Donald Trump the Megathread part II - Mod Warning updated in OP 12/2/26

Ah listen, could you come up with something else other Draghi's one report? The opinion of one man - not even if that man is Trump or Vance - doesn't change reality on the ground.

Giving up regulations, worker's rights and corporate responsibility to help companies pursue innovation doesn't seem like a win to me. I'd rather live in an economy with basic protections and a good work/life balance over one that rewards billionaires looking to be trillionaires and shíts on everyone else.

It’s quite obvious that outside of a single poster @Cluedo Monopoly the rest did not bother to read the Draghi report and went off moaning about a subject {and sneering and the concept of innovation and startups} that they would support if they actually bothered to read it or understand how it can help us in Europe and address the falsehoods Vance and Trump blown out of all proportions

Here is the 30,000 foot overview, I challenge the above lot to highlight which parts they disagree with and why

“In September 2024, former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi released a landmark report titled "The Future of European Competitiveness." The report warns of a "slow agony" for the European Union if it fails to address its lagging productivity and economic growth compared to the US and China. Here are the key points:

1. The Massive Investment Gap

Draghi identifies a staggering annual investment need of €750–€800 billion (roughly 4–5% of EU GDP).

• Scale: This is twice the size of the post-WWII Marshall Plan in relative terms.

• Purpose: To finance the "triple transition": decarbonization, digitalization, and defense.

• Funding: He controversially suggests that the EU should issue common debt (joint borrowing) to fund these massive projects, similar to the COVID-19 recovery fund.

2. Closing the Innovation Gap

The report highlights that Europe is missing out on the "digital revolution."

• Tech Lag: Europe lacks major tech giants; many EU startups move to the US to scale.

• Proposed Fix: Streamline the transition from research to commercialization and reduce the "regulatory maze" that stifles tech companies.

3. Energy and Decarbonization

High energy prices are a primary killer of EU competitiveness.

• The Problem: EU electricity prices are 2–3 times higher than in the US, and gas prices are 4–5 times higher.

• The Strategy: Decouple the price of renewable energy from fossil fuels so consumers benefit from cheaper green power. He calls for a "Clean Industrial Deal" to ensure decarbonization doesn't lead to de-industrialization.

4. Reducing Strategic Dependencies

The era of relying on "cheap energy from Russia, boundless markets in China, and security from the US" is over.

• Economic Security: Reduce reliance on China for critical raw materials and on the US for defense technology.

• Defense: Shift from fragmented national military spending to coordinated EU-wide procurement.

5. Governance and "Red Tape"

Draghi is blunt about EU bureaucracy being a "clog" in the system.

• Simplification: He proposes a 25% reduction in reporting obligations for companies.

• Decision Speed: He suggests more "qualified majority voting" (instead of requiring total unanimity) to prevent single countries from vetoing urgent economic reforms.

Key Takeaway

The report is a "wake-up call" arguing that Europe’s social model (healthcare, welfare, and pensions) is unsustainable unless the continent dramatically boosts its economic engine through unified, large-scale industrial policy.”

Seeing as American companies are providing the state with more than half its tax revenue, you would think the model works profitably but could do with tweaks to fit with Irish/European values, Ireland INC has done remarkably well from American companies but as stated above, we really should have taken far more advantage of it by promoting indigineous industries with the high level skills we aquired along the way.

You’ve created a strawman, since I didn’t make any such assertions

Poster asked for examples and I gave him two, if people want to work 7 days a week and get paid a million euro a year, that’s their choice, I personally wouldn’t do it, but having worked in startup it’s the norm, high risk and high potential reward which some people have no issues with, it’s called being entrepreneurial, something that’s unfortunately as can be seen from last page looked down upon and sneered at

Yes there is a bunch of US oligarchs who lined up behind Trump at his inauguration whom would love nothing better than dissemble the EU (Musk et al)

**** em

We still however need to try to find middle ground and regulations that don’t strangle and drive away innovation and entrepreneurship for those who have no issues working themselves to exhaustion in the pursuit of their ideas, a few of which might pan out and benefit us all

I wouldn't sneer at someone being entrepreneurial but I wouldn't be cheerleading someone who thinks corporate responsibility shouldn't be a thing or that we should be stripping workers rights to maximise his potential profits.

And do you think the ability to get people to work seven days a week isn't rampantly abused in the US? You also cited fracking which contributes to both health and pollution issues in the US. I wouldn't view these as aspirational directions for Europe.

The US is massively deregulated. That is great for those with plenty of money meanwhile those who aren't wealthy tend to be hit negatively by that deregulation.

You are entitled to your opinions but forgive me for instead paying more attention to trained economists that literally ran the ECB and can see the bigger picture and the data they used to reach their conclusions and recommendations i highlighted earlier

Hundreds of billions from our pensions and investments has left EU and gone and continues to flow to US to fund US companies instead of companies in Europe not only because they are more profitable but also because there is simply less friction

Right now I can switch apps, transfer to my investment app from bank in under a minute, purchase US stocks {forex risk if dollar falls further} and only pay 33% CGT (and be able to offset losses) while of if I purchase a European startup or ESG or green energy ETF I be hit with 38% tax, deemed disposal nonsense and not offset losses, if also make mistake of purchasing Irish company shares throw in stamp duty on top

All of this comes under #1 in Draghis report

Our pensions are literally funding USA (via equities and bonds) and helping Trump and his band of deplorables instead of working for us