Germany replaces US as country with best international image(dw.com)
dw.com
Germany replaces US as country with best international image
http://www.dw.com/en/germany-replaces-us-as-country-with-best-international-image/a-41407751
125 comments
There's an interesting correlation between latitude and gdp: https://qph.ec.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-2c35a5e9756ffb71801560...
It's not terribly strong though, and there's probably not a very direct causation.
Historically, equatorial countries in Africa, South and South East Asia were colonies. I think we can also assume each country weights equally on the regression line, even though they vary greatly in population - this favors latitudes with lots of small wealthy countries, which Europe is.
On the other hand, I'd like to know how much the colder climate in the north enabled people to colonialise the people in the south in the first place
"Guns, Germs, and Steel" is probably the closest you'll get to that.
That's what they used in the end, but what led them to have these things?
It's a (somewhat controversial) book.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guns,_Germs,_and_Steel
GJ&S’s primary argument is that whoever discovered (by accident!) agriculture first made all the later stages inevitable.
It's rather more complicated than that. Its primary argument is that certain species of wild plants can be domesticated easier than others, and can be pushed to more productive yields through cultivation (e.g. wheat, rice), while others are more lacking (e.g. soghrum). Similarly, with animals, some regions don't have any suitable wild ones that can be domesticated as beasts of burden or food animals, others have some (e.g. pigs, alpacas), and still others scored big time (sheep, cows, horses). Once discovered, of course, these spread around, but it takes time, and is limited by climate and geographic features.
So the theory goes that Middle East and East Asia basically were the lucky ones to get that bootstrap, and other bordering regions (e.g. Europe) got it from there; while Africa, Australia and the Americas were not so lucky, and by the time they got all those things, they came on ships alongside some technologically advanced and well-armed people who weren't exactly on a humanitarian mission to spread the riches.
So the theory goes that Middle East and East Asia basically were the lucky ones to get that bootstrap, and other bordering regions (e.g. Europe) got it from there; while Africa, Australia and the Americas were not so lucky, and by the time they got all those things, they came on ships alongside some technologically advanced and well-armed people who weren't exactly on a humanitarian mission to spread the riches.
A bit like the oil some countries have, right?
Most of them would already went down the drain without all that money.
Most of them would already went down the drain without all that money.
Seems reasonable.
If someone can feed 10 people instead of 1 person, the rest has enough time at their hands to do other things.
If someone can feed 10 people instead of 1 person, the rest has enough time at their hands to do other things.
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Chile, Japan (of the few I can name) don't match up to this theory.
[deleted]
maybe it would go more in tge direction if it wasn't split by country, but something different?
Personal anecdote: When I was backpacking in Australia 10 years ago I felt I had a clear advantage over other backpackers because germans somehow have this image of being super productive and hard working. I more than once got a job just because I was from Germany.
As a fellow German I simply can't resist to correct you: it's "more than once".
As a pedant and a (half) Brit, I can't resist correcting your correction: "... can't resist correcting you".
My apologies! But your actual correction is correct...
My apologies! But your actual correction is correct...
Aren't both correct but just a little different in meaning?
thanks :)
Funnily enough I (German) was also backpacking Australia and once I didn't get a fruit picking job because they only wanted Asians.
That might be because they believe asians put up with more crap than germans/europeans.
I once heard a dane say to us (swedes) that they would love it if we came over to work because danes have too many demands when you ask them to do something while a swede will just do it.
I once heard a dane say to us (swedes) that they would love it if we came over to work because danes have too many demands when you ask them to do something while a swede will just do it.
In related news, Germany's government, just like the U.S. government, seems to be pro-coal - so its image can't be that much better?
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/16/politica...
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/16/politica...
I'm sorry, but do you think that a government's image depends only on its views on coal? How about respect for other countries and cultures, their values or their stability? There are many factors, and coal is only one of them.
Ah, the Guardian article is missing a pretty important bit of information.
