Fareed Zakaria: 'The American Dream Is Better In Europe'
By Noel Sheppard | November 06, 2011 | 12:11
The European Union might completely fall apart any day now as the countries in that region implode under their massive debt.
Despite this, CNN's Fareed Zakaria offered another America-hating love letter to the struggling continent Sunday actually claiming, "The American dream seems to be thriving in Europe not at home" (video follows with transcript and commentary):
FAREED ZAKARIA: I've been thinking about Occupy Wall Street, which is now occupying a number of other cities in America, and wondering what is it really about? The protesters don't like bank bailouts; they feel the 99% have been hard-done by and they're protesting what they see as inequality. But America has always had more inequality than many countries.
I think the underlying their sense of frustration is despair over a very un-American state of affairs: A loss of social mobility. Americans have so far put up with inequality because they felt they could change their status. They didn't mind others being rich, as long as they had a path to move up as well. The American Dream is all about social mobility in a sense - the idea that anyone can make it.
TIME magazine's Rana Foroohar has a great cover story this week that highlights that social mobility in American is declining. She points out that if you were born in 1970 in the bottom one-fifth of our socioeconomic spectrum, you have only a 17% chance of making it into the upper two-fifths. In other words, moving from the bottom to the top. The data now show that it is much easier to climb up the ladder in many parts of Europe than in the United States. Rana Foroohar points out that while nearly half of American men with fathers in the bottom fifth of the earning curve remain there, don't move up, only a quarter of Danes and Swedes and only 30% of Britons do. In other words, the Europeans do much better. The American dream seems to be thriving in Europe not at home.
Really?
Then why is America ranked second in international median income behind only Luxembourg?
Why is America ranked 29th in cost of living with it being far more expensive to survive in virtually every European country than it is here?
And why is America ranked fourth in the United Nations Human Development Index which incorporates things like health, education, social mobility, and standard of living? In Europe, only Norway and the Netherlands rank higher.
Something else the Occupy Wall Street-loving Zakaria ignores is that income inequality in America isn't anywhere near as bad as it is in three of the fastest growing economies on the planet: Brazil, China, and India.
As NewsBusters reported last month, the average person in the bottom five percent of the income scale in America is still richer than 68 percent of the world’s inhabitants.
But none of that matters to Zakaria, for he is just another America-hating media member that for some reason has been given his own nationally televised program to spout his pro-everybody but us nonsense once a week.
Imagine having the gall to brag about Europe as the EU teeters on a total implosion with countries like Greece, Italy, and Portugal on the verge of insolvency.
It's this kind of fact-bereft reporting that is fueling the anarchy spreading our nation.
When it really turns violent and people end up killed, I hope folks like Zakaria will feel some sense of responsibility and think twice in the future about aiding and abetting populist movements against their own country.
Or, if they really hate it here so much and there's so much more opportunity in Europe, why don't they move?
Nobody's stopping them.
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Comments
In order to back up...
Submitted by zenman1661 on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:23pm.
such a provocative statement about a complex subject like Zakaria did, you need much more then one bit of a result, cherry picked from one study.
On that note, how about if
Submitted by Bhaal on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:52pm.
On that note, how about if Farweed asked the immigrant muslim populations how they feel about social mobility? They more than any other group would be the best indicator of social mobility. My money would be on the muslims not sharing the same point of view Farweed is promoting.
It's not the cherry picking...
Submitted by loxmyth on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 8:06pm.
...so much, as it is the old axiom...Numbers never, ever, lie, but liers use numbers. You can make almost any statistic sound how you want it to if you word it right. I was in the check out line at the store, talking to a guy behind me. Turns out this guy was twice as rich as me. Impressive? I had $5. He had $10. What I said was true, he did have twice as much, but neither of us were doing so well. It's all in how you present it.
Not quite MSDNC, but getting there
Submitted by Tomorama on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:25pm.
I will pledge the first 50 dollars to pay for this Simian to go to Europe - ONE way ticket.
CNN used to at least fake being down the middle, can anyone name ONE Conservative on this network?
CNN Conservative
Submitted by libBuster on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:27pm.
CNN has "Republican stratagest " David Gergen, who is from the David Brooks wing of conservativism
USA! USA! USA!
Submitted by SickofLibs on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:28pm.
I don't care about those other statistics, America is still the NUMBER ONE haven for foreign media moonbats.
Lord knows we have an inexhaustible supply of homegrown moonbats, but we still can't seem to import enough foreigners for some weird reason.
