Europe Versus US In Job Growth

The WSJ, and many others in the US media, warn us about becoming more like "Old Europe" with its extensive social welfare programs which are supposed to be bad for the economy.  While there are some structural reform issues needed in Europe,  job growth in Europe has been better than it has been in the US.  We could do a whole lot worse than to emulate many of the countries in Europe with broader and more efficient social welfare programs than we have in the US.  Moreover, Europe would be a lot better shape than it is today if it were not for the financial crisis that was born in the USA, and transmitted to Europe.