Germany is getting out of nuclear, under pressure by its populations that is heavily environmental. The irony being that to meet the electricity demand, they need all other sources - one of them being coal.
Germany CAN’T get out of certain energy sources quickly as the Greens have killed nuclear. Damned if you, damned if you don’t.
Germany is getting out of nuclear, under pressure by its populations that is heavily environmental. The irony being that to meet the electricity demand, they need all other sources - one of them being coal.
Germany CAN’T get out of certain energy sources quickly as the Greens have killed nuclear. Damned if you, damned if you don’t.
They are betting the barn on increasing renewable though.
Is then China the one with the best international image?
Germany is at 31+% renewable right now. They get a lower percentage of energy from Fossil fuels than the US but don't have massive natural gas deposits thus high coal usage.
Like any other country Germany is deeply fragmented into its evolving directions. I'm from Germany and I'd love to get out of coal sooner. But for historical-political reasons seems we won't...
We also have many bureaucracy and corruption issues. But then which developed nation has not?
In my opinion the age of nation states is slowly coming to an end( see Catalonia and related)
So it will be exiting to see what decentralization brings to us. I hope web3 will help with this and along remove some of the negatives of big cooperations influence on society.
In my opinion the age of nation states is slowly coming to an end( see Catalonia and related)
So it will be exiting to see what decentralization brings to us. I hope web3 will help with this and along remove some of the negatives of big cooperations influence on society.
Germany makes greats products. I really enjoy using my Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher (egg opener, or more literally, "egg shell pre-determined breaking point causer"), very precise.
Great when it comes to machining and physical products. Not in the level of exceptional when it comes to software though. I'm still reeling from a couple of buggy SAP products.
In some parts of Europe, a product made in Germany is automatically a good product.
In fact, when looking for household appliances, you'll notice local shops using "originated from Germany" to promote some brands over the other. Especially Telefunken products.
Same thing applies to cars, where the public separates them into two categories: "German" and "shit".
In fact, when looking for household appliances, you'll notice local shops using "originated from Germany" to promote some brands over the other. Especially Telefunken products.
Same thing applies to cars, where the public separates them into two categories: "German" and "shit".
> made in Germany is automatically a good product.
The irony being that "Made in Germany" was originally forced by the UK government to distinguish "inferior" imports.
Didn't work out as planned...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_Germany
The irony being that "Made in Germany" was originally forced by the UK government to distinguish "inferior" imports.
Didn't work out as planned...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Made_in_Germany
I feel there is some parallels with brexit here
"Especially Telefunken products."
Today Telefunken don't produce any products(they sell only their Brand-Licence to partners), if you buy for example a Telefunken-TV it is produced by Vestel(in Turkey).
http://vestelinternational.com/en/corporate/vestel-group/
https://www.telefunken.com/company/ - Partner Alliance
Today Telefunken don't produce any products(they sell only their Brand-Licence to partners), if you buy for example a Telefunken-TV it is produced by Vestel(in Turkey).
http://vestelinternational.com/en/corporate/vestel-group/
https://www.telefunken.com/company/ - Partner Alliance
Jokes aside, my favourite German thing these days are Lothar Papula's series of math books, very well organized.
Interesting. As the most die-hard German USA-fanboy one could have imagined, I can only say: since Trump, even I reconsidered my plan to move to Texas and currently plan to just stay here in my hometown Frankfurt, as there are currently no comparable options anywhere in the western world (maybe Canada, but then again I prefer to stay in multi-national EU if the diversity and sunny weather of the USA is currently not an option).
In those unstable times, we all feel the influx of money, ideas, people here. Some don‘t like change, but to me it all feels quite good.
Anyway, still hope to spend some years in the USA when the time is right.
In those unstable times, we all feel the influx of money, ideas, people here. Some don‘t like change, but to me it all feels quite good.
Anyway, still hope to spend some years in the USA when the time is right.
