pfffft, yet they're allowing 'refugees' from the Middle East and beyond to come there in droves because they want to replicate the 'American miracle' economically via an infusion of various peoples.
But I was referring more to the colonial era.
If you look at the well off European countries, they all happened to get richer when they had colonies abroad. Once they lost them or the resources to strip and profit off of dried up, so did their fortunes.
Look at Portugal, and compare that to where they were 5 centuries or so ago when they got a head start on shipping.
Spain went from a Moorish outpost to richest country and most powerful navy practically overnight after coming to the Americas and bringing back gold by the shipload.
Look at Britain - a century ago the biggest empire in history spanned the globe, now even Scotland and Wales are talking about cleaving off what's left of that declining raisin. This all started with the loss of its colonies after WWII.
If it wasn't for Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe would still be in the Middle Ages playing with pigs in the mud and bringing them into their thatched roof houses in the winter so the people can stay warm. Heck, it was after the potato was brought there that their populations boomed.
*beep beep* on the Autobahn, here comes Friedrich on his donkey!
