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finnbow
03-15-2011, 01:12 PM
My son, who has lived in Germany since September, sent me this thoughtful piece from the Guardian about the rebound in the German economy. They are where they are, in part, because they build stuff people want instead of focusing their efforts in the casino of the financial sector (as we, Iceland, Greece, Spain, Ireland, the UK, and Portugal did). Also, their government did some very smart things in the downturn (unlike ours, unfortunately).

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/14/germany-new-boom-making-stuff

Well, our free lunch went poof, while they're building cars and machine tools for the world at a dizzying pace.

BTW, my son has been very impressed with the intelligence, common sense and well-distributed prosperity over there (notwithstanding his remarks about the robotic nature of some Germans). He reports that the beer and Frauleins are first rate though.

bhunter
03-15-2011, 03:33 PM
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/14/germany-new-boom-making-stuff

Well, our free lunch went poof, while they're building cars and machine tools for the world at a dizzying pace.

BTW, my son has been very impressed with the intelligence, common sense and well-distributed prosperity over there (notwithstanding his remarks about the robotic nature of some Germans). He reports that the beer and Frauleins are first rate though.

I think German's manufacture the best products: Whia tools to Mercedes automobiles. Their vehicles made here just do not seem to have the same quality of fit and finish as those made in Germany. I attribute it to being culturally aware of craftsmanship.

djv8ga
03-15-2011, 08:35 PM
I think German's manufacture the best products: Whia tools to Mercedes automobiles. Their vehicles made here just do not seem to have the same quality of fit and finish as those made in Germany. I attribute it to being culturally aware of craftsmanship.
I couldn't agree more! They make awesome firearms too. I'm not real keen on their food although I LOVE Sour Kraute. I will eat that stuff till I'm sick. :o

BlueStreak
03-15-2011, 11:48 PM
I think German's manufacture the best products: Whia tools to Mercedes automobiles. Their vehicles made here just do not seem to have the same quality of fit and finish as those made in Germany. I attribute it to being culturally aware of craftsmanship.

I've done a lot of work with German (and Austrian) industrial machinery. Krones, Engelpresse, Bosch and a few others. The electronics can be a little bit squirrely, but the mechanicals, engineering and machine work are always first rate. Way ahead of anything American or Japanese made.

(I also tend to like German made stereo gear. ClearAudio, Thorens, Dual....).

Dave

djv8ga
03-16-2011, 08:06 AM
I have a German made RWS Magnum 350 pellet (.22 cal) gun. This thing is so much fun because of the quality as well as the power. Cocking it will wear your butt out though.

finnbow
03-16-2011, 08:08 AM
I've done a lot of work with German (and Austrian) industrial machinery. Krones, Engelpresse, Bosch and a few others. The electronics can be a little bit squirrely, but the mechanicals, engineering and machine work are always first rate. Way ahead of anything American or Japanese made.

True dat about the electronics. Their mechanical engineering prowess is second to none. Electrical? Not so much.

merrylander
03-16-2011, 08:37 AM
True dat about the electronics. Their mechanical engineering prowess is second to none. Electrical? Not so much.

I recall when we were making the ITU-T Recommendations for packet switching they were adamant about circuit switching and Telex. They fought every inch of the way.:rolleyes:

d-ray657
03-16-2011, 11:33 AM
Blasphemers!! You're saying that Germany is more exceptional than us. It just can't be. Besides, they have all those union thugs running all over the place.

Regards,

D-Ray

BlueStreak
03-16-2011, 11:35 AM
Blasphemers!! You're saying that Germany is more exceptional than us. It just can't be. Besides, they have all those union thugs running all over the place.

Regards,

D-Ray

LMAO!!!!!! Tell it, Don!

Dave

djv8ga
03-16-2011, 06:41 PM
Besides, they have all those union thugs running all over the place.

Regards,

D-Ray
Nazis reinvented. No different than here.

noonereal
03-16-2011, 07:00 PM
Nazis reinvented. No different than here.

