tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867698817451909183.post4421097481907079745..comments2023-10-17T02:00:59.655-07:00Comments on Insightful Pontificator: “I’LL GLADLY PAY YOU TOMORROW FOR A HAMBURGER TODAY.”Mighty Quinnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14729122987480118332noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867698817451909183.post-19717718051449039582012-02-02T17:41:00.386-08:002012-02-02T17:41:00.386-08:00The Germans....
--maintain healthy, in a sense, s...The Germans....<br /><br />--maintain healthy, in a sense, social programs, what some would derisively call a welfare state, but...<br /><br />--they keep taxes high by American standards, not necessarily by European standards,<br /><br />--run the state, including the social programs, efficiently (It's in the Teutonic genes, I suppose),<br /><br />--keep the population employed, and <br /><br />--don't spend much on "defense," seeing no need to make the whole world do what the Germans demand that they do...for the world’s own good, of course.<br /><br />Austerity, as you point out, does not have to mean what we assume it means over here. Even those on the left can be for austerity, done properly.<br /><br />Thanks, Reid, for reading and commenting.Mighty Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14729122987480118332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6867698817451909183.post-2164057059585084012012-02-02T10:40:17.715-08:002012-02-02T10:40:17.715-08:00As we know, any good Republican must dismiss anyth...As we know, any good Republican must dismiss anything European or educated. So, this will be my left wing argument for austerity that may well be off base. I am seriously ignorant on this topic-- how do Germany's social programs compare to the US and European social programs? I understand the retirement age is higher, but I presume that they have wide ranging social programs like medicine and pensions. Is it also possible that austerity allows you to offer better functioning, long term viable and widely available social programs? It seems this would be better than underfunded, crumbling and transient programs seen elsewhere. Regardless of your political persuasion (deficit fighting republiceat or socially motivated democan), it seems the German approach benefits both the individual and the whole body politic much better in the long run. It has to be especially appealing to anyone living in the morass that is Illinois with its Governor who had the audacity to suggest spending programs.Reidnoreply@blogger.com