German unemployment highest since 1930's

[opebo]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care and generous unemployment benefits than in the land of scraping by with 3 WalMart/McDonalds style jobs.

Give up your citizenship then.  Please, you are a disgrace to this country.

Believe me, if I could swap American citizenship for citizenship in almost any Western European country, I would do so eagerly!

[opebo]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Even if this were true, it's horrible for the country... if absolutely nobody's working, the country will become stagnant and overly dependent on everyone else.

Germany's doing fine.  They have massive exports of high-value added goods, great jobs for many, and great benefits for those that are unemployed.  Great quality of life for the vast majority of people.  The US by contrast has a third world economy - great wealth for the top 1 or 2 percent, and miserable scraping for the bottom 60-70%.

Btw, those of you that are repeating the mantra of 'socialism doesn't work' are misrepresenting Germany.  Germany is not socialist, and in fact a capitalist country with some redistributionist moderation of capitalism's inevitable concentration of economic benefits works just fine.

[skybridge]

Funny how the people who credit their hero Reagan for ending the Cold War still call Germany socialist. But, of course, any form of social well-fare is communism to you guys. Gee, I sure hope you never get sick....

[minionofmidas]

Good Lord... the usual three brain cell discussion about "Europe" and "Socialism"... in a minute Opebo will come along and say that being unemployed is a good thing...

Where's a certain Greenie from Frankfurt when you need him?
Oh well...

Offline.

[minionofmidas]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care

Don't go to Germany then. We have compulsory healthcare, but not free healthcare.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Offline.

That's no excuse :-P

[minionofmidas]

They might count unemployment differently from the US, I'm not sure.

In the US, you can be actively looking for a job, and not be counted as unemployed - and it definitely doesn't count you if you gave up 2 years ago.

They are heavily undercounting in the US, yes.
"and it definitely doesn't count if you gave up 2 years ago" - yeah, that's basically what they've changed here. That used to be true here too. Very basically.

[A18]

Funny how the people who credit their hero Reagan for ending the Cold War still call Germany socialist. But, of course, any form of social well-fare is communism to you guys. Gee, I sure hope you never get sick....

Cold War = United States vs. Soviet Union

Cold War != Capitalism v. Socialism

[minionofmidas]

Alcon - it's not possible.
There used to be different types of benefits called
"Arbeitslosengeld" ("Unemployed Money"), "Arbeitslosenhilfe" ("Unemployed Help"), and "Sozialhilfe" ("Social Help", to use the most literal translations I can think of).
Arbeitslosengeld remains unchanged. It is payed for a fixed amount of weeks, is a percentage of your last salary (ah, social benefits to those who don't speaking need them - gotta hate that), and is not to any amount means-tested - these are benefits out of compulsory (except to the self-employed) unemployment insurance.
Arbeitslosenhilfe and Sozialhilfe have been fused now, and are now called "Arbeitslosengeld II". This is welfare. It's not very much (yeah, better than in the US, but still), it's means-tested.
The difference used to be that Arbeitslosenhilfe was payed by the feds, Sozialhilfe by the city or district. The amount was the same, though the Sozialhilfe means testing was somewhat stricter. You also had to prove to be actively looking for a job to be on Arbeitslosenhilfe - but of course, all that could happen to you was get Sozialhilfe instead. They've scrapped that bargage distinction now. Thence anyone theoretically able to work (ie, 15-65, not gravely disabled) who used to be on Sozialhilfe, is now included in the unemployed statistics but wasn't before.
It used to be that you might also be getting some additional Sozialhilfe if you had only a very tiny income...oddly enough that's now also called Arbeitslosengeld II, even though those receiving it are not as it were unemployed. They are not included in the new unemployed statistics though.

[opebo]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care

Don't go to Germany then. We have compulsory healthcare, but not free healthcare.

So, are you saying that people without money, such as the unemployed, are allowed to die in the street? 

[phk]

GROWTH IN the U.S. in the third quarter was 3.9 percent. In Europe, it was 1.2 percent, and in Germany and France it was 0.4 percent.

