I wouldn't say there's no anti-Americanism in Germany, but to call what that guy said anti-Americanism is nonsense. And to this locust capitalist thing...this is not limited to the USA. Did you read about this Siemens-BenQ story that went down just now? Essentially the same thing.
But of course there's anti-Americanism in Germany, there is also anti-Europeanism in the USA. Of course all of this anti is just a reaction to the other side feeling so high and mighty over a few things bla bla bla. Essentially that whole thing bores me to death. But I'll admit that using anti-Americanism for political goals over here is worth reporting. But this is just no A-A if you read it in context, this is just something where people that are already pissed can find another reason if they try hard enough.
And from what I could find on the net, the German poverty line is at 930 euros per month, while the US poverty line is at 9650 dollars per year or about 805 dollars per month. If the numbers are correct, this would invalidate your claim that 1/3 of all Germans would be poor given the use of US measures.
"But of course there's anti-Americanism in Germany, there is also anti-Europeanism in the USA. Of course "
Wrong. Most Americans don't really care about the Germans or Europeans. In fact it wasn't until recent when Gerhard started ripping his mouth open that Germany came into the picture at all. However, like it or not, the Germans have an "Amerika Fetisch".
As to your great "Soziale Marktwirtschaft". You alone have over 11% who are unemployed! Near half of your Rentner are under the poverty line, yes- UNDER POVERTY line. The difference is that in Germany what we call the projects is called a Sozialwohnung and while we make movies about this and you get your whole world view based on it, right under your nose in Koeln alone you have 19,000 people applying each year for government assisted housing because they can't afford other housing anymore.
Speaking of which, I pay $1.94 for a GALLON of gas (3.85 liters) you? For $500 a month you can rent a decent apartment, you? In fact, food, utilities, even a new German built car costs less in the US. What I pay in dollars at a good steak house for a Rib-eye you pay in Euro's for a Schnitzel out of a deepfatfryer. You can check it up yourself! Go to a BMW website and compare US prices to German prices and realize, those prices in the US are VERY negotiable. What's the point- When I say that the poverty line is around $10,000 for a single person (It goes up for every member of the houshold) and the everything from Baby formula to a baby stroller to diapers or even the crib costs less, there is a factor that must be included called "Cost of Living". Zusaetzlich werden in den USA in der Formel das "Netto" gehalt in der Rechnung verwendet, in Deutschland?
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/threshld/thresh05.html (And that's last years figures which are lower) Zum Beispiel- Ehepaar $12,755 im Jahr "Netto" wuerde heissen das am ende des Steuerjahres man 100% von seinen eingezahlten Steuer zurueck bekommt weil man an der Armutsgrenze ist. Eine vier Koepfige Familie ist schon mit $20,474 an dieser Grenze, und die Tatsache ist, das dein Euro dir wenging kauf kraft gibt wie ein Dollar in den USA, egal was der Waechselkurs ist. Von einer Cola im Local das mir nur $1.50 kostet und wo ich so oft wie ich moechte nachfuellen kann um sonsst, biss zu den Sportschuhen von Nike oder Addidas, der Dollar hat in wirklichkeit eine Groessere Kaufkraft.