You are walking ahead of me in the pasture, Cliff. I just arrived back here with a COMMAND C full of this, from Scotty, over at the museum:
- Also remember that the tax rate is pretty high in Germany, but there is definitely a different mindset among Germans than there is with Americans.
Germans learned through lost wars, devastation, occupation and other various mistakes that the only road to prosperity was to lift everyone. Make sure everyone can make a living wage. This is reciprocated by Germans buying German made products. If you buy things your neighbor makes, its good for him, you and the entire home front.
That whole concept is lost on Americans. There has been no widespread destruction and rebuilding - only slow decay and neglect, while a select few reap the benefits. As consumers, we'd much rather buy something made in China or Korea because it's at an attractive price point. Our neighbors be damned. So what if George is out of work. I'm not, so everything is great. This philosophy is fine for the ruling and investing class - the ones who actually pull the levers and make the decisions that is. For the rest, they (we) are merely pockets to be analyzed and eventually plucked.
It took me years to finally see this. As a result, I would rather live in Germany.
I am wondering how long that particular piece of intellectual laziness will go unchallenged.
Cliff, your point of choosing who your neighbors are is hilarious, and is also the first thing I thought of, since caring for your neighbor is such a centerpiece to his notion. Three points: if you don't like your neighbor, turn him into you. If you still don't like him, report him. If you still don't like him, roast him. Yes, I know they "aren't doing that now"; in fact, you can't even talk about it in Germany, a thing that doesn't encourage me in the least.
A question: Would Scott's ideal view of the German economy still function without the US economy to invest in it and the US military to protect it?
Gee, there's been "no widespread destruction and rebuilding - only slow decay and neglect..." What is that supposed to mean? This is a mind-bogglingly vapid sketch of the condition of the United States, and, in the reverse, of Germany. Who was responsible for the destruction of Germany, other than German arrogance? Who helped, massively, with the rebuilding? Would Germany look anything like it does, today, were it not for the US? Nobody trusts the Germans; not in the 1870's, not in 1914, not in 1939, and not today.
"As consumers, we'd much rather buy something made in China or Korea because it's at an attractive price point." I see, here he's referring to Sonor's using Chinese labor, Chinese plants, and Chinese goods to build drums because they are cheaper... no, wait! He's talking about Americans!
"That whole concept is lost on Americans." Really? I don't think so. The people I know really would rather buy American, indeed, would rather "buy local" to support the local economy. Trouble is, we (I) often can't afford the local economy. I can think of many reasons for that, some of which originate in natural causes, some in global economics (some people think it is a good thing to help impoverished countries build an economy, go figure), some in economies of scale, some in greed, and much in governmental meddling. But I have never met one American who did not understand the concept of buying locally.
Is Scott in the running for some type of mid-level management job?
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