In the eurozone, the fiscal crisis is lapping on Italy’s shores. In the US, the administration declares it will run out of funding early next month if the debt ceiling is not raised. Far fewer Europeans than Americans believe public sector defaults are beneficial. But important Europeans share with Republicans the view that there are still worse outcomes. For reluctant Europeans, the eurozone must not be a “transfer union”. For recalcitrant Republicans, taxes must not be raised. Fiat justitia, et pereat mundus – let right be done even if the world perishes – is the motto.
在歐元區，財政危機陰影正籠罩在義大利上空。在美國，歐巴馬政府已宣佈，如果不提高債務上限，政府將於下月初耗盡資金。認爲公共部門違約有利的歐洲人，要遠遠少於這樣想的美國人。但歐洲要人們與美國共和黨人在一個問題上意見一致，即還會有更糟糕的結果出現。對於心懷不滿的歐洲人而言，歐元區決不許變成一個「轉移聯盟」。而在誓死反抗的美國共和黨人看來，提稅也是不容爲之的。他們信奉的座右銘是一句拉丁語：Fiat justitia, et pereat mundus（即使世界毀滅，也要伸張正義）。