Is Germany the model country?

[DodgyAgent]

Check the latest figures. And do try reading more widely than the Telegraph with its innate and biased prejudices. I suggest the Economist and Der Spiegel.
Actually one of the enduring reasons for Germany's success is the adaptation and common sense that the workers and management show, something that was sorely lacking in class-based Britain in the past. When the Germans realised that their welfare state was too big, in the last 5 years, they all sat down and agreed to trim it without drastic change, with results that we are seeing now.

So why is Eastern Germany dead mans land with no jobs and low property prices, whereas just accross their Eastern border Poles are buying in Germany and commuting back to Poland? If Germany was such a great place why does it have such few opportunities for its people?

[Francko]

So why is Eastern Germany dead mans land with no jobs and low property prices, whereas just accross their Eastern border Poles are buying in Germany and commuting back to Poland? If Germany was such a great place why does it have such few opportunities for its people?

And most of all why there are so many germans in Switzerland (now over 600k, overcoming italians as the first group of foreigners) importing their SS nazi style of management?

DA, SASGuru information is limited to the BBC and the talks with the gang in his East London area which occasionally abuses him.

[daviejones]

we did it with Scotland.

You are obviously a very knowledgable man - NOT!!!

[sasguru]

So why is Eastern Germany dead mans land with no jobs and low property prices, whereas just accross their Eastern border Poles are buying in Germany and commuting back to Poland? If Germany was such a great place why does it have such few opportunities for its people?

I've travelled a lot in both West and East Germany, at least one trip a year since 1990. Talking to East Germans you find roughly 2 types - those who are bright and adaptable and those who have a profound inferiority complex to West Germans (not helped by West German arrogance). The ones who are are still left in some small towns are the dregs. BTW most large cities in East Germany e.g. Dresden, Leipzig, Erfurt (all of which I have visited) seem to be doing Ok to me. It's more a psychological and sociological problem with the East.

[sasguru]

And most of all why there are so many germans in Switzerland (now over 600k, overcoming italians as the first group of foreigners) importing their SS nazi style of management?

DA, SASGuru information is limited to the BBC and the talks with the gang in his East London area which occasionally abuses him.

Reading between the lines, Francko, I see you are being bullied in Swissland too. I told you: by running away you can't really escape yourself and your victim mentality.

HTH

[NotAllThere]

And most of all why there are so many germans in Switzerland (now over 600k,

Because the laws were changed back in 2002, so that EU citizen seeking work, were no longer subject to a quota. Many cross-border workers took advantage of that to move into the country.

There's always been a high percentage of Germans running Swiss companies. It's just now it easy for them to be brought in.

The great thing about German managers, is that since German has no words for politeness nor courtesy*, you can be as rude as you like to them, and only your fellow expats will notice.

*Well, not any words they've learned

Not All There.

[milanbenes]

DA, you really crack me up, I'm with SAS here, you bleat on about our economy and flexibility to deal with globalisation, yet Germany is the world's largest exporter and even the German Unions are accepting that workers have to work more for the same or less if they want to keep their jobs

The Germany economy has a fundamental manufacturing foundation

What fundamental financial foundation does the UK economy have ?

I'll tell you the answer, your Mrs's credit card

I really hope the UK's artifical credit driven growth continues for years to come, however, it may go pop one day, the French and German economies may slowdown, but they won't go pop

If the British public stops having confidence in rising house prices and therefore the security behind all of their debt then their spending will freeze and the economy will die with very quick and shocking effect

I REALLY HOPE THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN however, the same cannot be said for the German and French economies

Milan.

[richard-af]

Bavraria's still a bit "political", if you know what I mean.

[DodgyAgent]

The difference between you and I milan is that I dont post threads extolling the virtues of living and working in the UK, I merely respond to sad little twerps like you who clearly have so few friends that you are unattached to anything or anyone other than your PC. My view of people like you is that you are sad and lonely and need to spend time convincing yourself that the UK is tulipe.
I am 100% with Jeremy Clarkson on this.

I dont truly think the UK is anything hugely special above and beyond other countries, other than I love living and working here. What I do though is when I see people writing threads from afar criticising the UK, I challenge them because I know that their problem is not with the UK but is more to do with their own personal problems.

So feel free to criticise the UK all you like but dont expect the rest of us to roll over end envy you, because the chances are that if the UK has problems wherever you go will be worse.

[gingerjedi]

Bavraria's still a bit "political", if you know what I mean.

You can still see the swastika's on the Hofbrau house ceiling if you look hard enough.