Democrats remind me of
Submitted by jkwtrading on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:29pm.
Democrats remind me of lemmings. they all go over the cliff and all die yet, never realize they are headed to death. they truly are the most amazing bunch of idiots on the face of the earth.
Does CNN go out of it's way to be offensive....?
Submitted by NeoKong on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:44pm.
Just what the viewers like.
Some high paid, foreign born, condescending liberal Tokyo Rose type telling us how much America sucks.
What is worse is that he seems to think nobody can see what is happening in Europe unless it is shown to us by him.
Nothing but propaganda.
Hey Fareed, what's stopping you from loading up your camel...
Submitted by Dave. on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:51pm.
...and moving there?
-Dave
Wow. A foreigner using
Submitted by ant on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 12:57pm.
Wow. A foreigner using another foreigner with an Indian Muslim surname to bash America, color me surprised. I notice no reference to how much an incompetent with an African Muslim surname making his own rules from the White House might have to do with a lack of upward mobility.
Like everyone else, he has no idea what these leaches want...
Submitted by krendler on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:12pm.
...other than Free Money. So given this violent, incoherent Rorschach test of a mob, he projects his own, negative-a$$ narrative about Bad America.
CNN: As always, right down the middle. Uh huh, sure.
By the way, this whole Tea Party / OWS thing...
Submitted by krendler on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:17pm.
...makes for a great campaign ad against the Dems.
Contrast the message (lack of, in the case of OWS) and images/video between the two groups. Throw in snippets of Obama, Pelosi, Moore supporting the OWS movement for good measure (along with clips of Obama's never-ending class warfare rhetoric). Trashed businesses and parks. Incoherent interviews. Anti-Semitic signs and interviews. Clashes with police and each other.
Run it non-stop through election day.
RNC 2012
Submitted by djwolf12 on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:36pm.
I think that the Republicans should run a comedy piece film at their convention next summer. It should consist of media blowhards promoting this socialist garbage, praise of President Ooccupier, and racism. The background music should be the theme song to The Benny Hill show.
Attention Europe-loving liberal snobs!
Submitted by Phryj1 on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:37pm.
If you think Europe is SOOO much better then America, then f*cking MOVE THERE!
It's funny, because you wouldn't know that there are actually a lot of Europeans who really respect and admire the United States, especially folks from the former Soviet Bloc. Elitist left-wing SNOTS like Fareed here would have you believe otherwise.
If there's one thing that makes me want to punch a liberal right in the face, it's telling me Europe is better than we are. The U.S.A. didn't get where it is by being like European countries, we did it by getting the hell out of there and doing things our own way.
Screw Euro-socialism.
Progressives seem to be completely averse to facts and logic. Apparently, reality has a conservative bias.
The only social inequality in
Submitted by inquiringmind on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:39pm.
The only social inequality in this country is defined by the willingness to get out of bed in the morning and make a better life for yourself. Nothing is stopping the individual willing to do that one simple thing.
Just go already!
Submitted by jon_torlin on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 1:52pm.
Hey there's a branch of CNN over there in Europe, why doesn't he put in for a transfer there?
Answer: He's part of the Muslim Movement to transform America. He does advise Soetoro after all.
-Jon
So, take your sorry ass to
Submitted by jessieH on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 2:06pm.
So, take your sorry ass to Europe, Fareed! We won't keep you here, if you don't want to stay.
First we need to define "The
Submitted by Dan The Man 2 on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 3:03pm.
First we need to define "The American Dream" and it aint the OWS dream. America was built by self reliant people who wanted a better future. They knew they were doing it themselves and there would be no government to help them.
I believe the American Dream has been so filtered through the leftists prism that most of the public couldn't tell you what it is. I myself have to really think about what it is.
Just like everybody else
Submitted by killa37 on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 3:09pm.
Just like everybody else here, I'm beyond sick and tired of these foreigners living here in our country, making a damn good living (hey, Fockhead, Basher, and Long Walk/Short Piers.............how's your salary?? Wanna donate to Da Killa??? I"m WAY DOWN the 99% ladder!!!), and shooting off their big, ignorant mouths about the way things OUGHT to be here in the USA, in their own ignorant and twisted opinions!!!
You like Europe so much, Fockead??? Theres MILLIONS of mooooooooooooooooooooooooooooslems over there, so pack your crap and MOVE THERE!!! And...........why don't you want to move back to India anyway??? And the Basher can go back to Turkey - his Boy Barry just gave the Turkish head a big mooooooooooooooooooooslem hug at the G20 summit. And Short Piers...........well, you're a pathetic pommie on your best day - I'm sure you can find some work back home - giving weather reports...........just try to get them right, OK???
