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May 25, 2013
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 Germany’s Good Fortune Tips the Scales Against Its NeighborsPosted on Aug 10, 2010
PARIS—The excellent second-quarter export and growth results reported by Germany have set that country at an increasing, and increasingly dangerous, distance from the other members of the European Union, with jeopardy to the EU and the euro—which many in Britain and the United States would like to see fail. Thus Germany’s success is tending to encourage market pessimism rather than international optimism, everywhere but in Germany itself, it seems, where complacency reigns, together with a certain amount of what the Germans themselves term schadenfreude. There is always a correlation between the national outlook of a society and what may be called its national character, formed in part by its history of religious beliefs and practices. Germany is the land of Lutheranism, a religion committed to belief in the radical corruption produced by original sin, in the punishment of evil, and that only faith, and not good works, justifies. Those who waste the bounty of good times through extravagance and the neglect of duty—as in the case of the Greeks, and supposedly of the Spaniards, the Portuguese and the French—can expect no pity. The culturally Catholic Latins are more tolerant of sin, more willing to forgive, and they take a positive view of good works that benefit the poor and laggard. In June Germany recorded the most spectacular rise in exports since 1984, so that its export-based surplus nears the level that prevailed before the present international crisis. The relative weakness of the euro has been very good for German automobile and heavy industrial exports. At the same time, Germany has been resistant to imports from elsewhere in the euro zone. Greece is selling only 2 percent of its GDP to Germany, and France only 3.8 percent, with Italy, Spain and Portugal trailing France. On the other hand, Austria and the Netherlands are exporting, respectively, 14 percent and 12 percent of their GDP to Germany. In the EU’s overall plan for recovery, Germany insists on deficit-reducing measures across the entire euro zone, even though this has a depressive effect on other national economies and stimulates unemployment elsewhere, with particularly dangerous implications for the weaker economies where, as George Soros has recently written (in The New York Review of Books), “even if budgetary targets [as demanded by Germany] were met, it is difficult to see how the weaker countries could regain their competitiveness ... in the absence of exchange rate depreciation.” He says that the demanded adjustment process would require reductions in wages and prices, producing deflation. Should there be a continuing decline in the value of the euro, which touched a recent low against the dollar in June, this would be good for euro zone exports, but without economic growth it would also cause “the relative weight of [these nations’ debt to] continue to grow” as well. This is true not only for national debt but also for commercial loans held by banks “even more reluctant to lend, compounding the downward pressures.” Advertisement The present economic crisis has brought out in Germany something that has been feared since the days when the novelist and commentator Francois Mauriac remarked of Germany that he admired it so much that he was glad there were two of them. It is why both Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s then prime minister, and France’s President Francois Mitterrand opposed Germany’s reunification, which the United States successfully pushed for in 1990—and which was in any case an inevitability once the USSR had foundered. This united Germany has since acted with prudence and generosity, most of all in its reluctant sacrifice of the Deutschmark to the introduction of the common euro currency in 2001. The present crisis has reignited German fears of inflation, a part of the national emotional heritage. It has also seen a novel arrogance of discourse and condescension in dealing with nations of lesser economic virtue (if more palatable histories, as some Greeks bitterly noted earlier this year, called attention to the fact that Greece has never seen German reparations for the damage done to Greece during its brutal wartime occupation by Germany). Since the creation of the European community and German rearmament within NATO, good Germans have boasted that they practiced no national foreign policy, only a European policy; and no national military policy, nor do they possess a national high command other than that of NATO. Now, however, under stress, many Germans have found that what amounts to adopting a new national economic policy comes naturally to them. Others, including other Germans, are made uncomfortable by so casual a treatment of the accomplishments of Europe in constructing its union, and its single market and common currency over the past 60 years, a collective achievement that has no counterpart in modern history, and a value that demands to be preserved. Visit William Pfaff’s website for information on his latest book, “The Irony of Manifest Destiny: The Tragedy of America’s Foreign Policy,” at www.williampfaff.com. © 2010 Tribune Media Services Inc.  TAGS:
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By peterjkraus, August 16, 2010 at 1:02 pm Link to this comment
One of the many posters said:“This article is
stereotyped bullshit”
It is.
Report thisBy drbhelthi, August 14, 2010 at 1:28 am Link to this comment
Certainly.
All supporters of the NWO agenda want to overcome any resistance, to the NAZI/Zionist/USA takeover of the world, and subordinate it into the background. That is why Mr. Pat Tillman, Patriot- types are being assassinated, increasingly, while others are assisted with “suicide”. Similar to Dr. Kelley of “Mr.” Tony Blair´s debacle.
Apparently, the current leadership of Germany does not care to be overrun by the same forces that destroyed their country in the 1940s. As one German scientist wrote me two years ago, “Doc, certain families have always known the true identity of the 41st American president.” They also know how his family financed the NAZIs in WWII, and assisted in overtaking the USA, after NAZI HQ was transferred to D.C. and Huntsville, 1945-1948, more recently additional locations.
