The WSJ: America is Europe!

And the march towards complete Glenn Beckian wingnuttery at the WSJ continues.

I'm often asked if I think America is trending toward becoming a European-style social democracy. My answer is: "No, because we already are a European-style social democracy." From the progressivity of our tax code, to the percentage of GDP devoted to government, to the extent of the regulatory burden on business, most of Europe's got nothing on us. 

In 1938—the year my organization, the American Enterprise Institute, was founded—total government spending at all levels was about 15% of GDP. By 2010 it was 36%. The political right can crow all it wants about how America is a "conservative country," unlike, say, Spain—a country governed by the Spanish Socialist Workers Party for most of the past 30 years. But at 36%, U.S. government spending relative to GDP is very close to Spain's. And our debt-to-GDP ratio is 103%; Spain's is 68%. 

 Love that pre-WWII/Cold War government spending figure.

 But, just a few questions for Arthur Brooks:

• In how many countries does Spain currently have active military personnel? 
• How many aircraft carriers does Spain currently operate?
• How many wars has Spain fought in over the past 40 years? 
• What are the average medical costs in Spain (per capita)?

Thanks Arthur!