European Political Elite React to Deteriorating Fiscal Outlook with Decisive Moves to…Kill the Messenger

by Dan Mitchell | Jul 6, 2011 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending

I’m not a big fan of the rating agencies. I’ve warned in TV interviews that they generally wait too long before downgrading profligate governments. So when the rating agencies finally catch up to everyone else and lower their outlook for failing welfare states such as...

Emperor Rompuy Complains that “Bond Vigilantes” Don’t Appreciate Euro Clothes

by CF&P | Jan 15, 2011 | Big Government, Blogs, Welfare and Entitlements

I’ve already poked fun at Herman Van Rompuy, the nondescript über-bureaucrat who has risen to the non-elected post of European Council President. I’ve mocked Rompuy’s attempts to compete with other European politicians, and I encourage everyone to have a good laugh at...

The European Union’s War on Christmas (and War on Taxpayers)

by Dan Mitchell | Dec 25, 2010 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Waste

The contest between the United States and Europe for dumb public policy is always hard to judge. The Europeans tend to make more policy mistakes, though Obama certainly is giving them some stiff competition. America, by contrast, is prone to really inane bouts of...

The World’s Biggest Political Clown?

by Dan Mitchell | Sep 7, 2010 | Big Government, Blogs, Government Spending, Government Waste

I’m working on a serious blog post about European fiscal developments, but my research on that issue has alerted me to a couple of stories about President Jose Manuel Barroso that cry out for immediate mockery and abuse. Mr. Barroso, for those that don’t follow the...