Well, the comments about “group evolutionary strategies” led me to think a little. I don’t think this is a new idea, but what are the effects, if it’s a valid hypothesis, on welfare states?
In other words, welfare states do their best(?) in countries like Sweden, it seems, where the population is nearly ethnically homogenous. They don’t do well in Brazil or the USA, where it isn’t. One ethnic group (in the US, European-descended whites) don’t want to “spend their money on blacks” for example. For those who would bring up Switzerland as a multi-ethnic welfare state, I don’t think their welfare system is as extensive as Sweden or even neighboring Germany’s. (correct me if I’m wrong)
Again, I don’t think this is new, but it is one social hypothesis that we can actually see tested, I think. Europe is now importing huge numbers of legal and illegal immigrants from South Asia, the MidEast, and Africa. Many of these immigrants are on welfare. Now, even politicians like Schroeder are talking about reducing welfare. Why now? Is the economy THAT much worse than the malaise of the ’70’s? or ’30’s?
I wonder if it’s because native German, French or Dutch citizens don’t want their huge tax bills going to the “other.”
Just some musings. Discuss amongst yourselves.
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