Bunch of insolent posers...............
Absolutely!! [/sarc]
Submitted by wizardjr on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 3:07pm.
I mean Greece, Italy, and Spain are such outstanding examples of 'poor boy works hard and gets rich'. It happens all the time there. It's the national spirit of individuals striving for the top. [ "what? massive welfare states? massive unpayble debts? that's not the American Dream." ]
Of course he meant to say Euroweenies Dream For America (i.e., another failed welfare state).
anybody
Submitted by jimtrees on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 3:34pm.
This guy is rich and he talks about rich people like they are some kind of freaks. Working for the American dream is no longer a choice. The democrats will give you a house if you look poor. So, everybody should take the easy way out. Or this guy could take his lazy a$$ back to where he came from, and stop screwing with heads of American youth.
Fred Zachary is correct...
Submitted by bigdaddy on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 4:07pm.
...If "The American Dream" is to get on cradle to grave welfare / unemployment / healtcare entitlements. Oh, and then retire at 51 on the dole...
go home
Submitted by giatn on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 6:22pm.
Why are we subjected to these pronouncements from people who are NOT American?
I just hope he takes Christiane Amanpour with him when he returns to his native India
where I assume he would prefer it.
Europe would be thrilled
Submitted by octavioj on Sun, 11/06/2011 - 7:26pm.
I think Europe would be thrilled to have Dr. Zakaria in their midst. I would be willing to chip in some cash for the one way ticket. Who is in?
ANOTHER 2 Cents From The Amica Hating Muslim Channel
Submitted by Avitar on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 4:29am.
How do we send him back to India and would that be an act of war? I'm in for the Zalaroa export fund for ten dollars if we send his wife and kids too.
It is a wonder why many of these Liberal alleged news folks-
Submitted by JIMMY1660 on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 9:09am.
just do not leave for their"homeland". America is such a S H I T H O L E-
or maybe America will protect them from harm, no matter what is they say??
or maybe those fine European Countries can not protect them selves.they use the Good Old USA.
do any of them have Army's?
Loser go back to where ever.
Fareed the Fareek
Submitted by donaldduck on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:08am.
Fareek Suckahairyone is such a whacky smackoff. To try to respond to his ranting any other way would be giving credibility to one with no credibility. He really needs to go back to his fatherland and tell them how great their country is and just leave us alone.
What's with all the foreign commentators.......
Submitted by bikeromany on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 8:23pm.
What's with all the liberal foreign commentators telling us what's wrong with America, or what's so great about Europe, or how friendly and peaceful are the Muslims celebrating in the streets whenever Americans die. We've got this joker Fareed Zakaria from India, Christine Amanpour from Iran or England, depending on which biographer you believe, and the smiling liberal from England who took over for Larry King, Piers Morgan.
And these foreigners are given prime time slots to "instruct" Americans on how we should change. Don't we have enough lobotomized American Liberals (Joy Behar, Chris Matthews, Shultz, etc) to pollute the airways, without adding smug imports, who left the places they're touting as superior, in order to suffer our substandard American lifestyles?
If Europe is so much better, Fareed, please feel free to go there. I'd even contribute to your one-way ticket.
Let's play devil's advocate
Submitted by Bettendor on Mon, 11/07/2011 - 11:34pm.
Let's play devil's advocate here and say Zakaria is right about the American dream being more realistic in Europe than here.
Here may be the reason why: In much of Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, the bottom is so much lower than the bottom in the U.S., so if they move up, they're getting closer to a level that has long been enjoyed in the United States. In addition, several European countries such as Poland and other Eastern countries have been opening their economies rather than adding more restrictions that we're seeing here in the U.S.
However, as has been noted already here, Europe still is not the paradise that Zakaria presents, despite my enjoyment during my last visit there. Greece, Italy and Portugal are in danger of insolvency, and unemployment is ridiculous in different parts of the continent (21 percent out of work in Spain, the last time I checked). I'll take the American way, thank you very much.
Check out the Disciple Beacon.
Greece Bailout
Submitted by billstanley on Tue, 11/08/2011 - 10:13am.
"The protesters don’t like bank bailouts ..." -- That is just what happened in Greece. They only have to pay bondholders 50% of what they borrowed. www.newsandopinions.net