon dioxide is green too.
Of course I prefer wind and solar energy over nuclear. But although these alternative energies are gaining ground fast, they're not fast enough to fill the gap.