Europe’s Danube Blues

"French President Nicolas Sarkozy terrified Easterners when he told French automakers that they should use their new ???6 billion state subsidy to keep French factories open and close Czech ones instead."
Sarkozy never asked to close Czech factories. He only asked to the french automakers to use their billion state subsidy to keep french factories open. He is trying to protect his ass. Do you really think Obama could give billion to GM if they used the money to close factories inside the US and open new ones in South America ?

Supporting Eastern Europe broke the back of the Soviet Economy. Western Europe cannot afford to do that- its own economy needs massive assistance.

Germany has always wanted to colonize its neighbors in Europe , twice (in recent history anyway) it failed by war, now it has the opportunity to do it by the back door by crippling its targets financially, letting them become dependent, them down comes the other (jack)boot! It appears the 3rd or (maybe 4th) Reich will prevail. So maybe being protectionist here in the US might, just might, stop us being dragged into yet another war in Europe, because no doubt the French will want us to bail them out....again.

Remember, Hitler was sort of a minor character until the economic stuff really hit the fan. And then...

LIkeitis, I see you are still addicted to the caps. Not necessary, dude.

The big difference is that there appears to be no Hilter in the wings, waiting to capitalize from economic collapse. There are nasty political things (quasi-fascist) going on in northern Italy, but none of the big countries seems poised to have another go at the 1930's, politically. Let's hope it stays that way.