"You got that right."
Posted on 05/14/2005 12:45:38 AM PDT by pepsionice
Germany less competitive. Germany has fallen to rank 23 from rank 21 in the ”World Competitiveness Yearbook 2005” of Lausanne's International Institute for Management Development. In 2001, the annual study still listed Germany as the world's 17th most competitive economy. This year's study cited as particular weaknesses the relatively low inflow of foreign direct investment into Germany, weak growth rates and general economic and fiscal policy parameters. The IMD's economists called for a reform of the German tax system, the consolidation of public finances, the development of a comprehensive innovation strategy, a reform of the education and social insurance systems, a more flexible labor market and less state regulation. Bavaria, the only German state that is listed as a separate economy, was ranked ahead of the whole of Germany this year, at No. 18. The ranking of 60 countries was again headed by the United States.
Thanks to WalMart the U.S. is still number one.
I think Germans blame their fall on reunification.
If you read the article, the real hoot is that Bavaria is listed as a separate economy and is more competitive (#18) than is Germany as a whole (#23)!
"This year's study cited as particular weaknesses the relatively low inflow of foreign direct investment into Germany" While coming back through Frankfurt, I picked up a copy of the European Wall Street Journal. Schroder was quoted as saying companies were too interested in making a profit. Recently, the left of Schroder have been really pursuing the "Americans as blood sucking( crypto Jews ) parasites" to German companies theme.
Germany has large debts, no growth, doesn't like foreign investment, has taking in a huge amount of more or less Communist through the collapse of the wall and unification with East Germany, has a talented but inflexible workforce. The economy could get worse before better.
"This year's study cited as particular weaknesses the relatively low inflow of foreign direct investment into Germany" While coming back through Frankfurt, I picked up a copy of the European Wall Street Journal. Schroder was quoted as saying companies were too interested in making a profit. Recently, the left of Schroder have been really pursuing the "Americans as blood sucking( crypto Jews ) parasites" to German companies theme.
Germany has large debts, no growth, doesn't like foreign investment, has taking in a huge amount of more or less Communist through the collapse of the wall and unification with East Germany, has a talented but inflexible workforce. The economy could get worse before better.
What Germany needs is entrepreneural thinking, that small business state of mind, problem solving. People who tinker in their garages, making better mouse traps or some profitable way to use up throwaway goods. A woman in NY a few years ago noticed her company tossing out carloads of bits of plastic chopped off whatever it was they made. This was untapped potential. What could you do with bits of plastic nobody wanted? Why, melt them into hair clips. She made an informercial and sold her product on tv, then everywhere. Made millions.
Another woman, mother of nine year-old triplets, owns and runs a party planning company that does a million dollar business. She's just an average American with energy.
And then there's my friend, Mary, who thinks up wondrous ideas, talks about doing something....and doesn't. Years ago, she thought up 'Pullups', the million dollar disposable diaper/panty for toddlers...talked about it, didn't follow through. This is just one of her ideas. I suspect they're floating around in the ether all the time. We just have to tap into this stream of original thought. There's no reason Germany couldn't make entrepreneural thinking/small business start-ups a national priority. They just need a good public relations campaign and their problems are solved.
not if the unions destroy them
"You got that right."
Surely, I am not the only one who feels a sudden cold chill upon reading those words.
It's only a matter of time before Old Europe collapses in ruin due to the entitlement attitude engendered by their runaway socialism. More than anyone the Euros are voting themselves benefits out of the public coffers. When their doomed economies collapse they will go back to their normal mode of operation... invading each other.
Who was it that said that if you want to get rich just find a way to sell the Europeans something that will enable them to cut each other's throats? Heck, the only reason the US began to maintain a huge standing army after WWII was to defend ourselves from some European-based or backed political insanity. And you know what? That's still true today.
France is #30. Scotland is #35. South Africa is #46. Italy is #53. Mexico is #56. Poland is #57.
Since "blood sucking" is code talk for productivity, ingenuity and enterpriser, we should suck up as much blood as possible.
Who is John Galt?
Cover says "US Investors in Germany. The Bloodsuckers"
you left out the hugh burden on Germany of their socialist policies (welfare, workweek, excessive leave, limits on capitalism...). I'm series, Europe as we have known it will be gone in 20 years.
A little history review:
We almost completely disarmed after WWII dispite the threat from the USSR. Had to gear up again for Korea. Same after Korea and had to gear up for Vietnam. Then Carter severly slashed the military. Reagan rebuilt it. Clinton/Gore cut the military by half and now we are having to make do as best we can.
Summary: Democrat lefties disarm us and Republicans have to spend a ton to build us back up. Then Republicans get blamed for budget deficit.
True. Still, the causes of these conflicts trace back to the spread of kicked-in-the-head european philosophies - notably Marxism.
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