Naturally the Anglo-Saxon model of laissez-faire capitalism, extreme inequality, and full State support of the owning class without any recognition of the other 98% of the population will tend to alienate the majority of working-class youth, who have nothing to hope for under this system but a life of unremitting toil and serious scarcity.
The Continental model, of course, encourages a sense that these youth 'belong' in society by giving them a minor political voice, through real center-left parties, and a higher degree of economic equality and hope for future improvement.
Congratulations on demonstrating your complete and utter ignorance of how the British economy and welfare systems are structured (I won't go into your amusing assertion about a mythical "Continental model"...).Why not? Can't make a case? Obviously the British system is as I said it is, relatively speaking. And obviously the welfare states of Germany, Scandinavia, the Benelux countries, and even France are far more generous - and more secure - than those of Britain.
Your dislike of my analysis does not constitute a refutation, Al.
I was not referring to consumption of alcohol, but of a psychological condition resulting from oppression - alienation. Class - as a cultural phenomenon - is merely a reflection of real power relationships - people look down upon the poor because they are powerless, and in a very real sense lesser persons than their betters. Pointing out the influence of class upon 'individual behavior' is not a different analysis than the one I gave in my original post.