There are places in the EU with sunny weather though...certainly more so than Canada! Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Balkans are all as far south as California is. You guys have it pretty good in the EU when it comes to options for living in sunny places. Maybe not as good as the US, but certainly a lot better than I do here in Canada. Any time I want to go live somewhere sunny I have to go through somebody else's immigration system!
(Can we please adopt Turks and Caicos already?)
(Can we please adopt Turks and Caicos already?)
Yeah, Croatian coastal area is sun all throughout the year (strong winds, very popular among gliders and surfers).
Quit reading internet comments and watching fear mongering news. Come visit and make your own assumptions.
There are so many places in the US and you can find a lifestyle that suits you. Most people are very welcoming and would love to have you.
Germans are well thought of in the States. My state, Georgia, even has a Bavarian inspired town in the “mountains”.
There are so many places in the US and you can find a lifestyle that suits you. Most people are very welcoming and would love to have you.
Germans are well thought of in the States. My state, Georgia, even has a Bavarian inspired town in the “mountains”.
The US, in principle, has so many fantastic places and welcoming people and nice traits that I can‘t name them all here. The problem is, FUD about the USA has never stopped me from feeling this was my secret mother country. Hell, my wife and I even own more ground in Texas than most of my family owns here in Germany combined(praise goes to the easy aquisition process in the US...). Fact is, currently they don‘t let my Iranian wife in. And even if they let (which they might when we are on an investors visa), Iranian relatives would not be able to visit us. And the super unreliable politics concerning Iran make things worse and we do not know what we get, even if Iran keeps its promises. So the poltics affect us in a big way, and then again we also don‘t know in what other much more difficult conflicts the US might engage (at least only two state leaders come to my mind that threaten each other with atomic bombs, North Korea and the USA). So currently, we sit and wait, discover advantages of the country I was born in, and will re-evaluate the situation when it changes.
Ditto from Arkansas. We have cities with people of all persuasions, and we have rural areas where you can form your own social circles.
Don't believe the media, it's been proven to be working an agenda. See for yourself!
Don't believe the media, it's been proven to be working an agenda. See for yourself!
You should come. Texas has very wonderful German areas where you could feel at home during transition or you wanted.
I'd love to come but so far the green card lottery hasn't yielded immigration rights. any other options for entrepreneurs?
I wouldn't worry about Trump. America didn't change overnight you know. Trump's success reflects long standing issues in American politics and the country working through them, but Germany is experiencing its own version of similar problems and its own politics is if anything even more dysfunctional - Merkel's attempts to cobble together a government out of the far left and libertarians, in a desperate attempt to avoid engaging with AfD voters, is in many ways even more ridiculous a sight than President Twitter.
And it has never been so ridiculously easy.
As an American living in Berlin, it's a striking feeling to live in a well-run country. It's not perfect of course, but the feeling that the system works with you and for you (even as a foreigner) is a stark contradiction to the US.
As a german who moved from berlin to the south of germany:
living in berlin feels like living in a failed bundesland. the public transport is broken all the time, the bürgerämter are crowded, you can't appointments, the administration is basically clueless, ...
i guess if you don't rely on public services it's not that bad, but still, berlin is a very bad example for a functioning german place.
living in berlin feels like living in a failed bundesland. the public transport is broken all the time, the bürgerämter are crowded, you can't appointments, the administration is basically clueless, ...
i guess if you don't rely on public services it's not that bad, but still, berlin is a very bad example for a functioning german place.
I'm from Stuttgart and always have the feeling public transport is much better in Berlin.
In Berlin I get home with the underground at night (01:00 - 04:00), last one in Stuttgart comes around 01:00.
In Berlin a 9 minute wait is considered long and in Stuttgart 20 minutes is long.
Almost all people I know, that moved from Stuttgart to Berlin find it horrible to ride by public transport in Stuttgart now.
