I hate Germany too

For those who haven't actually read through the link provided by miwild, be sure to note Table 1, which concurs with me.




Sounds shocking, but since unemployment is a lagging indicator it's going to be higher coming out of a recession.

Of course, we also should note the source of the miwild link:

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/about

I'll save you time- it's an organization with a leftist perspective that has ties to labor unions.

RM, how is an unemployment rate deceptive because some people work more than one job?

I'm shocked out of my socks. So does that mean Marsha will be able to afford her peroxide?

No he does not want to contribute, he is a troll.

"Crawle" ... that one cracked me up.

Founded by a gang of hardcore anti-American Marxists ...

Is that all?

correction 'must do '

"Leftist" is a broad term that encompasses more than Marxists. This bunch is best described as European-style social democrats.






They sound pretty leftist to me.

I have not responded to the OP aka Marsha.
Here is my response.
Germany is not the worst country on this planet. Hell you could be now in Afghanistan, Iraq or some other war-ridden country. People there don't know if they are going to be alive tomorrow. Or if their loved ones are going to get shot today.
So stop being a selfish bitch and stop having pity on yourself. Ffs go find yourself some fellow expats and some hobbys. If you don't know how to be happy with yourself, you'll be miserable wherever you go.

Gotta admit that the guy's got a great last name - gives these self-anointed economic policy experts a lot of credibility in a subliminal way. Sort of like going to a used car dealership and being helped by Joe Honest.

Why is she being a selfish bitch? Because she doesn't worship in the church of positivity? Jesus, the more I see posts like yours, the more sympathy I have with her.

I'll bring like 10 boxes of Kleenex so we can all weep for this poor girl. A little innocent American girl stuck in Germany and everyone is so evil!!! Boohoo!!

you know me then ?

I know, what is it about these Amis?

i love all americans
they are so cute and cuddley aaaww

Yeah, I like their oil.

are you talking greasy skin or crude ?

Having just noticed that Lifeisabuffet does not actually reside in Germany, she is now banned from making any further 'life is what you make it' type comments directed at people who do have to live here and don't like it.

Couldn't you just have brought the kleenex? Did you have to like bring them?

Actually it hadn't occurred to me before, but yeah; there must be a market for the dermatological secretions that come from overweight cheeseburger consuming fatties. Maybe as a cheap fuel for cars with specially modified engines?

PUTS ON HELMET AND DUCKS !

No, because she like, totally had this awesome idea that, like made her forget what she was like getting so... awesome!

Sorry FC, I am not from Cali.

And I am frequently in Germany especially on the weekends, so I can comment on lots of stuff. Touche.

Sure, you are my next door neigbour who walks around in a wife-beater.


He was probably thinking about massage oil.

So I guess Alan Greenspan must be wrong when he said that the good ole US of A is in a Recession


Am I? I didn't know that we have met... but you are another shallow american with a retarded smile of dishonestnes on your face


Very true because the morons of the US forces with their cowboy attitudes are the ones shooting them

Am I? I HOPE we did not meet in person. I rather have a retarted smile than be a grumpy miserable twat.

= when you refresh your lipstick after the act.

I did not post that for you to twist my words into anti-American propaganda. Isn't it time for you to go shag some sheep in your little dorf in Bavaria?

Of course hun, I always do that. Especially with your man.

and so is presumably well placed to comment on the plight of the unemployed, oder?

Such bodies are regarded so in Europe at any rate.

BTC (former member of two labor unions, I might add) anyone can comment. Whether or not they do so from an objective perspective is another story. Given the labor ties and the obvious ideological bent of the EPI, it's clear that their comments are not objective. They don't have access to data unavailable to others, so what's the cause of the variance in their interpretation from those who disagree with them- it's likely their leftist ideology on economic and social issues, evidenced by their policy stances. Note also that some of the EPI's funding comes from labor unions.

utter tripe!

