[OldFriend]

After living in Germany for four years my son never got the feeling that the work ethic was alive and well in Germany.

[snugs]

Germany has declined in recent years certainly in the industry I am in which is wire and cable.

I can remember in the 80s they were well respected in our industry and were looked upon as an industry model for other cable companies.

Unfortunately due mainly in my opinion to reuniting of the East and West. Many of the West German companies were "given" back their factories in the East which were old fashion and inefficient. They tried to run them but in the end many were forced to close costing the companies a great deal of money and gave Germany a huge welfare problem.

At lot of the East Germans had not been used to working in a competitive capitalistic market and found it impossible to adapt and expected hand outs from the West German government.

Incidentally and showing that the exceptions prove the rule Angela Merkel comes from the East.

Half the companies I knew in the early 80s have closed or import their goods now but in regard to payment they are still one of the best.