Can Europe still compete in technology? – The Practical Futurist – MSNBC.com. Interesting view from the colonies. In a way it is no suprise that the main stream US media is downplaying Europe.

But perhaps there is a point, are we living on borrowed time. Should we in Europe be worried that we lack innovation (especially relating to new technologies), when it is claimed that is where the future lies for sucessful first world countries?

One thing i disagree with, the suggestion we should cut back our holidays. I don’t know how Americans can live we just 2 weeks hols a year. A few days at xmas and a few other odd days off for various reasons (probably not real holidays, moving, diy weddings etc) and you only have a week to do your own thing. It’s all very well being in the richest coutry in the world, with the highest GDP, but what does that really mean when it comes down to one week a year for you. The rest for your employer.

No, cutting back things like holiday (and other employment rights and regulations) is not the answer to ensuring you live in a sucessful country. It will just end up going round in circles, like a price war, every time one country reduces rights for employees, other countries will feel the preasure to do the same. Until we have none at all.