conservative jim manzi has been going head to head against liberal jon
chait regarding the effects of social democracy on economic growth

http://www.tnr.com/blog/jonathan-cha...zi-revisionism

manzi tried to make the argument that being a 'welfare state' inhibits
growth. turns out he's flat assed wrong

turns out the ONLY parameter that differentiates americans from
europeans in terms of growth is our population growth. and most of
that is from immigration

'wefare' states are just as rich as the US is.

so while rush limbaugh would have us believe that god mean america to
be a poor country with a small group of rich people at its head, the
evidence shows this kills a country.