[knowledge-clay]

> Because then the question arises: What if the current way of handling labor protection in the EU (as one of many components) leads to destroying yours and everyone elses standard of living, simply because it's unaffordable?

The GDP/capita of e.g. France is 10x what it was in the 1970s. There is nothing "unaffordable" about the European social safety net, except that there are political pressures to dismantle it (right-liberals like the Economist)

[senordevnyc]

It’s about twice what it was 50 years ago when you adjust for inflation: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/NYGDPPCAPKDFRA

Your overall point might still be correct though.