Europe’s Big Freedom Fail

Mr. Caryl, with all due respect, I think your homework was not very well done on the point below: "Just take Hungary. Two years ago, Prime Minister Viktor Orban publicly declared that he wanted to transform his country into an »illiberal state" The Prime Minister referred to economic efficiency, by no means did he mean to praise Turkey’s (or Russia’s) practices in human / civil rights. It cannot be denied that liberal economic policies by definition lead to massive wealth migration from bottom/ middle to the very top, of which your country is a perfect example. The average monthly salary in Russia between 1990 - 1994 was about $90; when Mr. Orban had his "illiberal" speech, is was well over $1,500 a month. Turkey's economic performance during the last decade and a half has been similarly impressive. China (hardly a liberal democracy) has pulled 600 million people of poverty during the last 3 decades according to the World Bank, the US managed to add tens of Millions to the same American population segment. While we are at it, let me make a mention of a country with one of the world's most reputed democratic foundations that is clearly not a liberal democracy: Switzerland. I would not suggest you to lecture the Swiss about their non-compliance with your standard of so called "liberal democracy". However, I would love to see a well thought-out analysis from you about the most dramatic wealth migration mankind has ever seen in mere 3 decades, which actually took place in the United States. Please explain the role of liberal democracy in it. Can you recall the 100% tax F. D. Roosevelt proposed on income over $25,000? Can you see how illiberal he was? No wonder, that taxation regime was abandoned. The liberal and free media of your country would surely make mincemeat out of FRD today, rightly so, since he was totally illiberal. If you wish to have an honest assessment of failures / successes of the liberal democracy, you will hardly be able to escape the conclusion that liberal democracy per se is extremely beneficial in economic terms to the top 0.5% and very destructive to the bottom 50- 60%. Guess what happens when Monsanto and the farmers compete on a so called “level playing field” (great liberal slogan !! )? Who will win? Of course not the farmers, that is why liberal democracy is such a sweet deal to Monsanto and the likes and that is why everyone who dares to be non-liberal or illiberal must be attacked and destroyed as soon as possible … we understand it … and obviously you know it.

Prototype liberal leftist agenda. I don't see a solution, he's going to get a stroke, the world is different than he thinks. "The more fundamental problem is that the EU has never gone to the trouble of creating mechanisms for enforcing democratic standards — even in those bygone days when it looked secure and stable." Tavares tried with us and failed. They stopped developing the system as many EU countries would fail similarly. Stay out of other people's business.

Another unsuccessful attempt to undermine Hungary's soverignity by spreading distorted, false statements. Orban never said he was in awe of illiberal decmoracies. It is a fact that Russia and Turkey economic performance is far better than some EU contries. Hungary will do what is right for its citizens and not what the US dictates!

Most Hungarians hate the US more than Russia. Having read the article, I completely agree.