In Berlin I get home with the underground at night (01:00 - 04:00), last one in Stuttgart comes around 01:00.
In Berlin a 9 minute wait is considered long and in Stuttgart 20 minutes is long.
Almost all people I know, that moved from Stuttgart to Berlin find it horrible to ride by public transport in Stuttgart now.
If anything that's an indictment of whatever Berlin is compared to!
FWIW my experience has been that it's surprisingly difficult to compare my 'home', Amsterdam, to Berlin, or The Netherlands to Germany. There's tons of things that I prefer in the latter (cost of education, civil society/engagement), but also plenty of things I prefer in the former (ease of starting a business, relative lack of (monolingual) bureacracy).
But from talking to expats to both Amsterdam and Berlin made me realize that even the shitty parts of my world are much better than where some of them came from. Most of my complaints about Berlin or Amsterdam pale in comparison to the benefits it offers to many people from other places.
(For example, the complaints about DB (Germany) or NS (Holland) are ridiculous in comparison to my experience what almost every other part of the world)
FWIW my experience has been that it's surprisingly difficult to compare my 'home', Amsterdam, to Berlin, or The Netherlands to Germany. There's tons of things that I prefer in the latter (cost of education, civil society/engagement), but also plenty of things I prefer in the former (ease of starting a business, relative lack of (monolingual) bureacracy).
But from talking to expats to both Amsterdam and Berlin made me realize that even the shitty parts of my world are much better than where some of them came from. Most of my complaints about Berlin or Amsterdam pale in comparison to the benefits it offers to many people from other places.
(For example, the complaints about DB (Germany) or NS (Holland) are ridiculous in comparison to my experience what almost every other part of the world)
I guess that makes the comparison the GP post made even more interesting
Public transport broken in Berlin "all the time"? Where, how?
The appointment system for the Bürgerämter is a bit of a disaster, but you can go without an appointment, or get appointments further away, which you will have no problem getting to due to the great public transport system.
Have you lived outside of Germany at all?
The appointment system for the Bürgerämter is a bit of a disaster, but you can go without an appointment, or get appointments further away, which you will have no problem getting to due to the great public transport system.
Have you lived outside of Germany at all?
the Bürgerämter are an issue in all large German towns. Hamburg is a catastrophe and Munich is also maxing out its capacity since mass immigration.
I have lived in both cities (currently Munich, previously Hamburg), and I disagree with your description. The service has vastly improved over the last 10 years and recent interactions have been effective and fast. ‘Mass immigration’ has had no impact.
Where I grew up (western Massachusetts, USA), the most frequent bus ran once every half-hour; the majority ran once per hour, and many came less frequently.
I spent about a month living in Hamburg, and visited Berlin for a day, and I never had to wait more than a few minutes for a bus or (more often) train. As importantly, they consistently run on time, so I don't need to leave a massive amount of padding if I want to arrive somewhere on time.
I don't know I'm qualified to say whether your public transit is objectively bad, but to me it's subjectively amazing.
I spent about a month living in Hamburg, and visited Berlin for a day, and I never had to wait more than a few minutes for a bus or (more often) train. As importantly, they consistently run on time, so I don't need to leave a massive amount of padding if I want to arrive somewhere on time.
I don't know I'm qualified to say whether your public transit is objectively bad, but to me it's subjectively amazing.
I'd say east Switzerland is perhaps the best functioning German speaking place. They like paperwork but things are rarely broken in any way.
How long ago did you move from Berlin?
4 years ago. It has been a pretty smooth ride, from originally getting a freelancer's Visa (pretty easily), to getting a Blue Card (even more easily).
The biggest surprise to me as an American was that I had this perception that health care is free over here, and it's not. You are mandated to pay your health insurance, which isn't as cheap as you might imagine, but it is of course pretty comprehensive with no co-pays for every service that I've ever had.
Btw, the health care system is a dream of efficiency compared to the US.
