[jimbohn]

The whole European political elite and ruling class feels like a quasi-aristocracy (something the US is slowly moving into as well, with political dynasties and such) that is used to go to some big-name art/humanities place and then slide into the bureaucracy ladder. Totally detached people, and it's a pity because we really need Europe to be better.

[viking123]

The failures fall upwards into Brussels usually, sadly then you get very much second rate politicians that were even hated in their own countries.