Well was there not a France judge who not to long ago threw out a rape charge on the grounds that the woman trouser was too tight, which meant she would have had to taken them off herself. Stupid judges are everywhere. So *nothing* is unimaginable
I thought we were talking USA/Germany here and not USA/France???
Well the US is not the only one feeling the crunch, the world is as well.
Well, it started over there and of course we are feeling the effects, too. But it is still mainly an American problem at the moment. Our export-orientated economy is currently very active in the new booming markets in Russia, China, India and South America and thus may be able to counteract the U.S. problems rather well in the long run (except for those who are extremely dependant on the U.S. market). And I don't think that the worst part of the crisis has already happened to you yet.
You are right on the fact that the US has made a move to get rip of the "low tech" jobs, the trend is High Tech job and this has been going on for a long time since the 90's.
Now you only have to tell me how you part low tech from high tech.
Aren't modern cars high tech?
What about production machines? Ever wondered how those mobile phones got so small? Well, there is a company in Germany that makes the soldering machines that allow companies like Nokia make such small phones.
Ever wondered how carton boxes are printed - those you carry home your "high tech" stuff in? Well, there is another company in Germany which is the world leader in making printing machines for carton boxes. I suppose you get the picture.
No matter in which industry you look: Everything has developed further and further, mostly by small or mid-sized companies who got the engineering competence and the patents.
Even big companies like Volkswagen are totally dependant on small and middle-sized companies who produce high tech parts for their cars.
What about alternative energies? Windmills, solar cells, etc. Low tech or high tech?
This could go on and on and on but the sober truth is: If you want to survive on the world market, you cannot afford to do "low tech" anymore.
You'll simply disappear...
Well I think that is a bit of sugar coating on your part, as with your statement that there is a certain part that does not wish to integrate. I feel Europe as a whole, not just Germany, always expected immigrants to just either change their ways to become Europeans or go home.
Um, no. Not really. I personally consider integration successful, when people learned the language, try to find or found a job and get along well with their neighbours. Not too much to ask, is it?
I consider it unsuccessful, when they only keep to themselves in ghetto-like neighbourhoods, hang around together in the streets, refuse to learn German, don't look for a job, possibly become criminal, in case if islamic immigrants lock their women into their houses to keep them from the "bad" influences of an enlightened society and generally complain about how badly they are being treated here, while spending their social welfare money.
In a way, your post almost highlights the same kind of pride thing many of us in the US are accused off. Nothing wrong with that, chest pumping is nothing new for any country.
Of course I feel a certain pride for my country the way it is today. I'm proud that we learned our lessons from the past and have become the engine of European integration. Also I'm quite proud of our cultural history in general. But that pride is at all times a little bit spoiled by the terrible heritage all Germans have to carry because of the 12 years of terror in the last century.
And of course I feel a little pride of the fact that we seem to be able to rebuild our destroyed cities a lot faster than you over there (Sorry, could not resist the temptation of putting my finger in that wound)