God bless

djv8ga
03-16-2011, 07:59 PM
God bless
Dude, Get some help! You know...maybe you don't...sometimes it's all in fun. You are the most depressed motherfucker I know of.

HatchetJack
03-17-2011, 08:13 PM
Ahh Noon can't help it, " he aint from around here"

Seems our past enemies are doing what we used to do and now we
are doing what they used to do which is very little.

d-ray657
03-17-2011, 10:03 PM
Hey Jack, Long time no read. You doing OK?

Regards,

D-Ray

noonereal
03-17-2011, 10:06 PM
Dude, Get some help! You know...maybe you don't...sometimes it's all in fun. You are the most depressed motherfucker I know of.

thanks!

d-ray657
03-17-2011, 10:07 PM
Nazis reinvented. No different than here.

There are some time I wonder if things might start turning around if the union folks did start busting some heads. Problem is that it would never reach the ones who actually make the decisions to screw the working folk. I just turns out to be one hired hand busting the head of another.

Regards,

D-Ray

HatchetJack
03-18-2011, 05:55 AM
Thanks D-Ray I am fine. Just staying busy trying to keep a business afloat, keeping 2 hungry kids fed and happy and trying to repair stray speakers and
electronics that tend to follow me home. How are you guys?

d-ray657
03-18-2011, 07:19 AM
Thanks D-Ray I am fine. Just staying busy trying to keep a business afloat, keeping 2 hungry kids fed and happy and trying to repair stray speakers and
electronics that tend to follow me home. How are you guys?

So you have a problem with strays too? I have at least two years worth of stuff waiting for attention.

What you're doing seems to describe what a lot of us are doing - trying to keep up. I'm looking forward to the time when We're just paying one mortgage instead of a mortgage here and rents for both boys. The grocery bill will drop a bit after that too.

Oh yeah, still trying to fight for truth, justice and the American worker.:cool:

Regards,

D-Ray

Charles
03-18-2011, 07:25 AM
There are some time I wonder if things might start turning around if the union folks did start busting some heads. Problem is that it would never reach the ones who actually make the decisions to screw the working folk. I just turns out to be one hired hand busting the head of another.

Regards,

D-Ray

Doesn't the majority of union members now work in the public sector?

If so, who's heads are they gonna bust...the taxpayers? Or the governments?

But it does appear the unions are catching on.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/566397/201103171834/Unions-Join-In-Challenging-EPA.htm

Sounds to me like the union members in the private sector are realizing that the Democrats aren't acting in their best interests. I also find it odd to be in agreement with McCackle, although she's just playing both sides against the middle.

Chas

d-ray657
03-18-2011, 07:33 AM
Doesn't the majority of union members now work in the public sector?

If so, who's heads are they gonna bust...the taxpayers? Or the governments?

But it does appear the unions are catching on.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/566397/201103171834/Unions-Join-In-Challenging-EPA.htm

Sounds to me like the union members in the private sector are realizing that the Democrats aren't acting in their best interests. I also find it odd to be in agreement with McCackle, although she's just playing both sides against the middle.

Chas

I take it MCCackle is the sweet lady who writes that blog?

Of course it's about jobs for the unions, but I would not agree that it's dues before jobs. The important thing about dues, however, is that they allow unions to talk the same language that businesses talk - although not nearly as loudly.

Regards,

D-Ray

Charles
03-18-2011, 08:13 AM
I take it MCCackle is the sweet lady who writes that blog?

Of course it's about jobs for the unions, but I would not agree that it's dues before jobs. The important thing about dues, however, is that they allow unions to talk the same language that businesses talk - although not nearly as loudly.

Regards,

D-Ray

Any thoughts on worker cooperatives?

Chas

BlueStreak
03-18-2011, 09:52 AM
Doesn't the majority of union members now work in the public sector?

If so, who's heads are they gonna bust...the taxpayers? Or the governments?

But it does appear the unions are catching on.

