There has been much gnashing of teeth and rolling of eyes over eurozone leaders' repeated inability to solve their financial crisis once and for all. The rest of the world can best help, the reasoning goes, by shouting exhortations at Europe to just try harder. But what, exactly, are Europeans being urged to do?

Trying to rescue the European Union's failed political objectives should be off the table in Washington.

Europe’s proposed financial firewall around Spain and Italy will prove any more effective in protecting those countries from another market onslaught than was the Maginot line in protecting France. The very design of the proposed firewall appears to be basically flawed in dealing with a renewed loss of market confidence in the euro’s long-run sustainability.

With Europe collapsing, China stumbling, and India and Brazil retreating from full free market reform, we’re the last stable, pro-growth economy left.  

When the G8 major economies convened at Camp David last weekend, the continuing crisis of the euro, common currency of 17 European Union (EU) members, dominated the economic discussions. The agonies of Greece, badly divided in recent parliamentary elections, and forced to vote again on 17 June, were at the forefront.

Calls for international financial cooperation are picking up.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the center-right candidate in France,is the first European politician to appeal directly to"new" Europeans.

Is it inevitable that, as we grow more prosperous, we will become more like Europe--losing initiative, insisting that our governments coddle us?