Germans suffering from 'collective depression'

[On the Road]

---snip

Mr Rau’s gloomy comments reflect a brooding pessimism that threatens to scupper the country’s tentative economic upturn. Economic stagnation since 2001 and mass unemployment have sapped faith in the powerhouse economy, a source of great national pride.

Germany’s other national symbols have also waned. Germany lost the Deutschmark, which symbolised its economic might and postwar revival, with the introduction of the euro.

Its football team, accustomed to glory after winning the World Cup three times, has declined since the 1990s and became a laughing stock after losing 5-1 to Romania last month.

In a further blow to national pride, it emerged last month that Germany had lost the contracts to supply beer, sausages and cars when it hosts the 2008 football World Cup to firms from other countries.

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=544082004

[mr_hat]

1. And the Austrians are bummed about Arnold, don't forget. >

I think they all just need to get away for a bit. Form some human pyramids in the swimming pool and scare all the little children.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. Are Austrians really taken aback by the "Perverted Ahhnuld"?

[mr_hat]

3. Yes, someone posted an article here in the last couple weeks. >

Some kind of national gloom settled in once the euphoria over Ah-nult being elected governor of CA passed.

Weird. But so are lederhosen.