The Morning Rant: Minimalist Edition

The feckless, weak, welfare-addicted EU loves to lecture America about our responsibilities, which according to them include the defense of the world, starting in their backyard. We must protect the world's sea lanes, defend against rogue actors, design and build cutting-edge weapons systems, maintain military bases in their countries, provide logistical support, etc. All while they build fancy trains, lovely highways, and provide cradle to grave welfare benefits for their citizens.

They still can't manage to create the standard of living that American Exceptionalism has built, but they sure do have a surfeit of arrogance and smug condescension about everything we do.

Just do the math... it is amazing how much money they have not spent on defense, yet they can't seem to provide a standard of living and, more important by far, the opportunities that America manages while spending more than 3% of GDP on defense! It's almost as if a long time ago, the best and brightest of Europe moved to America!

NATO's Underspending Problem: America's Allies Must Embrace Fair Burden Sharing

For more than a decade, many NATO countries have prioritized welfare expansion over defense procurement, a miscalculation that directly contributed to Europe's current security crisis. Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea should have been a wake-up call; instead, it was met with half-measures and delayed commitments from key allies. Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine shattered any remaining illusions about European security. NATO's collective security is only as strong as each member's willingness to invest in it. The issue is not whether key Allied spending should rise; it must rise, not as a future aspiration, but as a correction for years of strategic neglect.

Suckling on the American teat while they enjoy 30 hour work weeks is great for them, but not so great for the American worker. We have subsidized them ever since World War II, and it is time to force the issue.

If Europe wants to push the Russian bear back to its own borders (wherever those may be), then by all means, build a robust armed force and do it! In fact, I think the United States should offer to sell them whatever arms they need to accomplish this feat. At retail.

What's the list price of an M1 Abrams or an F-16?

But the time of Pax Americana must end. We can not afford to shoulder the burdens of the defense of the world while Europe frolics. And what that means to Europe is the end of their welfare state, because they can't do both.

And it would take a heart of stone not to laugh!

PS. And Canada is among the worst! 1.27% over the last 10 years, and they have the temerity to complain about American tariffs?

[Hat Tip: MTF]

[Crossposted at CutJibNewsletter and X/Twitter] And the Apple and Spotify feeds for CJN's podcast should be working!

posted by CBD at 11:00 AM

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