[Guardian Unlimited, U.K.]
Elsevier, The
Netherlands
No More 'Care Packages'
for Obama
"Obama
gives the impression that the rest of the world is responsible for helping end
the American economic crisis. … The stimulus measures that (outside The
Netherlands) have already been announced must first have time to take effect.
Let us just wait and see how those work out before more is done."
By Paul de Hen
Translated By Meta Mertens
March 24, 2009
The Netherlands - Elsevier - Original Article
(Dutch)
European
governments are not prepared to agree to additional economic stimulus measures
like those favored by Obama. They are right. Let’s first wait and see how
earlier measures turn out.
What does President
of the United States Barack Obama mean with the comments he has made in regard
to the summit of the so-called G-20, the world’s most important industrial
countries, published
today in among other newspapers, de Volkskrant?
TOO SIMPLE
He let it be
known that the U.S. wants to lead, and that the rest of the world should "join
us with a sense of urgency" to end the economic crisis by taking
complementary measures. At a minimum, that gives the impression that the rest
of the world is responsible for helping him end the American economic crisis.
Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US
That's a bit of
an oversimplification. Of course, it is in no one’s interest for the United
States lingers in crisis. After the European Union, the U.S. is the most
important trading bloc in the world.
But while the
E.U. has a nearly flat balance of trade, Americans for years have lived beyond
their means, largely financed by trade deficits - for the most part with East
Asian export champions like China.
NO, NO MORE
In addition to an
international economic recovery, a more balanced global trade situation is
essential for the future - particularly in the relationship between the United
States and East Asia. In addition to solving the acute worldwide recession,
this, too, must be attended to.
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
Corriere della Sera, Italy:
'Lost Smiles' as Obama Prepares for Europe
Financial Times Deutschland, Germany:
China and U.S.: Europe Should Fear G2, Not G20
Le Figaro, France:
Obama and Sarkozy: Clashing Views That Need Not Be Fatal
Elsevier, The Netherlands:
No More 'Care Packages' for Obama
Guardian Unlimited, U.K.:
Britain Clears Decks for 'Barack Obama Show'
The Times, U.K.:
Blaming 'Anglo-Saxons,' Sarkozy
Threatens to Walk Out of G-20
The text of
Obama's comments could also be interpreted as a call, for example, to the
member states of the European Union to increase their own economic stimuli.
That, by the way, is not explicitly stated in his comments. Obama only mentions
that the already-adopted stimulus should be "sustained" until "demand is restored.”
That makes sense,
because European governments haven’t been prepared to spend more - and in this
they are largely correct. The stimulus measures that (outside The Netherlands)
have already been announced must first have time to take effect.
Let us just wait
and see how those work out before more is done.
CLICK HERE FOR DUTCH VERSION
[Posted
by WORLDMEETS.US March 30, 5:28pm]
