Germany: "Ruled by the old, for the old"

Hey
Guardian article

A lot of this article feels frighteningly familiar...
Katrina

I'd say it's ok, but has a few incorrect statements...

Strict shopping laws mean that most German shops close on Saturday afternoons, reopening only on Monday
Last I checked most stores now open between 0700-1000 and close around 2000, which is not "afternoon".

I travel to work on the S-Bahn, or overground
It, may go overground at some points, but it is mostly underground in the city (Depends on line)
and its SchnellBahn, or Suburban train in english.

Since becoming Germany's first woman chancellor five months ago, however, she has done better than anyone expected, showing an impressive grasp of international affairs.
But raises taxes, cuts benefits and many other stupid things back home...

Complete with compulsory cat shit, no doubt.

@DK: For example, this one?


I could follow along the argument that everything seems to happen a bit late for the Germans, compared to what I'm used to, but that's going a bit too far.

Also, strictly speaking, the photo was rather obviously taken on Odeonsplatz. Maybe during Oktoberfest, but not at Oktoberfest.

Which is why it's so difficult for over 40s to find a job?

i wonder how long it is before he stops seeing a shopping free sunday as an asset and starts to think of it as a real pain in the arse? or maybe his wife does all the diy?

I thought it meant 'fast train'?

My German is reliably bad though...

A large proportion of this article is complete and utter tosh. Sounds to me like these people came to Germany with their preconceptions firmly entrenched and spent much of their time trying to build on them.

"Schnell"bahn. Tee hee.

As many do. Especially if a national magazine is paying you to do just that, and then write about it.

This article reinforces my belief that whenever I read something in the newspapers that I personally know something about, it is invariably wrong. We should remember this when reading about something that's happening a long way away!

I completely agree. They have all of the standard stereotypes and only use examples to reinforce these.

ah but he got the little old ladies right though, didn't he?

I assume all these old ladies he mentions who go around admonishing parents for letting their toddlers munch crisps or go out without a hat also tut tut at all the (parent) smokers as well.

As regards Germany being ruled by the old, I think this is the way things are going everywhere in the developed world. Old people are becoming the majority and as a consequence will have the majority say. What is true is that there definitely seems to be more irritating busybodying by people in general over here, and by the elderly in particular.

S-Bahn can mean "Stadtschnellbahn" or "Stadtbahn" or "Schnellbahn" take your pick, I'd go for (zu)Spätbahn or Schneckenbahn however

I think he's right on a number of points though, such as Germany being painted out as hopeless but actually still offering a considerably better standard of living to most people than e.g. UK

And I think its good that old people aren't just shoved away in homes as they are in many other countries

Remember during the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall the BBC had a commentator over in West Berlin at the time, he was describing how people were seeking a few minutes of quiet solitude in the "Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächnis Kirsch" - literally the "Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Cherry". He meant church "Kirche" but prounounced it wrong!

How could anyone forget something as important and funny as that?

Oh, I wouldn't say he pronounced it wrong, he pronounced it at a lot of Berliners do

Most Berliners I know (and as I live here it is quite a few) pronounce it like that, (they also say "mit ohne" as in "Ich hätte gerne ein Kakao mit ohne Sahne" - or "sie ist größer als wie ich", "Milch" sounds more like mulsch etc...)

Absolutely. Your lady can look forward to the comments from the "Strassenomas" soon, too!

My theory on these ladies is that, if statistics can be trusted, their own daughters or daughters-in-law aren't producing the goods. They have nowhere else to go with their treasury of childcare lore except total strangers on the streets.

i must admit your not far off on that one. mrs g. had quiet a few confessions from dissapointed old ladies whose own offspring where childless and soon to be barren (there words not mine before the 6 million replies of "its possible for a woman to have a first child at 94 in italy" come in). but that was in munich town. in the sticks most people have kids so its not realy an accourance.

The Guardian actually has a whole Germany special today with a lot of semi-accurate articles.

Boring middle class hand wringing Islington right wing liberals Blairite whine sheet.
Only Steve Bell still kinds of saves it.

class - the only person in the world i know who calls the gnuridium right wing!

If you said that in german it would all be one word!

right wing liberals?? Not sure what you mean there.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,,1781144,00.html

this one is being printed out and handed to my wife tonight.

You do realise there are political positions to the left of being a liberal which is somewhat at the centre of the political spectrum?

Say for example who think it is a shame that there are underpaid but if they start a militant strike organised from below they suddednly wring their hands and ask for "moderation".

Yeah, I love that Biowetter stuff. Personally I blame all my ailments on the 'Fön'.

From an otherwise not-very-interesting article in the series, about whether or not German women shave their armpits:




http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,,1781142,00.html

monkstown, i'd call this a fairly left wing liberal article from today's dragunia.

After 8 years of living in Germany I found the article pretty much dead on with a couple of exaggerations: I disagree that people in Germany don't have any serious responsiblities before 50. I would say mid to late thirties. My life pretty much mirrors that of most german people my age actually. I achieved most of what I have relatively late in life compared to other Americans. Similar to how things are in germany.

It took him 2 1/2 years to work out that shops being closed on Sundays is a good thing?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/germany/article/0,,1781140,00.html
this one's a must!

What?! The Guardian published articles which contain inaccuracies?! How astonishing...


The political spectrum is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it?