As most of you know, I get news from Germany through Mr. Z. Sadly, most of the articles are in German and, let's face it, my German's not bad, yours might not be either, but it's not great enough to totally catch political nuance. (or even some verbs and nouns!!)
SO: I'm starting a new LABEL for my blog and, while I know some of you couldn't give an empty bratwurst casing for any news from Europe (unless you first ate the bratwurst from that casing with a Weiss Bier, of course), some of you might feel it's worth reading and as important as I do. You all know I'm absolutely no ONE WORLD ORDER girl (yech!), but I am one who thinks it's nice to have effective allies (and I do mean 'effective' and that needs to happen). Also, I think it's interesting to see what they're doing and thinking over there...REALLY doing over there, not what our media's lying to us about. (and, please don't forget, almost ALL Euroepans get to read in English for the news is OUR New York Times-owned International Herald Tribune...and our Left wonders why 'they' hate us when we teach them to?) You will not hear the truth from us.
For example, everyone thinks the Germans LOVED OBAMA in Berlin. Wrong. Some did. But, Berliners, or any Germans for that matter, congregate outside when the weather's nice and there's any 'happening' with music (there were rock bands before he spoke) and food (vendors took the opportunity to sell food and drink). Some of the pundits like Obama and we heard from them in our news. What our news did not carry is how many didn't. MANY politicians called him an "empty suit" who "gives us nothing we haven't heard before from the Left, and how would he feel if we went there to campaign? Why'd he come?" Of course, those were politicians who aren't running for another term; they could afford to tick Obama off because they won't have to work with him, God forbid he's elected. Germany's media is lately saying "Man, our Leftists can be Marxists and Communists, too, but at least we call them for what they are. America's media hasn't the guts to call Obama anything but "liberal" and he's way past that." Did you hear that from our news? No, you didn't.
Another example; Germany's been asking German citizens to buy their own health insurance since Gerhard was in charge..."Please, we can't afford nationalized health anymore". Did you hear THAT? No, we're told "Europe has free healthcare, we can, too!" (ya, if you consider adding 15% on TOP of your already high taxes, it's FREE! and, even THEN, you pay something on top of that tax for your healthcare there).
All this to say: Z's having a labeled column with news from Germany. Don't yell at me, don't scoff, just please humor me. I think it can be helpful. I hope you find it worth considering, too.
Here's my first article: Angela Merkel is shifting policy on Russia and Georgia. It's worth reading to see what changed her mind, and how other countries are listening to her. And she's on our side. Check it out....I hope you do! Yes, it is in English.
Prost!
z
25 comments:
I will go read your first article, Z, and I think it's a wonderful idea! No, our news doesn't tell us everything, and that's a total understatement.
I think it's a good idea too.
I've read Der Spiegel before. That was interesting and no, I hadn't heard about any of it. Why not? I ask myself, laughing hysterically. Because like Hannity of Hannity and Colmes said: Journalism in this country died forever this year. I think he may be right.
I'm glad, Elbro.
Gayle, I heard that, too..and I think they're right. Americans would have previously said "yes, we're liberal, but we're American first." that's over. That's when journalism died.
Haven't you referred to our media as PRAVDA, too? I have, for 5 years or so. THAT's REALLY sad.
Glad you'll look forward to the pieces from over there.....I really appreciate that.
So when Putin goes after the Crimea is Angela going to fire back up the Waffen SS?
Ducky, I doubt it. Too bad, Russia sometimes deserves something like that.
I'm not going to get into the truth about Germans and what kind of country they are now. Believe what you want...you're a perfect example of someone who buys the media/professor mischaracterizations. thanks.
I think this is wonderful. You do a lot of different things here anyways that are cool so keep it coming hun!
BTW-I read the article and it really was so interesting.
Most databases, for example
http://www.kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm010307oth.cfm show that we
spend $6711 per capita in healthcare, far and away the highest in the world. Your brat boys over in Dusseldorf may be complaining,but theirs is $2983.
Those are the facts, I'm afraid..
bb....Your link doesn't work and I don't put much store in ANYTHING Kaiser does (the site seemed to be a Kaiser site but woulnd't open into your article link), but my point is that we're not getting the truth, that's all.
That we're paying that much is a reflection of of attorneys and illegals, mostly. And our excellent healthcare which, in my opinion, is better than that of Germany's, though Germany outdoes us in some arenas, from what I've seen; but not much.
I can't address those numbers unless I know what's in them, what they really reflect. Do you?
Another paste, Z
http://www.kff.org/insurance/snapshot/chcm010307oth.cfm
(the last part didn't seem to come through) Yes, attorneys and legal
are part. We seem to pay more for
drugs (Canada same stuff, half the price..ask the millions of US folk who buy up there). Health insurance continues to rise at three times inflation..we have 500
insurance people in cubicles in our small town, but only about 90 doctors. We have pretty good healthcare, but I heard the Kraut
docs even make housecalls. One suspects that our medical folk are in it to make $$$, the europeans may be more atlruistic? Possibly, as at
http://mdsalaries.blogspot.com/2008/01/american-versus-australian-european.html
we find that German physicians average $56,455, our US counterparts $266,733. There are a number of factors, but we pay a lot more, well those that can afford it or actually have health insurance. IMHO it is a mess.
