The Europeans Are Still Too Gassy

The EU, that great supporter of the Kyoto Agreement, is having trouble meeting its own goals for reducing the production of greenhouse gasses. It turns out that the production of the gasses has actually been rising across the EU in the last year and fully 2/3s of the EU member nations failed to meet their targets.

So what's the EU answer to meeting the goals of Kyoto? Is it any surprise that they would be promoting more regulation?

Look at the country that is supposedly the "worst" offender of the "burden-sharing" agreement: Ireland.

Ireland has had one of the highest economic growth rates in Europe and the EU bloc for several years now. What is Ireland doing that is giving them such a boost?

Ireland has had lower taxes than most of Europe, a more corporate friendly environment, and, as this article shows, a willingness to skirt EU mandates-from-on-high when they are opposed to the good of the Irish people.

The EU wants to raise taxes in Ireland, impose more labor-friendly regulations and is going to be looking to impose Kyoto regardless of the economic consequences of the action.

In other words, they want Ireland to be more like Germany so that Germany can be more like Ireland.

And what exactly is the Germany the EU wants to export like?

It has reduced greenhouse gas emissions, it has one of the highest tax burdens in the world, no entrepreneurial spirit, and an outlandish unemployment rate. Is it any wonder that Ireland has been resisting the EU?

It would almost be fun to watch the EU crush the spirit of Irish independence if it wasn't going to be such an economic catastrophe for so many people.