Their inner “coven” has genuinely-satanic, initiation rituals. Anyone ever heard of the ritualistic murders in Brownsville, TX, 1984 ?
Report thishttp://www.documentingreality.com/forum/f10/1984-cult-mass-murder-brownsville-tx-29150/
By JDmysticDJ, August 12, 2010 at 2:41 pm Link to this comment
Richie
Like I said, I’ll have to adapt to this Scadenfreude thing, it’s new to me. I don’t mind being a little Schadenfreudey where conservatives are concerned.
Progressives are usually prone to taking a hike in someone else’s mocasins. “There but by the grace of etc. etc.” That sort of thing. While conservatives are more inclined to get a few yucks out of someones misfortune. That’s shadenfreude, isn’t it?
Report thisBy rico, suave, August 12, 2010 at 12:04 pm Link to this comment
JD:
You of course know that “schadenfreude” means, roughly, “happiness in the misery of others”. Your numbers should indicate that you, not I, are entitled to a little schadenfreude.
Report thisBy JDmysticDJ, August 12, 2010 at 10:39 am Link to this comment
Richie
This from the latest NBC Wall Street Journal Poll:
Only 24 percent of those polled expressed positive feelings about the Republican Party, a new low in the 21-year history of the survey, the Wall Street Journal said.
Tea Partiers had a 34 percent approval, while Obama had a 47 percent approval.
Schadenfreude is definitely a conservative characteristic, but I guess I, as a progressive, will have to adapt.
Report thisBy JDmysticDJ, August 12, 2010 at 10:39 am Link to this comment
Richie
This from the latest NBC Wall Street Journal Poll:
Only 24 percent of those polled expressed positive feelings about the Republican Party, a new low in the 21-year history of the survey, the Wall Street Journal said.
Tea Partiers had a 34 percent approval, while Obama had a 47 percent approval.
Schadenfreude is definitely a conservative characteristic, but I guess I, as a progressive, will have to adapt.
Report thisBy Mike3, August 12, 2010 at 10:31 am Link to this comment
William Pfaff normally writes good articles but this is pure crap. Just as a European can make incorrect assumptions about America, so can Americans do the same with Europe? This article is stereotyped bullshit. Pfaff may know America but his knowledge of Germany (and Europe too it appears) is poor, to piss poor. He even uses the term “good German” with the illustration to the article showing a First World War military German helmet.
Pfaff also quotes Soros who was one of the hit men who tried to destroy the euro. Hay Pfaff, are you too dumb to know who you are quoting?
What Pfaff does not tell you is that it will be Germany that will pull Greece out of its financial hole. It is Germany that is pumping most of the billions of euro’s going into save Greece. Not to mention their tourist industry.
But what the article also shows is the anti-European propaganda that even appears on sites like TruthDig. The hatred for Europe is not just confined to Fox News it would appear.
Report thisBy rico, suave, August 12, 2010 at 5:08 am Link to this comment
JDmystic:
I would certainly agree that conservatives are enjoying a bit of schadenfreude lately as Obama’s popularity plummets.
Report thisBy dihey, August 12, 2010 at 4:14 am Link to this comment
In German vernacular “Pfaff” means Priest/Pope which is exactly what he is.
Report thisBy W.R. German, August 12, 2010 at 12:37 am Link to this comment
Dear Mr. Pfaff,
Next time, please do your homework. Germany is roughly equally split between
protestent, catholic and non-affiliated.
From your writing, I surmise you’ve never been to Übercatholic Bavaria.
Some more post-cold war perspective is in order: Given the fact that, unlike
any other nation after the fall of the Soviet Union, Germany has had to absorb
the broken economy of an entire nation, the GDR, the reunified Germany has
managed to not only recover, but even to thrive, and put all other EU nations to
shame in the process.
Not bad for a black sheep.
Report thisBy JDmysticDJ, August 11, 2010 at 9:57 pm Link to this comment
Perhaps the best word to describe the psyche of a conservative would be “Schadenfreude.”
Report thisBy unfortuantemiracle, August 11, 2010 at 9:34 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well this seems like a relatively fair assessment of Germany. I am happy that some have acknowleged the positive contributions Germany has made to the world as it seems that the more recent negative contributions overshadowed this. Of course, not that their positive contributions necessarily benefitted the Germans as a society per se as far as world opinion is concerned.
You are right though, Mr. Pfaff. Even the possibility of inflation on the Euro would make their society extremely concerned.
What I like about modern-day Europe in general is that, other than the situation in the Balkans, there is definitely a more pacifist vibe going on there compared to most places in the world today. Perhaps Europeans in general are more mature and they more or less learned from their collective history - finally. Many USA citizens tend to criticize the EU, even though most USA citizens probably have never even been there before. Let them handle their own matters as they are perfectly capable of doing so.