Much of that weak growth in Europe is based on strong export demand. As the euro goes up in value, European exports will decline as their prices rise on the world market.

That threatens to throw some European economies back into recession.

One of the peculiarities of the situation is that the U.S. economy, which is stronger than Europe or Japan’s, is attempting to get these countries to subsidize higher growth in the U.S. by slower growth in their own economies.

It’s what’s known as a "beggar thy neighbor policy"–get out of your problems by exporting them to someone else, even if they are in a weaker position economically than you are.

[angus]

The Falling Dollar Syndrome.

Socialist Syndrome is more like it.

either way, it's the last time I listen to that fat bastard Neil Cavuto!

[Tory]

The Falling Dollar Syndrome.

Socialist Syndrome is more like it.

either way, it's the last time I listen to that fat bastard Neil Cavuto!

[angus]

The Falling Dollar Syndrome.

Socialist Syndrome is more like it.

either way, it's the last time I listen to that fat bastard Neil Cavuto!

sorry for the rant.  bad investment advice.  I'm no good at this.  don't know what's going on in Germany.  Unemployment is, according to what I remember from microeconomics class, meant to vary inversely (or maybe negatively?) with inflation.  So, a stronger European Currency Unit means more inflation.  Now, I suppose you could call that "falling dollar syndrome" but that assumes the Dollar is the absolute, abject standard.  I don't think it is.  Thus, non-sequitor.  What about "Socialist syndrome" 

I'll assume by that you mean restrictions on employment rules, etc., causing general decline of growth.  I'd agree to that.  But does it follow, then, that inflation (i.e., rising prices) can be caused by those restrictions (e.g., what days of the week a store can open, how many hours can, or must, an employee work, etc.)

[opebo]

The Falling Dollar Syndrome.

Socialist Syndrome is more like it.

either way, it's the last time I listen to that fat bastard Neil Cavuto!

sorry for the rant.  bad investment advice.  I'm no good at this.  don't know what's going on in Germany.  Unemployment is, according to what I remember from microeconomics class, meant to vary inversely (or maybe negatively?) with inflation.  So, a stronger European Currency Unit means more inflation.  Now, I suppose you could call that "falling dollar syndrome" but that assumes the Dollar is the absolute, abject standard.  I don't think it is.  Thus, non-sequitor.  What about "Socialist syndrome" 

The strengthening Euro reduces inflation in Germany and other Euro countries, while the falling dollar increases inflation in the U.S.

[phk]

Euro-economies are driven by export-growth.

When the Euro inflates in value, they hurt.

Our growth is driven by consumer spending, thus if consumer confidence index falls; we hurt.

[ATFFL]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care and generous unemployment benefits than in the land of scraping by with 3 WalMart/McDonalds style jobs.

Give up your citizenship then.  Please, you are a disgrace to this country.

Believe me, if I could swap American citizenship for citizenship in almost any Western European country, I would do so eagerly!

Actually, it is insanely easy to do.  Just go to any US consulate and formally renounce your US citizenship. 

You can learn how to become a British citizen here

It is not hard to learn how to gain citizenship in another nation.  If there is another nation you would like to learn about I will gladly help.

[phk]

I think its possible to get dual-citizenship. Best of both worlds.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care and generous unemployment benefits than in the land of scraping by with 3 WalMart/McDonalds style jobs.

Give up your citizenship then.  Please, you are a disgrace to this country.

Believe me, if I could swap American citizenship for citizenship in almost any Western European country, I would do so eagerly!

Actually, it is insanely easy to do.  Just go to any US consulate and formally renounce your US citizenship. 

You can learn how to become a British citizen here

It is not hard to learn how to gain citizenship in another nation.  If there is another nation you would like to learn about I will gladly help.

No, no, no, no... we don't want him over here... send him to Moldova instead...

[ATFFL]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care and generous unemployment benefits than in the land of scraping by with 3 WalMart/McDonalds style jobs.

