COMMENT POSTED TO A COLUMN BY JONATHAN FREEDLAND IN THE
GUARDIAN
'£50bn to leave the
EU. What an unforgivable waste of money'
Yes, indeed, it is a terrible waste of money.
Of course, it points out how wrongheaded nations and
politicians can be.
But we are experiencing another, and perhaps worse, example
of terrible waste and stubborn national attitudes, too, one making us all
poorer.
I refer to the American-enforced sanctions against Russia.
They are costing Europe billions, every single year.
And their imposition results from no high motive, just
American determination to keep the controlling hand in Europe and prevent new
economic relationships from forming between Europe and Russia which would in
fact increase everyone's well-being.
Considering the fact that we live in a world under threat of
serious economic calamity, both these behaviors are totally irrational and add
only to our potential economic danger.
