"They got the metric system. They wouldn't know what the fuck a Quarter Pounder is."

Here's a money quote from one in a series of essays on the decline of "Old Europe" from Cato Unbound.

"The entire European project has become defensive in nature: its key purpose is to serve as a buffer against the apparent American menace. Meanwhile, nuclear weapons proliferate, civil wars smolder in Africa, AIDS marches through Asia… and millions of Europeans are more concerned about the spread of McDonald's and Coca Cola." - Timothy B. Smith in his "Reply to Dalrymple"

Perhaps it's a hasty generalization, but it made me chuckle.

In case you don't know [I didn't], Cato Unbound is a self-described "state-of-the-art virtual trading floor in the intellectual marketplace" where people smarter than me, er...umm...I, essay on various topics and welcome discussion from all over the interweb and from the good ol' paper and inkers. In their own words:

"Cato Unbound readers are encouraged to take up our themes, and enter into the conversation on their own websites, blogs, and even in good old-fashioned bound publications. “Trackbacks” will be enabled. Cato Unbound will scour the web for the best commentary on our monthly topic, and, with permission, publish it alongside our invited contributors."

This month's Unbound posits whether or not "Old" Europe's "progressive" social and economic policies, amidst immigration and changing demography, have sent the continent adrift on a slow boat to Craptopia. This should especially be interesting in light of the somewhat recent/ongoing debate on U.S. Social Security reform.

I have no comments at this time: I'm just relaying the information. If you happen to read this and feel compelled to comment, I - like Cato Unbound - encourage you to do so on your forum of choice [i.e. not here].

I promise - some DIY beer and rock'n'roll blogging is coming soon, but that's currently in the work-in-progress stage.