Say, you don't suppose bratwurst and saurkraut makes a healthier population? :)
BB....bratwurst healthy? WHO KNOWS!!? I know they look at BEER as the sixth food group or something..and it's cheaper than orange juice in any restaurant!
Yes, they make less money, but they live SO much better there. I can NEVER figure out how Germans take the vacations they do. I don't know if we're a more 'throw-away' society which spends more on trivial stuff or what, but they live very well in spite of less income in general. And, oh, do those who've retired already have it made in the shade, bb..GREAT elder care there, just incredible.
I haven't see house calls made, but they might.
Funny, I was picking up a woman I met recently to go to an event a month or so ago; she lives in subsidized housing. She's not a citizen and gets money from our government for 'asylum' from Azerbaijan (as IF). I'm sitting in the car waiting and there goes a doctor into the building carrying a black bag, with a stethoscope around his neck. She lives there in a room, apparently, for $300 a month, subsidized by the Presbyterians.
Sure, he goes to HER building to visit the elderly on welfare there and they pay NOTHING (medicare or Medical or something). Me? I pay about $900 a month for Blue Shield with a HUGE deductible for me and Mr. Z! Housecalls for US? ARE YOU NUTS?!!
Z, this is a great idea.
America is not an island unto itself, and there is no denying that being a part of the global economy makes us more interdependent, and a major player.
What happens over there affects us over here. Regarding the terrorist threat and it's ramifications, watching Europe is like a peek into the future.
A window through which to look as a warning as to what to do or in many cases, what not to do regarding the islamo-fascists.
I regard this as a service you're providing, that too few are privy to. Mostly the MSM provides snippets of events with little real context or accuracy in reporting.
Your first article here is very interesting. One get's the feeling it's the same old story, regarding Russia and the West, we can pay now, or we can pay later.
Our alliances there are extremely important, if we turn our backs on Georgia, who's next? Russia is also part of the global economy, and interdependent themselves. The next President will have a full plate as Bush has.
One thing is sure, the man that takes over the reins here, has to be a another grown-up, and tough enough to deal with problems we probably haven't even thought of.
This is no time for a young dreamer who fancies himself as a savior.
Pris
Good we agree on something:
Beer IS a sixth foodgroup!
(hiccup) :)
Pris, thanks, and boy, are you right about the next president. On-the-job training is going to put us in peril and Biden's not going to help...he of the idea that sending $200 million to Iran to make sure they know we don't hate them just after 9/11 showed us that. (WHAT?)
MY GOD, are terrorists licking their chops for this election or WHAT?
BB...I have a feeling we agree on more than beer. Actually, I ONLY drink beer (and rarely even then) when I'm in Germany. Hot day, outside cafe at 11AM...white veal sausages in steaming hot water that you retrieve them from when you're ready for your next one, dark bread with sweet mustard that makes you cry it's so delicious, and Weiss Bier..hearing the Sunday morning church bells, sitting under cascading red geraniums. Not bad, believe me.
My daughter, who lives in Belgium, told me that there is absolutely NO news whatsover on McCain - it's all about Obama this and Obama that.
I used to pick up Der Spiegel when I was stationed over in Belgium and used to get my first wife to translate certain articles for me.
Steve, I can't speak for Belgium, but I'm sure that's true. I'm not saying some of Germany isn't enamored with the young guy who promises America's going to be KINDER to them and would rather we give up our sovereignty and safety than enter into another righteous war, but I can tell you the Germans are NOT all enamored with him.
I'd venture the guess that McCain's old and staid and not as exciting as Obama; doesn't sell papers. Doesn't mean they aren't interested in both sides of the election.
It's good to get a German insight; it's another reason I subscribe to UK's The Economist -- another perspective. Can be quite illuminating. Used to subscribe to Jane's Intelligence Review but now you need the GDP of Switzerland to fund the yearly rate.
BZ
MANY politicians called him an "empty suit" who "gives us nothing we haven't heard before from the Left
I think foreign leaders are going to love Obama because they will have their way with him. What they will never do is respect him.
Terrific idea, Z. It's good to hear another perspective from overseas.
Z,
Deine Idee gefaellt mir. Das wird interessant sein. Schade dass ich deutsch nicht besser lesen kann. (Ja, ich verstehe dass die Artilels werden auf englisch sein.)
--Tio Bowser
I'm glad you're all for this..thanks.
Tio..nicht shlecht!
Chuck, you're right. NO respect, not after he did that stint in Europe.
I'll be posting mostly things I see from Europe which I know darned well our media's misrepresented. Again.
HEY YOU!
Thanks SO much for the link to the German newspaper...in English.
I have saved it to my favorites for future reference. And I posted several articles from it in CM. Especially, the immigration and the economic reporting.
Pati
Great, Pati! Good for more and more people to get the truth!
I'll be emailing again on Friday...we're on vacation...xx
Z
Do you have the link to the specific article (s) wherein those 'quotes' about Obama's visit took place? I could USE Them right now on CM...
Pati
No....we're on vacation and I don't want to get into all the stuff, can't right now.
Also, most of it's in Germany, Patti..sorry. :-(
I hear the German news read to me by Mr. Z almost every morning...My quotes are all real, from Der Speigel, Die Welt, etc.
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