[lit-ideas] Re: Germany can't make Germans out of us
- From: Omar Kusturica <omarkusto@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: "lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 20 May 2012 03:33:43 -0700 (PDT)
Germany is not in such a splendid situation itself, as shown by the recent
protests.
The "contract" as you present is rather simplistic as the EU was supposed to
involve not only a free market and a single currency but also coordinated
policies and economic co-operation
O:K.
________________________________
From: Lawrence Helm <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Lit-Ideas <Lit-Ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2012 12:59 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Germany can't make Germans out of us
http://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/columnists/matt-cooper/germany-cant-make-germans-out-of-us-because-of-euro-crisis-194246.html
This from the Matt Cooper of the Irish Examiner: “Germany is behaving like the
euro is a pain in the ass to it, that it has received little or no reward for
adopting it as its currency, that it wishes that it never gave up its
Deutschmark as its own prized currency and that, now that it is stuck with the
euro, it will be damned if it is going to pick up the tab for the fecklessness
of other European nations (including us).”
Cooper presents his analysis of Germany’s economic history and summarizes, “So
it is complex and multi-faceted. It is easy to see why the German public does
not want to foot the bill for the euro going wrong. But let’s not forget how
much the euro has contributed to the existing great wealth in that country.”
I can’t see Germans responding favorable to that argument. Here I am, not a
German, but nicely retired after 39 years in aerospace. Suppose Governor Brown
and President Obama were to hit me with huge taxes. Suppose I complained and
received the response, “don’t forget, Helm, you got through college on a
government sponsored G.I.Bill. You then worked for most of your 39 years
making aircraft for the U.S. government. You benefited from all that
government support in your earlier days; so suck it up, Helm, and shell out.”
Is that a valid argument all ye logicians? I don’t think so and here is why:
The European environment presented Germany with the prospect, “perform in
certain ways and receive benefits accordingly.” Now the EU (at least Ireland)
is reneging. They are attempting to retroactively say to Germany, “perform in
certain ways and receive benefits accordingly unless we get in financial
trouble and then we will
need some of your money.”
Germany is in a better situation than I am. The EU can’t force them to cough
their money up, but the state of California and the Federal Government can
arrest me if I don’t mine. On the other hand there is a vast history of
individuals being taxed more and more by governments who decide they need more
and more money; so I shouldn’t complain. Here, come take my money. I’m used
to it. But will Germany see it the same as I do?
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