Previewing US History as Collapse of Europe Continues

Uh oh...here comes more from P.I.I.G.S. (mainly the I for Italy).  The Telegraph is reporting that violent protests have erupted as a result of a 3 vote win by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as he has staved off the vote of no confidence.  Central Rome is apparently on lock down.

So far this year, we have seen riots in Spain, London, Iceland, Ireland and Portugal.  I guess it's only a matter of time before we will see austerity riots in the USA because there is no chance in hell that people will willingly give up their free lunch. 

QOTD: Free Education Should Start with $50k for Calculators

Always good for at least one quote a week, AK Fan has found a way to solve the education riots and budgetary problems in the UK: 

I think the [UK] government should spend $50k for calculators and hand them out to the crowd along with a copy of the budget.  Tell them their first free education lesson will be to balance the budget without either spending cuts or fee increases.

Seems like it would put the students to work in far more productive ways than this.  I hate to quote someone so often but when they are right so often, it's hard not to quote them.  With austerity shaping up to take hold in PIIGS, England, and even the USA in 2011, it's hard not to see such events escalating and worsening before they get better. 

Oh yeah, Merry Christmas world!  Hope you are enjoying your sovereign presents!