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/566397/201103171834/Unions-Join-In-Challenging-EPA.htm

Sounds to me like the union members in the private sector are realizing that the Democrats aren't acting in their best interests. I also find it odd to be in agreement with McCackle, although she's just playing both sides against the middle.

Chas

Yeah, but somehow I don't see much love between the unions and the GOP either.

Jimmy Hoffa once said, "The local union is a ship upon the sea. We can no more assume a ship on the horizon is a friend than we can assume it is an enemy." In other words, dealing with politicians is some tricky shit. So be VERY careful.

He may have been as crooked as a dogs hind leg, but Jimmy was no dummy either.

Dave

piece-itpete
03-18-2011, 10:04 AM
Nixon peeled the unions off the Dems once.

Pete

BlueStreak
03-18-2011, 10:09 AM
How so?

Speaking of tricky politicians.

Dave

piece-itpete
03-18-2011, 10:18 AM
Can't remember exactly, read it a long time ago in a positively giant memoir. But he did get the head of IIRC the Teamsters? to announce for him. Anyway one of the big unions.

The union felt the Dems were taking them for granted was the gist of it I think.

Pete

BlueStreak
03-18-2011, 11:00 AM
Can't remember exactly, read it a long time ago in a positively giant memoir. But he did get the head of IIRC the Teamsters? to announce for him. Anyway one of the big unions.

The union felt the Dems were taking them for granted was the gist of it I think.

Pete

Right. Frank "Fitz" Fitzsimmons endorsed Nixon in '68, after Bobby Kennedy sent Jimmy to jail. Then Bobby was assassinated and Nixon pardoned Jimmy three years later IIRC. Then when Jimmy found out Fitz had agreed to kick Jimmy to the curb in exchange for the pardon, funny things started happening to Fitz. His car mysteriously exploded..........:rolleyes:

So,
Bobby K (D-Mass.) sends crooked union boss, Jimmy Hoffa, to prison.
Bobby K is whacked.
Next union boss, Fitz, helps Tricky Dick (R-CA.) get elected to Whitehouse.
Tricky Dick pardons Hoffa so long as Teamsters keep Hoffa at arms length.
Fitzs Cadillac explodes.
Hoffa mysteriously disappears.

Decipher that one.

Dave

piece-itpete
03-18-2011, 12:09 PM
Ah, the good old days :D

Pete

BlueStreak
03-18-2011, 01:25 PM
Ah, the good old days :D

Pete

+1. :D

Dave

ebacon
04-01-2013, 09:08 AM
Sorry for the necro bump, but there is an educational line in the OP article that deregulation fans need to digest.

The latest euro crisis (http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/debt-crisis) over Cyprus (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/cyprus) bears out Beck's analysis. According to Newsnight's Paul Mason (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-21899515), the Germans want to "avoid creating a moral hazard, rewarding a country that has sold itself as a rule-free playground for Russians who want to keep their money".

Sound familiar?

finnbow
04-01-2013, 12:45 PM
Sorry for the necro bump, but there is an educational line in the OP article that deregulation fans need to digest.

Sound familiar?

Yep. The Cyprus banks took Russian deposits (of depositors seeking a place to avoid taxes) and invested it primarily in Greek bonds. Little did they know that Goldman Sachs was playing games in the Greek bond markets. So, in an indirect sense, Wall Street was at least partially responsible for the demise of Cyprus' banks.

ebacon
04-01-2013, 12:53 PM
Of course the neocon fans are going crazy looking for where Glenn Beck ever said that.

BlueStreak
04-01-2013, 01:08 PM
A grinning opossum sporting Lederhosen whispered it in his ear from a branch as he chased Stalinist gnomes around in the warped wilderness of his mind.............

Regards,
Dave

bobabode
04-01-2013, 02:59 PM
A grinning opossum sporting Lederhosen whispered it in his ear from a branch as he chased Stalinist gnomes around in the warped wilderness of his mind.............

Regards,
Dave

Post of the month!:D