Give up your citizenship then.  Please, you are a disgrace to this country.

Believe me, if I could swap American citizenship for citizenship in almost any Western European country, I would do so eagerly!

Actually, it is insanely easy to do.  Just go to any US consulate and formally renounce your US citizenship. 

You can learn how to become a British citizen here

It is not hard to learn how to gain citizenship in another nation.  If there is another nation you would like to learn about I will gladly help.

No, no, no, no... we don't want him over here... send him to Moldova instead...

Yes, I should apologize to whatever nation he ends up going to.

Actually, he may hve his choice of nations by declaring that he is a political refugee fleeing the Bush admin.

Though I doubt he will actually do anything.  Actually, I doubt the veracity of all of his claims.

[opebo]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care and generous unemployment benefits than in the land of scraping by with 3 WalMart/McDonalds style jobs.

Give up your citizenship then.  Please, you are a disgrace to this country.

Believe me, if I could swap American citizenship for citizenship in almost any Western European country, I would do so eagerly!

Actually, it is insanely easy to do.  Just go to any US consulate and formally renounce your US citizenship. 

You can learn how to become a British citizen here

It is not hard to learn how to gain citizenship in another nation.  If there is another nation you would like to learn about I will gladly help.

I suspect it is probably quite difficult to become a citizen of most nations, particularly the good ones like say the Netherlands, Belgium, or the Scandinavian countries.  Please share any information you have about those.

[Richard]

I suspect it is probably quite difficult to become a citizen of most nations, particularly the good ones like say the Netherlands, Belgium, or the Scandinavian countries.  Please share any information you have about those.

Guy01: Baklaka dakaham INFIDEL Muhammed JIDHAD!!!!!
European_Country_01: Here is your visa.  Here is welfare.  Here, move your family into our country!

[Tory]

Being unemployed in Germany is better than being employed in a larger percentage of the jobs in America.

Obviously I'd rather live in a land of free health care and generous unemployment benefits than in the land of scraping by with 3 WalMart/McDonalds style jobs.

Give up your citizenship then.  Please, you are a disgrace to this country.

Believe me, if I could swap American citizenship for citizenship in almost any Western European country, I would do so eagerly!

Actually, it is insanely easy to do.  Just go to any US consulate and formally renounce your US citizenship. 

You can learn how to become a British citizen here

It is not hard to learn how to gain citizenship in another nation.  If there is another nation you would like to learn about I will gladly help.

What happens when you renounce your citizenship? Does the U.S. kick you out of the country? Where do you go?

[Notre Dame rules!]

I don't suppose it is to difficult to become a citizen, or at least a resident alien in virtually any European country.  Just call the Jordanian, Egyptian, Morrocan, Syrian, or any other Middle-Easern Embassy.  The Arabs have had no problem with swamping Europe for the last several decades.   


But getting back to the unemployment issue.  However you want to massage the unemployment numbers, Schroeder is in deep doo.  He will most likely lose to the CDU/CSU in this Fall's election.  That is part of the reason that his AG is trying to prosecute former members of the Kohl administration.  It takes the heat off of his own mismanagement of Germany's economy. 

[minionofmidas]

I don't suppose it is to difficult to become a citizen, or at least a resident alien in virtually any European country.  Just call the Jordanian, Egyptian, Morrocan, Syrian, or any other Middle-Easern Embassy.  The Arabs have had no problem with swamping Europe for the last several decades.   


But getting back to the unemployment issue.  However you want to massage the unemployment numbers, Schroeder is in deep doo.  He will most likely lose to the CDU/CSU in this Fall's election.  That is part of the reason that his AG is trying to prosecute former members of the Kohl administration.  It takes the heat off of his own mismanagement of Germany's economy. 

Uh...
A German government not down in the polls at this time of the term basically has very little to fear.
And Manfred Kanther is on trial in Hessen, which the CDU rules. The Feds are in no way involved.
Really, man, I wonder where you get your news from.