Germany is kicking away props of global recovery

[CHIMO]

The Germans are getting out of hand. First, they play a key role in causing the financial crisis. Then, just as the world starts to claw its way back to some kind of normality, they start kicking the props away.

This accusation is not about fighting the second world war again or inciting xenophobia, but a reality check on how those peace-loving, social-democratic Germans are selfishly jettisoning ailing European Union countries, starting with Greece, to maintain probably the richest, most all-embracing cradle-to-grave welfare state on the planet.

The fault lies mainly with Germany's large baby-boomer middle class, which now share the same aspirations as the aristocrats of the past – namely, a long and prosperous and supremely idle retirement.

Like a rogue elephant in search of food, German investors have stripped the bark from almost every tree in the savannah. To maintain an artificially high standard of living and that promised retirement, they seem intent on eating what remains.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/apr/29/germany-destroying-global-recovery

[abelenkpe]

1. What?

Retirement is for them and not others?

Reminds me of my republican parents (68 and 73) who are always railing against social security and medicare while collecting social security and using medicare. You see, it's for them, not their kids. Their kids are spoiled entitled brats they say unable to see the irony.

Look the global economic crisis is deepening and everyone is going to be pointing fingers at one another wondering where the money went. Fighting amongst ourselves and sacrificing social programs wont help. The money was siphoned up by the top 1%. I say we knock on their doors and ask for it back.

[dkf]

9. Isn't the Greek retirement age earlier than the German's?

[provis99]

2. what a bizarre little anti-German rant.

Is this from the Guardian, or the Onion? The reality of the situation is in exact opposite of everything that Ingram was writing. Is this a tongue-in-cheek British farce that I'm not getting?

[abelenkpe]

3. Hmmmm maybe?

There have been tons of tit for tat articles reprinted on zerohedge lately with the Germans taking swipes at the Greeks and Spanish and vice versa. Really, I understand the panic, but the finger pointing is getting quite catty.

Is quite uncharacteristic though now that you mention it.

Still worlds above our tea party hysterics though....

[proudohioan]

6. Those were my thoughts, too.....

Am I missing something????:shrug:

[sendero]

4. This is a joke..

... right?

The Germans are smarter than the US and UK, they are not interested in getting involved in a bottomless pit of bailouts.

[bemildred]

5. Yet more Alice-in-Wonderlandy drivel from a neocon tool. nt

[girl gone mad]

7. Must be opposite day in the UK.

:shrug:

[pscot]

8. The Thatcherite faction

have always hated the idea of a united Europe. Eurozone "socialism" offends against their free market ideology and European economic success undermines their fantasies of Britain as player. European financial disarray gives them a chance to get their licks in. They're sort of like Republicans. They can't really feel good about themselves unless they have someone to look down on.