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A return to populism in Germany?

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  • 15-08-2005 9:43am
    #1
    esperanza
    Closed Accounts Posts: 689 ✭✭✭


    Did anyone read David Mc Williams article in yesterday's Post

    A new brand of populism

    I think people are exaggerating how bad the German economy is and thus how bad a leader Schröder is. He reduced tax rates at least. Yes, consumer spending is down (in comparision to the economic boom in post-WWII years). In my opinion, many Germans just don't buy because they wait to see how far things will be reduced (a good strategy, one that us Irish could employ, perhaps?). Every time I visit Germany, there are great reductions to be had.

    Whereas, unemployment is concerned, there are so many managerial jobs available. The fact is that Germany has a real skills shortage in the business and financial sector. Also many are too inflexible to move to where the jobs are. Many, especially in the former East are inflexible and stubborn, eager to stay in their own town. Admittedly, the government should try to promote more employment in these towns, but it's not a nanny state like in the days of Communism/Socialism. In the United States, people were ready to up sticks to find a job and get a better life, when the economy took a bad knock. There's also a real sense of entrepreneurship in the States. The Germans prefer to be mouth-fed. When are they going to learn?

    And again it is those with lack of qualifications who are at the greatest risk of unemployment; the worst is that they keep moaning about not being able to find a job. Go out and get some qualifications!

    The several documentaries and articles I've read on this subject are sickening.

    Some areas of Germany are performing very well, namely Bavaria and Baden-Württemburg where the economy is in full-swing and there is certainly no sign of populism. In other areas, such as North-Rhine Westphalia and Brandenburg, the economy is taking a blow.

    Everyone keeps asking the government to do something, well how about the asking the people to do something instead.

    As John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural speech, "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."


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