Riots are caused by Economic Failure
Pat Buchanan argues that the riots in France are the beginning of the end for Western Civilization. He reflects a common theme, that Muslim immigrants in France were never assimilated:
That the cultural differences of the Muslim immigrant society in France is the source of the problem seems to be cited by everyone these days. Buchanan, however, also points out the economic deficit in France:
Could it be that the rioting in France has little to do with religion and culture and everything to do with economics. After all, America has had its fair share of segregated ethnic groups; from the competing Italian and Irish ghettos in New York, to Eastern Europeans to the Chinese... Our culture abounds with stories and legends of ethnic divisions. However, these areas and groups cease to become associated with their past ethnic flavor as the children and grand children of immigrants move on to acheive the American Dream. Who knew that it was culturally taboo 100 years ago in Minneapolis for a Swede to marry a Norwegian.
In a country that posts 3%+ GDP year in and year out, making it for yourself is possible. Today's unemployment rate for hispanics its 5%. Everyone gets along when everyone is getting rich.
In a country like France where GDP grows at 1% (less than the government deficit) and unemployment reaches over 20% for French Africans, rioting is inevitable.
The problem with France is not its failure assimilate, it's the failure of the welfare state.
UPDATE: This Wall Street Journal opinion piece does a better job explaining my point....
The rioters are of Arab and African descent, and Muslim. While almost all are French citizens, they are not part of the French people. For never have they been assimilated into French culture or society. And some wish to remain who and what they are. They live in France but are not French.
That the cultural differences of the Muslim immigrant society in France is the source of the problem seems to be cited by everyone these days. Buchanan, however, also points out the economic deficit in France:
Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy, a candidate to succeed President Chirac, is said to have infuriated and inflamed the rioters. Before the rampage began, he promised “war without mercy” on crime in the teeming suburbs where unemployment runs at 20% and income is 40% below the national average.
Could it be that the rioting in France has little to do with religion and culture and everything to do with economics. After all, America has had its fair share of segregated ethnic groups; from the competing Italian and Irish ghettos in New York, to Eastern Europeans to the Chinese... Our culture abounds with stories and legends of ethnic divisions. However, these areas and groups cease to become associated with their past ethnic flavor as the children and grand children of immigrants move on to acheive the American Dream. Who knew that it was culturally taboo 100 years ago in Minneapolis for a Swede to marry a Norwegian.
In a country that posts 3%+ GDP year in and year out, making it for yourself is possible. Today's unemployment rate for hispanics its 5%. Everyone gets along when everyone is getting rich.
In a country like France where GDP grows at 1% (less than the government deficit) and unemployment reaches over 20% for French Africans, rioting is inevitable.
The problem with France is not its failure assimilate, it's the failure of the welfare state.
UPDATE: This Wall Street Journal opinion piece does a better job explaining my point....
posted by Sloanasaurus | 11/07/2005 08:45:00 PM
Your argument is as good as mine. However, you could say that the will to assimilate stems from the opportunities one has to make a decent living. Why assimilate if you get nothing from it.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I think the multiculturalism is a major problem too. Both multriculturalism and the welfare state spring from the egalitarian fantasy of Leftist ideology.
Or perhaps Islam cannot assimilate with the west.
Post a Comment