Germany has strong unions, and 3.6% economic growth in 2010...

[old mark]

The republican idea that unions are causing the economic crisis in the US is obviously nonsense. German companies have workers and union members on their board of directors-by national law, and the recovery in that country is phenominal compared to that in the USA, which is currently trying to destroy its unions. Theslowdown of the German economy in the last quarter of 2010-3% compared to a 3rd Q growth of 7%-
was due to bad weather and huge amounts of snow, not unions...link;

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112235565


mark

[Newest Reality]

1. From what I've read, the

progressive kinds of benefits that German workers receive make the US look like a bad comedy show by comparison, or maybe a sad soap opera.

There are working models for well-treated employees and sound, Universal health care. The US has a model of decay and predation that is shameful considering the IMMENSE wealth of the country that is now held by a relative few.

Our house is still standing, but somebody has cleaned-out all our belongings, so we say, "Well, at least we still have a house! Hey, wasn't there a wall there yesterday? Where did that window go?"

[bluerum]

2. Germany has very progressive (relative to US) labor laws.

[Drale]

3. Germany is also a socialized Democracy

which is something really strong that is going for them that again the Republicans are against because it would mean they don't make as much money.

[iamtechus]

4. It won't be long now.

I've noticed that when Germany is experiencing problems involving things like unemployment, deficits, etc., it is not uncommon for the government to call together representatives from industry AND labor to work on solutions. It's true that this is because they are "socialist" but that's too simple an answer to completely explain this phenomenon.

I suspect that it's because there are still many people there who lived through their country's hitting rock bottom and then having to rise from the ashes through hard work and cooperation (not exploitation).

We've not quite hit rock bottom.

[old mark]

5. ...but we are certainly headed in that direction, and we seem to be gaining speed...nt