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.
在欧元区，财政危机阴影正笼罩在意大利上空。在美国，奥巴马政府已宣布，如果不提高债务上限，政府将于下月初耗尽资金。认为公共部门违约有利的欧洲人，要远远少于这样想的美国人。但欧洲要人们与美国共和党人在一个问题上意见一致，即还会有更糟糕的结果出现。对于心怀不满的欧洲人而言，欧元区决不许变成一个“转移联盟”。而在誓死反抗的美国共和党人看来，提税也是不容为之的。他们信奉的座右铭是一句拉丁语：Fiat justitia, et pereat mundus（即使世界毁灭，也要伸张正义）。