I would regard industry leaders and trade unions as together being best placed to speak about industry: the one on the economic performance the other on the workers conditions. Both are essential perspectives.

And iut seems to me that you condemn a bunch of intellectuals from the USA as 'leftist' as if that were the worst thing in the world and when most are politically to the right of most Europeans.

Ever wonder whether you really belong here Conquistador?

!!! She was inferring i'm gay! I'm so offended, does anyone know any good gay lawyers? I'm going to sue her juvenile ass!

takes one to know one... sorry my dear that you were the town whore in your little village in Texas

This isn't the 19th century anymore, trade unions are anachronistic and completely out of touch with economic reality.


I think that the point was that they are biased - not necessarily bad people - because of where they were coming from politically.

Taxidriver, please shut up. Thank you.

What does that have to do with labor market flexibility?




You are in fine form this evening! So... Been shopping at the PX much?

There they are
The mob it cries for blood

Unions aren't unbiased observers, BTC. Nor are they the only organizations who can possibly comment knowledgeably on labor conditions- especially on macroeconomic issues! As for multiple perspectives, yes, they should be sought out and examined.

BTC, I think objective observers would agree that the EPI founders are leftist- don't forget that they are all Americans, so that is the relevant context. Whether or not being a leftist is a good or bad thing is a matter for each person to decide.

Having read Thurow's books (was a fan of his when I was a Democrat) I can say with certainty that, even in today's Europe, someone with his views on state involvement in the economy cannot realistically be considered right of center.


You know, BTC, my great-grandfather was thrown into jail by the Nazis in 1933 because he was a Jew and a member of the SPD. I have no tolerance whatsoever for political persecution. Perhaps you should review Article V of the Grundgesetz.

and why would I do that? To say it with my friend Conquistador's words: you can not take away my right to freedom of speech

Would be nice if something intelligent come out of it though

yepp, a friend of mine was kind enough on saturday to get me in so I could buy some cheap goods... steak, a 24 pak of coke, and some running shoes...
89$ what a bargain, the exchange rate is excellent right now... a little over 55 Euros

but the EPI was founded by just such an assortment of experts who also consulted widely and with trade unions. But you just condemned them as 'leftists' as if that meant they should be confined to the outer circle of hell.


whether or not you agree with their political views they are unquestionably a group of intellectuals who should not be dismissed as easily as you seem to think just because they are very slightly left of centre.


So having a leftist relative means you are justified in throwing out the views of any leftist as redundant? I challenge you to find that in the Grundgesetz

why? the majority of the yanks wouldn't understand it anyways

that was just a stupid trollish thing to write taxidriver. Shame on you!

You're as intellectually dishonest on the board as you apparently are in real life. Congratulations.

Oh thanks... I learned from the best... I was an intern with George W and his croonies

but...I'm having fun

I merely note that they are leftists, which is a provable fact. That is your own personal interpretation in the second sentence.


That's two expressions of opinion on your part. They certainly aren't slightly left of center within the US politcal spectrum, and since they are Americans, that's the relevant standard. As to whether or not their opinons were dismissed by me, I am justifiably suspicious of the objectivity of their interpretations of economic data given that they are partially funded by labor unions and also given their well-known leftist ideology.


From which magic lamp did you conjure that thought? I would say Article V of the Grundgesetz certainly allows me to question the views of others, which is what I did.

As for the point I was making about my great-grandfather, it is simply that I am a German citizen, and thus, yes, I do belong here, regardless of whether or not some other person who claims it's too difficult to get German citizenship likes my opinion on economic issues in my own country (in this case the US) or not. Your comment hints at an intolerance that is incongruent with the values of a free society, e.g., freedom of speech. To question my being in a country in which I am a citizen, one in which my ancestors were once persecuted on political grounds on the basis of a political disagreement wíth me would be, IMHO, most inappropriate.

some cheese? to go with your whine

a bisserl senf mit deine Weisswurst