A bit of personal analysis. Having lived in Germany for 14 years....there is a vast number of Germans who are absolutely uneducated beyond their high school "dump" of information. They rely heavily upon news organizations to inform them and to "know" the facts. Of course...the state-run media has taken a global warming position...so over 90 percent of the German population take that position. So when they want to engage in a "debate"...and I bring the top ten myths of global warming...they stand there and try to repeat what the TV host said...and I start tearing the argument apart for them. They usually come to a point of asking how I am so informed...and I simply respond that like most Americans...I refuse to accept information at face value. I read through alot of different publications and web sites. They don't.
As you look across the American population...the same situation exists there. People are picking up the publications and asking stupid questions. The global warming hawks now face a crowd who ask questions that can't be answered.
Adding to this entire episode is the necessity to tax people on invisible "weapons"...my favorite topic with Germans. For gamers out there...who must have a certain weapon...they are willing to spend cash on things which do not exist. When you examine the entire Kyoto treaty...its based totally on invisible "weapons" and giving money to someone to have their "weapons". In economics 101...you are taught a simple concept...a fool and his money are soon parted. This concept works well in today's environment. If you accept the idea of paying people for invisible "weapons"...then you might as well give up on your pension, your dreams, and settle back for the US being a third-world banana republic. I can't see myself or most of the American population taking that stand....
"there is a vast number of Germans who are absolutely uneducated beyond their high school "dump" of information. They rely heavily upon news organizations to inform them and to "know" the facts."
A friend of mine has lived in Germany for 20 years, was recently back and essentially agreed with you. She also made the point that Germans do not like change and want their lives to stay exactly as they are now. Day in and day out. This makes them bissfully happy.
I suspect that she, her German husband and HER FIVE CHILDREN will bemoving back to the US shortly. She doesn't like the dispproving stares that she gets when the whole family goes out together.