Synopsis: Watch out! The floodgates for Middle Eastern migration to Europe may have possibly just been opened up by the instability and chaotic nature caused by the Arab revolutionary spirit being unleashed in multiple Mediterranean countries! Say what? What do revolutions in the Middle East have to do with immigration policy in Europe? Just everything, my friends! In this episode, the Plaid Avenger explains the repercussions of the Arab revolutions on the already fractured and frayed immigration policies of the EU, and how this sudden inflow of folks to Europe is causing a serious re-evaluation of how European nations will be running their affairs in the near future. Is the era of multiculturalism dead? Only the Avenger knows!
Sufferin Swedish succotash! European government after European government has been shifting to center-right conservative leadership, and the Swedes are the latest to go! Most stories coming out of Europe high-lite the social components of this conservative swing?like anti-immigration (possible anti-Islamic) attitudes that are prevailing. The Avenger wants you to consider the more important economic aspects of this swing, which will have much more lasting implications. Bottom line: The economic shift to center-right across Europe?and now even in socialist Sweden? is indicative of a major move across all the western world towards smaller government and conservative economic/fiscal policy. A shift that even the mighty Americans are likely to embrace very soon?.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing adamant opposition to his plans to raise the retirement age in his country from 60 to 62?and the Frenchies are furious and taking to the streets! However, this move is symptomatic of a much larger trend going on all across Europe (and perhaps all of the ?rich? Western counties): that trend is towards austerity! With record budget deficits, bloated bureaucracies, and over-extended social benefit programs, there is a seismic shift towards changing the size and role of government in the western capitalist democracies of France, Germany, the UK aa well as the PIGS?.and this shift will even be affecting future politics and policies in the good ol? U S of A! Get awakened to the age of austerity my plaid friends!
Synopsis: Holy Russian rage! Not only did two female suicide bombers (Black Widows) bomb the Moscow Metro on Monday March 29, but now there have been 5 separate terrorist attacks in the 5 days since…the rest occurring in ethnic provinces in Russia’s North Caucuses region. In this plaid-cast, the Avenger describes the likely Russian response of fury, but more importantly tackles the thorny issue of why these attacks are occurring, and are likely to continue: The volatile region in question is home to a bunch of non-Russian ethnic groups who don’t wan to be part of Russia (mostly Chechan and Dagestani), alongside a growing Islamic insurgency movement which is trying to make this so! Its getting raucous in the Caucus, and after watching this, you will know why!
Keywords: Russian, Medvedev, Putin, North Caucuses, Caucuses Mountains, Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia, Moscow Metro bombing, Islamic insurgency, First Chechen War, Second Chechen War, Beslan School Siege, Moscow Theater Hostage Crisis
Synopsis: Greece is broke, and in debt up to their Ouzo-sipping eyeballs….which is seriously pissing off Germany. Say what? Why would that be? The Avenger explains how these countries (and 14 others) are now tied together economically via their common currency of the Euro, and how this is currently impacting both the Eurozone and the entire world as Greece looks likely to completely default on their debts. Germany’s solution to bring in the IMF (International Monetary Fund) has also rankled many other EU leaders as well, and ‘austerity measures’ in Greece have people rioting on the streets! All that and more is in store for the internationally intrigued viewer who watches this plaid-cast! Party on!
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