why is the USA following european's (failed) ways?

"The Obama administration has been racing to transform the U.S. into a copy of the European social-welfare system, while at the same time those countries are being forced to come to grips with the failure of that welfare state. Greece, Hungry and Portugalhave received the most news media attention as their growing debt has threatened the viability of the euro. But all across the European Union, countries are discovering that they can no longer afford the massive cost of providing cradle-to-grave government benefits."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/2010-06-26-tanner25_ST_N.htm