“It is important that we develop European patriotism” (Alexander va Bellen)

This statement comes from the New Year’s speech from our dear Sascha ‘Gray’ vd Bellen. Recently there were 1-2 postings on the topic here "Proud of Austria".

And first of all, please: Europe is NOT (just) the EU… Europe is the reality in which we all live and want to have a good life with a good future. The EU is a political tool that helps with this.

Van der Bellen claims: it is easier to dominate individual small states than a large group. Facts! We are drowning in small things, while all around us major powers and corporations are pushing in their interests that are not necessarily our European interests. If we consistently rely on European solutions and products in everyday life (which makes sense), shouldn’t every European follow suit? I’m talking specifically about things like this r/BuyFromEU (I think this would have to be the largest sub with over 300k people).

"But it is more expensive!"…eh. And yet often smarter. Short term is "cheap" great for someone right now. In the long term, you’ll be the whore of the major powers and US tech companies again through dependency, with weak supply chains as soon as something burns somewhere (*cough* Iran *cough*), with fewer jobs and know-how from us. If everyone is just being greedy and trying to buy everything as cheaply as possible, then in 10 years we will be wondering why we no longer have a European digital industry, no manufacturing and no negotiating power. And no different jobs…regardless of whether it’s IT or production.

I don’t mean that "everything European at any price"rather: If there is a viable European alternative, then it is rational to prefer it. Or? Well, isn’t that something that everyone does too "Austria patriot" would have to go along? Is Europe strong, is Austria strong, is Europe successful, etc… Money is more likely to stay in the European cycle (jobs, taxes, training) and we are less susceptible to blackmail when it comes to critical things (energy, digital, infrastructure). And yes, there are certainly greater levers in public procurement, but significantly more people live in Europe than in the USA – so we also have a certain market power if everyone internalizes this and makes appropriate consumption decisions.

I myself have switched almost 80% of my software to European solutions (except for YT and streaming services… there’s nothing there) and I now only buy European brands (not necessarily from European production, which would of course be completely preferable if there is something available, but a lot of things are simply never produced here). I’m happy to make my contribution (including monetary) if it helps Europe (and therefore other women and men) in the long term.