Germany

**stardust2003** · January 31st, 2012, 06:44 PM

Germans are efficient, educated, work hard and are patriotic. They take pride in their work and constantly strive to improve themselves seeeing this a way of contributing to the wellbeing and international standing of their country. They have a very high work ethic and do not believe in living off the state, seeing it as living off the work of other Germans. Their public services are lightweight and efficient, and are not seen as a way of disguising unemployment.

They hold in very high regard engineers, scientists, professionals and research and development. They do not stifle their industry with stupid rules and regulations enforced by busybodies in the name of planning or health and safety, although they do take both into account with a far more common sense approach.

They do not see their houses as being get-rich-quick investments and are savers, not borrowers.

Somehow I get the feeling that Germany is the only thing
holding the EU together... without them it would all fall apart !

**palo5** · January 31st, 2012, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stardust2003

They do not see their houses as being get-rich-quick investments and are savers, not borrowers.

This part is true

But it doesn't mean they don't speculate in unusual situations. Everyone who knows about Herr Baulöwe Schneider and the "Peanuts-Bank" is aware of this

**Nobody1** · January 31st, 2012, 07:18 PM

Well first of all thank you for the positive description stardust2003. Unfortunately, Germany has also become colossal problems, whose roots to be found solely in contemporary German politics. What Germany has remained stable among other things is a relatively good social system. Because of this we don't have notable street crime or a extremely expensive gang problem. Not yet.

One must also note here that Germany is an exporting nation. We don't have a trade deficit. Therefore are the debts of others always the foundation of German prosperity.

**palo5** · January 31st, 2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nobody1

Well first of all thank you for the positive description...

I should have thanked him too, because he's right in many ways

Collectively, Germans really are hard-working, well-trained people with a good social system and social values

They also make the best beer in the world, so it is necessary for us to love them

But if you think their trains are never late, you're wrong. They're also exceptionally burocratic and stubborn - only Russians are worse

**palo5** · January 31st, 2012, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

They're also exceptionally burocratic...- only Russians are worse

Actually, this might not be true, because Americans are terrible burocrats too. And they're as bad as us, because they think it is quite normal

**stardust2003** · January 31st, 2012, 08:04 PM

I can watch a ton of German TV by satellite and the audiences
always look very prosperous.
I get the feeling that TV companies over there are very prosperous
too with huge TV studios often seating 1000s in the audience.

The TV industry must be bigger than the UK TV industry .... but Im only guessing.
ZDF is Germany's equivalent of the BBC in that people
pay for it by law ....
I think the German folk are being hit for something like £18 per month to pay for ZDF TV and Radio
( its mad... just like the stupid £ 136 we are forced to pay the stupid BBC )

**palo5** · January 31st, 2012, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stardust2003

I think the German folk are being hit for something like £18 per month to pay for ZDF TV and Radio

They don't all pay, you know

Btw, they have many public channels. ARD and WDR etc etc are also good

**deepsepia** · January 31st, 2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

This part is true

But it doesn't mean they don't speculate in unusual situations. Everyone who knows about Herr Baulöwe Schneider and the "Peanuts-Bank" is aware of this

Yes, the German Sparkasen and Landesbanks were busily investing in crap mortgages in other places, which they'd never have issued in Germany.

The basic problem with being a saver is that you have to find a safe place to invest your savings, and the world is short of AAA credit . . . so German banks filled with the deposits of the frugal German savers went around the world buying up crap assets.

**Nobody1** · January 31st, 2012, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by deepsepia

Yes, the German Sparkasen and Landesbanks were busily investing in crap mortgages in other places, which they'd never have issued in Germany.

The basic problem with being a saver is that you have to find a safe place to invest your savings, and the world is short of AAA credit . . . so German banks filled with the deposits of the frugal German savers went around the world buying up crap assets.

That is so true.

**-Edge-** · January 31st, 2012, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palo5

Actually, this might not be true, because Americans are terrible burocrats too. And they're as bad as us, because they think it is quite normal

Hey, hey now...... We are not "terrible" bureaucrats.... We are "excellent" bureaucrats.

But this is the wrong thread for "America Bashing".

You can come into MY world here -----> America

January 31st, 2012, 06:44 PM	#1
stardust2003 Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 1,446 Thanks: 19,899 Thanked 13,920 Times in 1,351 Posts	Germany Germans are efficient, educated, work hard and are patriotic. They take pride in their work and constantly strive to improve themselves seeeing this a way of contributing to the wellbeing and international standing of their country. They have a very high work ethic and do not believe in living off the state, seeing it as living off the work of other Germans. Their public services are lightweight and efficient, and are not seen as a way of disguising unemployment. They hold in very high regard engineers, scientists, professionals and research and development. They do not stifle their industry with stupid rules and regulations enforced by busybodies in the name of planning or health and safety, although they do take both into account with a far more common sense approach. They do not see their houses as being get-rich-quick investments and are savers, not borrowers. Somehow I get the feeling that Germany is the only thing holding the EU together... without them it would all fall apart !

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January 31st, 2012, 07:18 PM	#3
Nobody1 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2,119 Thanks: 16,786 Thanked 22,140 Times in 2,127 Posts	Well first of all thank you for the positive description stardust2003. Unfortunately, Germany has also become colossal problems, whose roots to be found solely in contemporary German politics. What Germany has remained stable among other things is a relatively good social system. Because of this we don't have notable street crime or a extremely expensive gang problem. Not yet. One must also note here that Germany is an exporting nation. We don't have a trade deficit. Therefore are the debts of others always the foundation of German prosperity.

January 31st, 2012, 08:04 PM	#6
stardust2003 Vintage Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 1,446 Thanks: 19,899 Thanked 13,920 Times in 1,351 Posts	I can watch a ton of German TV by satellite and the audiences always look very prosperous. I get the feeling that TV companies over there are very prosperous too with huge TV studios often seating 1000s in the audience. The TV industry must be bigger than the UK TV industry .... but Im only guessing. ZDF is Germany's equivalent of the BBC in that people pay for it by law .... I think the German folk are being hit for something like £18 per month to pay for ZDF TV and Radio ( its mad... just like the stupid £ 136 we are forced to pay the stupid BBC )