Apart from this, the effects will not be great considering the lack of any block falling behind or passing by another. The anti-immigrant/nationalist/anti-immigration are worrying but didn’t make as much headway as the greens.

Jay :
One can only hope this is a sign of what is to come for the 2010 midterm elections in the United States.

What, that a bunch of far-right wackos make huge gains? The only losing side in the elections was the left, but there were no real winners, especially considering the gains made by emotional and divisive lumpen who tell jews to “play with their circumcised little tails” (Krisztina Morvai) or think you can say whatever you want about Romes and Muslims just because you’re feeling scared and resentful in general. Actually, there was a winning side – green parties. I’m guessing we’ll be rounding up car owners and CEOs pretty soon if the prophecies are true*.

As for America, I wouldn’t mind seeing right-wing gains in the elections, provided the right wing in America wasn’t represented by the GOP in its current state.

*They’re not.

I agree, even though I think this isn’t a strong reason to not support them, especially considering the general ideation of the right on this issue is also terribly weak and vague. If one is worried about negative side-effects of immigration, I can’t think of one side that deserves one’s support.

“European voters realize that not American capitalism, nor free markets, but progressive, leftist policies are to blame for today’s severe economic crisis. Capitalism and free markets were declared dead alright, but not by voters but by journalists, most of whom are socialists.”

Sitting here on my blimp, watching a hippo fly by against the green backdrop of a dual sunset, I must say this is a very apt description of the world.

Meanwhile, I still think that the political sides both in America and Europe are far too similar to be able to shift responsibility entirely, and I also think you’ll agree that globalization and right-wing theories on international economics have been dominant for a while. I fail to see how the loathsome progressives could have messed up the current situation, and I also can’t see how a general right-wing approach could be of any help.

James Cameron, as an example, is truly an ideological hack, willing to embrace economic theories that have been tried and found wanting by right-wingers before him. Even Bush the elder has called Cameron’s ideas – which include the Laffer curve, drawn on a napkin by a derided and discredited “economist” booted from teh Nixon administration – “voodoo economics”. The truth is that, at least in America, cutting the top rate of taxes is bad for the economy while raising it is good for the economy. Cameron will espouse any theory, no matter how discredited or incompatible with reality, as long as it allows him to lower the taxes of his ilk. He is as credible and useful in economic matters as Guevara, but the British media has learned to agree with the right’s own version of political correctness and presents him as a regular guy, someone you’d want to have a beer with. History tells me those kind of politicians should be launched into the sun.

In a country like Sweden, were there is wide agreement on the general outlines of the economic model and the level of support we should offer the needy, I have no problem voting for a center-right party if they argue their case. Even more so if there aren’t any disgusting and plebeian social conservative agendas snuggling up to the economic right-wingers.