Summary
Stephen Moore, a senior economic adviser to US president-elect Donald Trump, urged the UK to adopt the US “free enterprise” model over Europe’s “more socialist” system, suggesting it would enhance the Trump administration’s “willingness” to pursue a UK-US trade deal.
Moore also defended US agricultural practices and Trump’s proposed 10% blanket import tariff, noting possible exemptions for allies like the UK.
UK leaders, including Keir Starmer, face pressure to balance trade ties with both the EU and US, with figures like Peter Mandelson advocating dual trade agreements amid Brexit challenges.
Capitalism has served me well and, I think if you have a particularly strong work ethic, then the American model can serve you well, up to a certain extent.
BUT, I am not a sycophant. I have seen the dark underbelly of the American model, how certain vampires at the top of companies will maximize profits at the expense of literally everything else - contractually locking in customers and then raising rates on them to the point where they can barely afford it (they’d call that “equilibrium “). Firing good long-time employees because new fresh blood is cheaper, damned if it makes everyone else’s life harder, including that person who gave their life to the company. Predating on the meek, desperate, or just those who don’t think like them, in spite of what it may do to the relationship long term (fuck any sort of commitment or customer relationship at all because it can’t accurately be monetized).
These people chase money above all else. They’re loot dragons. The only relationships they have are those that either think like them or those they can manipulate and control.
So no, don’t chase the American model, but perhaps borrow from some of its most useful tenets. There are good motivated people in the flesh, but the structure is rotten at its core.
“C’mon, guys, be fascist like us!”
The US seems perfectly happy with socialism … for its corporate sector
Privatised profits, socialised losses.
Americans talking about socialism is like teenagers talking about sex
Zero clue
They’ll choose Trumpism. Starmer inherited the legacy of the Brexit referendum, and if he’s seen as veering towards the European approach, the oligarch-owned press will have his guts for garters and Nigel Farage in No. 10. As such, he’ll have no choice but to make a speech acknowledging this and rejecting the European approach in principle.
Mob of bullies. These guys came into power last time telling people, “we won’t tell you how to live, and you won’t tell us how to live.” Look at em now. LOL
Pick socialism, dont fall for it. Dont become corporate property. Dont let them own the world.
Socialism isn’t even on offer these days. What Republicans consider socialist stretches all the way from communism to conservatism.
TIL I live in socialist EU.
The Union shall establish an internal market. It shall work for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive social market economy, aiming at full employment and social progress, and a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment. It shall promote scientific and technological advance.
Emphasis mine. In a nutshell a social market economy is a Realpolitik compromise between capitalism and market socialism, where private ownership of the means of production is tolerated but said ownership doesn’t entail complete power over it, through e.g. co-determination laws.
To make this more concrete, and maybe blow some Yank’s mind: Volkswagen’s employees elect 50% - 1 seats on the board. Together with shares held by Lower Saxony (usually run by a socdem government) they run the place, no matter how many shares the Porsche/Piëch clan and the Saudis have. It’s why VW itself worked towards unionising its own plant in Chattanooga, to the bewilderment of many. Sadly can’t unionise the plants in China the CCP hates it when workers have a say.
Must be a different EU
TIL I’m emigrating to socialist EU.
No, the UK isn’t in the EU. Unless I’m misremembering your posts
Lucky you
Remember how great Brexit was, they say.
Yes UK is an economic powerhouse now thanks Brexit
Britannia rules the waves.
I strongly recommend the UK focus on the US as a trading partner. It is obviously more sensible to ship your imports and exports to and from a market some 5000 km away, than to the market just 50 km away. Clearly your population will love fruits being either 2 weeks old at least or flown in. That fits the english taste best anyways.
Not to forget going with an ally as stable and consistent as Trump and his pack. I hope Britains like extortion.
Britons*
Slightly drunk, but I appreciate it 💖
Isn’t that what made them big back in the day?
*this time the receiving end
Oh boy, he’s going after the NHS like he tried a couple of years ago. Brits need to fight this and don’t fall for our predatory private healthcare system that prioritizes money over human lives.
“US economic model.”
It’s capitalism. Unfettered capitalism.
Oh no… he’s off to try and sell bleach washed chicken again to the brits.
So either embrace corporatism or be branded a commie he means?
I’ll take the branding.
As an EU-citizen, I feel like this is a UK decision and not a US decision.
You remember what the brits chose the last time they had the opportunity to do so?
I was going to say: “no way they’d be that stupid again”, but then again the US just elected Trump for a second time so who knows
We may not like the result, but it proofed a point for the EU and the UK: The EU is a voluntary federation unlike the US and direct democracy is a thing in the UK sometimes (still largely symbolic though).
I’m not commenting if I liked it or not. I don’t have a horse in that race, then or now. That it was a disastrous chain of events with dire consequences, that is undeniable.
