Economist Peter Morici writes for RealClearWorld about the unwillingness of the voters of Europe and the U.S. to pay sufficient taxes to both support their welfare regimes and build up their defenses to deter Russian and Chinese adventurism. He is very pessimistic about our futures, as a result.
Putin knows if he unwinds his plans slowly and feigns cooperation he can dupe Obama and Germany's Angela Merkel and co-opt their political constituencies. The latter have already rationalized Russia's annexation of Crimea and will do the same if he slices off more of Ukraine.Si vis pacem, para bellum. Let him who desires peace prepare for war - Roman writer Vegetius.
Ordinary Europeans and Americans must be willing to pay higher taxes or accept fewer social benefits to secure Europe from Russian aggression. That's the rub. Voters in Western nations simply won't accept that they cannot have effective foreign policies and be secure without strong, growing economies to pay for militaries to deter aggression and to persuade the developing world to their democratic way of thinking.
What they are unwilling to recognize is that their welfare states and consequent slow growth will ultimately undermine their security and survival.