For example, the Greece situation. Within the USA, there was much criticism pertaining to the EU “bailing out” Greece. Why? I have no idea. Yeah let Greece go bust! Right… It’s Greece for crying out loud! I mean… we are talking Europe here, not the USA. It is just one more example of the ignorance and arrogance displayed by the many citizens of the USA in claiming that Europe should be like the USA. Granted, the Euro dropped about 25% of its value but uhhh… perhaps now more Americans can visit Europe as it is cheaper now for them to go there. When I went to Europe last year, one Euro was worth 1.7 US Dollars. Now I believe it is about 1.3 US Dollars.
Report thisBy colinday, August 11, 2010 at 8:58 pm Link to this comment
Mr. Pfaff, what is the current ditribution of religious believers in Germany? According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany#Religion , Protestants are 32.3% of the population and Catholics are 31.0%, with 29.6% not having any registered denomination at all.
Report thisBy rico, suave, August 11, 2010 at 7:49 pm Link to this comment
ITW:
1. Rush and Palin are cartoon characters and shills whose job it is to feed red meat to the unwashed masses, of whom no one gives a shit, least of all the liberal elites on the left, which is why the vast majority listen to Rush and not Air America (is that even around anymore?).
2. I can’t imagine anyone (anyone serious, that is) to the left of Dennis.
3. Your best definition. Does a hen have 27 teeth?
I take my conservatism a little more seriously than that, but thanks for the effort.
Report thisBy Inherit The Wind, August 11, 2010 at 4:46 pm Link to this comment
rico, suave, August 11 at 3:27 pm Link to this comment
Well then I guess I don’t know what a conservative is.
************************************
There are 3 definitions:
1) Radical reactionaries who are anything but conservative but cover themselves in the mantle of “conservatism”—Limbaugh, Palin, etc.
2) Anyone a “progressive” thinks is to the right of him—they see Dennis Kucinich as a “conservative”.
3) Somebody who doesn’t want to change anything unless there’s a damn good reason—and even then probably not—like the Constitution. These are as rare as hens’ teeth.
Hope that helps.
Report thisBy Robespierre115, August 11, 2010 at 3:43 pm Link to this comment
Germany is also the land of Rosa Luxemburg, let’s not forget that. Maybe a little of that fire will spark soon…
Report thisBy rico, suave, August 11, 2010 at 11:27 am Link to this comment
Well then I guess I don’t know what a conservative is.
Report thisBy Flummox, August 11, 2010 at 10:54 am Link to this comment
Uh, Rico, William Pfaff is actually a conservative. Don’t take my word for it, read his books.
An important lesson to learn: not all conservatives worship in the house of the free-market fundamentalists, something easily forgotten by those embroiled in its dogma.
Report thisBy rico, suave, August 11, 2010 at 9:39 am Link to this comment
Only a progressive like Mr Pfaff could see Germany’s market-based economic success as a dangerous thing for the rest of the EU.
Report thisBy balkas, August 11, 2010 at 8:17 am Link to this comment
And if germans start emulating americans, we could expect another Drang nach Osten. {drang=urge, pressure, need}
So, russians would be attacked once again. The novelty would amount to an establishment of novaya khazaria in the steppes north, east, and west of the caspian see.
Every observer [a person who takes the widest and longest look] knows how poor and little palestina is.
Report thisThus it canot ever be a home for khazar or slavo-germano-khazarian people with the cult. tnx
By omygodnotagain, August 11, 2010 at 4:47 am Link to this comment
Germany has been and always will be the driving engine of Europe, their tribes brought down the Roman Empire (some would say replaced due to decadence), they were the major driving force of the Holy Roman Empire, it where the Reformation started and the place the printing press and motor car were invented. Their scientists and engineers are legendary, as are their musicians and philosophers. They make the best beers in the world. It has to do with the exactness of their language, their discipline, willingness to work hard and produce quality products and they are probably, with the possible exception of the Chinese, the brightest people on the planet. It is worth noting that in the early 1950s 30% of all Americans could trace their heritage to Germany, it also corresponded with America’s economic dominance. Since then things haven’t gone so well
Report thisBy Inherit The Wind, August 10, 2010 at 6:07 pm Link to this comment
So, Mr. Pfaff, was there any stereotype of Germans, save of the Nazis, that you omitted? Didn’t you miss the fact that ANY company in the EU can do business anywhere IN the EU? That there are no “boundaries” that way? So, despite the challenges of openness, the Germans run their economy most carefully of any of the EU nations. Why couldn’t Greece, Spain and Portugal done the same?
The re-unification was a HUGE burden on the Federal Republic, and the thriving economy of Germany paid the price for nearly 20 years. My many German friends ALL say it was a bad idea to re-unify so fast but that Kohl wanted his legacy to be re-unification—and the West Germans paid for his ego. ULTIMATELY it has turned out to be a good thing for both Germany and Europe. While totalitarianism can arise in any nation, there is now no reason to expect Germany to be any more likely to develop it than any other nation. Given history over the last 29 years, the USA is FAR more prone to the emergence of a fascist dictatorship than Germany—and it all began with Ronald Reagan’s election.
Report this