> Protecting more established interests but kneecapping progress.

I assume you must be American. I always find it funny that there is that US belief that Europe is "old-fashioned" with "old tech" and "old progress". I never encountered anyone yet to tell me what progress wasn't in Europe that was in the US.

I actually think this is a bit backward, with US lack of transportation funding, more people struggling with poverty, backward ecological measures, and missing health care with lower life expectancy.

I'm European too, while I second what you say, I also think that Europe is old: demographically, politically and we're very risk adverse.