as a resident of Germany for 6 years as a soldier stationed there , i feel i can wisely comment on this prevailing attitude among German folk. Germans have a love-hate relationship with Americans. While they admire our entrepreneurial attitude and free market goodies, they despise our patriotism and “clinging to our bible” mentally. I think it is sad that German have been trained by their post WW2 leaders to deplore their flag and find patriotism a shameful act. They generally consider Americans to be uneducated and unsophisticated people who are wasteful and greedy. Not to say this is a blanket assessment of us by all Germans, but most feel this way. I find it hard to comprehend this attitude given our 2oth century history with them. I think it is the prevailing attitude among the youth and not the older generation. i wished our international standing would be better conveyed by our leaders. Can’t say if we are misrepresenting ourselves over there or that the deep cynical nature of their culture is to blame. we are better than this and it incises me deeply to be chastised by chancellor Merkel when the actions of our leaders define us as a people. I think this attitude is also represented throughout most of Europe and now in Latin America as well. I welcome others thoughts on this issue.

I totally understand your anger/furiousness Ms Merkel. I, as John Q. Public in america I did what I thought any responsible person should do, next to my health my credit is the next most important thing in my life. When I bought my house and was tempted by the devil to go for a ‘variable’ rate mortgage, I said NO. I have only used my credit card when I knew I could pay it off when the bill came due. I have even saved money.
Tough shit all you goodie goody two shoes christian boot lickers that put god, country, guns, beer, suvs, girl friends/mistresses, family, dogs, tv and hubris, in that order as matters of import.
Now I am being penalized for NOT being a part of the problem which has really turned me into a basket case as I was brought up to be honest and work hard so I would go far. Now I realize, too late because I am not on the up and up, on how to intentionally go rob people blind, screw their lives up for my profit and not give a goddamn about anything but my money. So when I will try to do these things I am sure to mess it up.

Angela Merkel is a Christian Democrat, a conservative.  She is not a Social Democrat, a liberal.  Two, what ever happened to the right-wing mantra ‘dog eat dog’ which would imply bye-bye AIG and the rest of the good old boy corporate financial behemoths.  Don’t let the government give them a bailout!  Give them a loan in which the interest rates increase every few years.

Jackpine,

they despise us already, imagine when the bread lines form how they will feel.
If you’re going to do any international travel, i’d get it in ASAP, before it becomes popular to draw and quarter americans.

George,

Either cinch up those cheeks real good, or grease down and grab your ankles. Your only hope is that you’ll get dinner before and a nice card after.
The problem is, these losers will always call you back!

This has been planned for years. The usurpation of gov’t. by the one percenters is a pretty well-laid plan. Unfortunately they have counted on the voters and the people being too stupid to know when they have been taken.
After all the lies of Bushco, we are at the end of our patience. Only cooler heads are holding off violent protest. Nobody wants to see the US in violent turmoil except Bushco.
The rest of us are quietly laying plans to pre-empt Blackwater and its’ concentration camps.
But Bushco’s plan is for conflict, crisis, and catastrophe, as usual.

As the profound realization that we will drag the rest of the world down with us sets in, i cannot help but wonder how nations will begin to treat us.

Actually, it might be mildly amusing in that our growing weakness will expose how our neighbors really feel about us.

Of all the major industrialized countries, the U.S. does have the most irresponsible capitalist class.  I realized that long ago.