Let's Be More Like Europe!

Everyone knows that if you want to meet the true connoisseurs of culture, or the real paragons of progressivism you simply have to travel to Europe. Anything we can do the Europeans can do better-- and look better while doing it, right? Well, it's true if you believe everything you hear, anyway. I can't even begin to count the number of times I've heard someone extolling the virtues of the Europeans-- how they dress better, how they are more tolerant, how they offer free health care, how they care more about the environment, etc. I often hear people-- both regular every day people, and many of the "people who matter" (you know the type)-- claiming that Americans should strive to be more like Europeans, especially when it comes to government. It turns out however, that the current en vogue trendiness of European socialism may be losing some of its popularity-- in Europe, at least.

Elections have been taking place across the European Union, and the results may surprise you. It seems that many member countries of the EU are moving slowly but surely to the right. According to suggestions by exit polls, the 736-seat EU Parliament will consist of 263-273 conservatives (which comes out to about roughly 36-37% of the total seats), and 155-165 "center left" members (for a total of about 21-22%). In France, 28.3% of the vote went to conservatives, followed by 17.5% for the Socialist Party. Right leaning parties also won in Italy and Belgium, while in Spain and Britain, the conservatives are either tied with or ahead of their opposition. In Austria, the "rightist" Freedom Party was the winner.

So there you have it, folks: Europe has spoken. Throw away your old ratty socialist garb and don the new and improved gowns of conservatism.

(And for the record, I'm honestly not so naive as to think that this heralds the death of socialism... I just like seeing the "but people really do want socialism" bubble burst time and again!)