Why Germany Has It So Good...

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:D :confused:
 
Quote from Ghost of Cutten:

Depends on your situation. Your EU choices are high tax and a generous welfare system, but lots of bureaucracy and anti-business attitudes and laws, or low tax, no welfare system, and a bit more ease of doing business (E Europe is still incredibly bureaucratic though).

Czech Republic, like a lot of E Europe, has introduced a flat tax, and has a small welfare state. Taxes are much lower on self-employed people and business profits than the USA. It's a pretty civilised, safe country, although amenities are still below 1st world standards. So it is a fairly decent place. However, wages are low so if you are an employee then forget it. And there's the language issue, which may or may not be a problem for you. Personally I like to do extra-curricular activities and it's hard to do that when you don't speak the language fluently. Another issue is that if you are a US citizen, income over $80k will be taxed at US rates, so eliminating a lot of the benefit of a low tax system there. You can probably game it legally but that's more expense and hassle.

For W Europe - fat benefits but high taxes, so if you earn peanuts and have no moral problem with scrounging off other people's money, or are in poor health and have little savings, it could be worthwhile. If you earn a good income then forget about it unless you like paying 50-65% of your total annual profit in taxes of some kind.

My advice is stay in the USA unless you are an underpaid working joe with a European 2nd language and can't afford your health insurance.
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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.
 
Quote from EMRGLOBAL:

Cooperation, some collective colaboracion is healthy.
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I agree, we are intradependent in business. Cooperation is a good thing. Collective ideas are good. But Collective Free loading, as in the Immigration situation in Germany is not good.

I work for my self, I can take 6 months vacation if I want. However, I pay the price. 6 week vacation on the "Companies" dime only makes sense if the workers are productive and profits are rocking.

ONLY FREE LOADERS expect 6 weeks paid vacation without accountablity.

Why don't you look at FRANCE, GREECE....they are the FREE LOADERS who get 6 week paid vacation and all kinds of social services...and those countries are in riots as I SPEAK, due to cut backs.

So, if you think GERMANY is strong because of 6 weeks paid vacation, I bet you are the same person/people that voted for OBAMA...because you are fools.

Germany is Strong because of her Manufacturing Base and her "Banking" system. However, she took on a huge risk buying Junk Bonds for Greece. And she is having issues of her own...

Germany is one of the only Strong Members of the ECU. However, she is being punished by the "FREE LOADERS" with in the ECU who have paid 6 week vacations, free health care, yada yada yada.

If the ECU does not get act her together, it will bring down GERMANY or Germany will default back to her own Nation State with her own currency. The move has already started with the Push for stronger Immigration rules and no Tollernce for Illegal Immigration. "MULTICULTRALISM" has failed in Germany. [/QUOTE

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You (assume) I think this? Your quote:

"So, if you think GERMANY is strong because of 6 weeks paid vacation, I bet you are the same person/people that voted for OBAMA...because you are fools."

This is your bias (opinion) from no proof. You try to make the picture of the free loader. You are wrong.

This is from poster Debaser82 link.

"According to Geoghegan, "Since 2003, it's not China but Germany, that colossus of European socialism, that has either led the world in export sales or at least been tied for first. Even as we in the United States fall more deeply into the clutches of our foreign creditors -- China foremost among them -- Germany has somehow managed to create a high-wage, unionized economy without shipping all its jobs abroad or creating a massive trade deficit, or any trade deficit at all."

AND
"Of course, low income sectors do better too. Nonetheless, it could be said, there's a growing amount of poverty in Germany. Especially during the 1990's and the early part of the last decade, there was a scaling back of social democracy. For a while the bubble of casino capitalism in the US and the UK led to an allocation of capital into the US and UK looking for hot returns. Since the collapse of casino type capitalism in 2008, money has shifted back where it should have been in the first place, to the virtuous economies of the world like Germany, based in manufacturing."
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I think Germany nurture thier people with education and healthcare to make productive people.
When they chase the "hot" fast money for the short term reward this will hurt their country as the whole.
You can put this blame on immigration if that make you feel good, but I see the big destruction come more from banks and fast money model, not than from social healthcare and education.
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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.
 
Quote from Ghost of Cutten:

US total tax burden is 28% of GDP, Germany is 36%, according to the OECD. So it looks like you are wrong.
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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.
 
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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? :}}}}}}}
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All that proper schooling and upbringing and you sound like a piece of trash. Money and schooling certainly dont guarantee class do they?

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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.
 
germans finally become cool on expense of mcdonalds eating/hypermortgaged english islanders and mentally disturbed french.

but they are teethless - for now.
 
Quote from Ghost of Cutten:

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For W Europe - fat benefits but high taxes, so if you earn peanuts and have no moral problem with scrounging off other people's money, or are in poor health and have little savings, it could be worthwhile. If you earn a good income then forget about it unless you like paying 50-65% of your total annual profit in taxes of some kind.

My advice is stay in the USA unless you are an underpaid working joe with a European 2nd language and can't afford your health insurance.
More...

+1
 
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