A good portion of my family lives in Germany. They actually have it pretty good. When I talk to people here in America about possible changes in our way life similar to that of European countries. I (a cuban by birth/ former slave of castro) get called a communist or socialist. HILLARIOUS!!!!! However, How come we all want cars, wine and all these great capitalist goods from socialist nations??? How are these socialist countries able to be more competitive in the global economy than we are??? There is only one place where the US beats Europe and world. PRINTING MONEY
Thanks appreciate the feedback. I should have explained better. I am very familiar with CZ we visit regularly to see her family. I can speak a little Czech but not much. I have visited Europe several times and like it. Pros and cons to each, US vs EU. What I should have asked directly, esp. Europeans, is do people believe that holidays will be slashed in the wake of austerity? Cutten I do favor staying in US, it's my wife that wants to move back home for a couple of years to be closer to her family. I personally believe the benefits EU citizens have are going to be slashed with austerity.
Whoa. Apparently Prime Minister Merkel and many Germans beg to differ. Speaking about post-reunification German society, Merkel called immigrant's refusal to assimilate into mainstream German societal norms a 'disaster'. 2/3'rds of births in Germany are to 'non-native' Germans.
That's nice to have those figures. Thank you. Now the important question: Do those figures include the indirect inflation tax, i.e. that part of inflation caused by deficit spending and consequent partial monetizing of the resulting debt. I would guess probably not. So if one country monetizes debt to a greater extent than the other, those numbers could be quite misleading.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quote from [Proximo]: Yep I'm so ignorant. I've lived on 3 continents -- traveled the world -- have a degree in Electrical Engineering -- worked at AMD -- both parents have phd's -- played semi-pro soccer. Yep so ignorant. :]]]]]]] What have you done? :}}}}}}} -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All that proper schooling and upbringing and you sound like a piece of trash. Money and schooling certainly dont guarantee class do they? -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you ...............
Several things to consider: 1. Germany lost a lot of its manpower because of WW2. 2. East Prussia, Silesia, and the Baltic coast all the way to Stettin was taken over by Poland. 3. Most of the industrial capacity was severely reduced. 4. Many with shady past had to leave for Argentina, Bolivia and other places. Most were officers and while they were murderers, in civilian life they were highly skilled businessmen, professionals etc. 5. Germany was divided and 1/3 of it was placed under USSR. 6. Since the re-unification of 1990 billions of $$$ had been spent to reintragrate GDR. 7. A pretty penny has been provided as reparations to the Jews and other nations affected by nazism. Despite all of the above, Germany is a powerhouse and that it can even be compared to the US in terms of economic strength is a victory in itself.
Germany has done well because more of their people get real jobs instead of hanging out at ET praying to become zero-value-add "traders".
germans finally become cool on expense of mcdonalds eating/hypermortgaged english islanders and mentally disturbed french. but they are teethless - for now.