The biggest surprise to me as an American was that I had this perception that health care is free over here, and it's not. You are mandated to pay your health insurance, which isn't as cheap as you might imagine, but it is of course pretty comprehensive with no co-pays for every service that I've ever had.
Btw, the health care system is a dream of efficiency compared to the US.
you definitely have a point. but Berlin is still without doubt am exceptionally exciting town to live in. and public transportation is just as broken in Munich.
[deleted]
TL;DR: Trump.
The US fell from first to sixth place in their study, since last year.
The US fell from first to sixth place in their study, since last year.
Trump is the symptom, the signal. He's not the cause.
The cause is a system that's dysfunctional on multiple levels. The US' issues are systemic and some have now become part of US culture and are deeply anchored as such. I don't foresee any quick and meaningful correction. It's going to take many years for the country to become healthy again.
And given US influence all over the World, it's not good news.
The cause is a system that's dysfunctional on multiple levels. The US' issues are systemic and some have now become part of US culture and are deeply anchored as such. I don't foresee any quick and meaningful correction. It's going to take many years for the country to become healthy again.
And given US influence all over the World, it's not good news.
Its downplayed but the Tr7mp election which was possible even likely once he got the nomination, was the complete implosion of the Republican party and inability of any republican candidate except Trump to remotely connect to the needs of the people.
Two issues particularly, immigration which yes plays to darker impulses, but also represents law and order to the average conservative. And free trade, endlessly flogged by so called conservatives and was increasingly exposed as more shilling for powerful interests and more benefit to them than the average american.
Even though they lost the election Dems had their shit together much more compared to Republicans, and as much as we say we want disruption in presideantial politics, we see what happens when one half of the system goes completely limp.
Two issues particularly, immigration which yes plays to darker impulses, but also represents law and order to the average conservative. And free trade, endlessly flogged by so called conservatives and was increasingly exposed as more shilling for powerful interests and more benefit to them than the average american.
Even though they lost the election Dems had their shit together much more compared to Republicans, and as much as we say we want disruption in presideantial politics, we see what happens when one half of the system goes completely limp.
[deleted]
Everything is binary, huh?
Let's be honest it is less Trump and more the US media, which nearly all the foreign media parrots.
And even more interesting US image was first place after ruining so many countries in very recent history. But then again, it is all about the media.
And even more interesting US image was first place after ruining so many countries in very recent history. But then again, it is all about the media.
Honestly I was surprised the US was in first place at all. But I guess I move in different circles.
It does still have the biggest propaganda machine in the world and now it's online.
It does still have the biggest propaganda machine in the world and now it's online.
Right, my move-to countries are similar but our neighbors don't come first for me. More like Scotland/UK, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, US.
But perhaps Germany is too similar to Austria so I don't really see any real advantages in moving there, except slightly better job prospects, depending on the region.
Deutsche Welle (DW) is Germany’s international broadcaster.
"The Nation Brands Index (NBI) survey, carried out by German-based market research firm GfK"
Not hating the general premise, since I personally feel that Germany and the EU have taken the place of world leadership that the US previously occupied, but still "Germany Marketing Company Declares Germany the Best Country" would be a more accurate headline here.
Not hating the general premise, since I personally feel that Germany and the EU have taken the place of world leadership that the US previously occupied, but still "Germany Marketing Company Declares Germany the Best Country" would be a more accurate headline here.
Except that they've been running this for a while and Germany has tended to not come out on top.
I think you should read a bit further: "The Nation Brands Index (NBI) survey, carried out by German-based market research firm GfK and the British political consultant Simon Anholt [...]". It's not just a German company polling people.
German here, living in the US. For the first time in 20 years I am seriously considering to move back. There are lots of things I do not like about Germany, but there is a sense of buying into a social contract that I am coming to appreciate more and more. I do not believe that the most knotty problems can be solved by increasing individual freedoms or simply making markets more efficient. They require some form of collective action and solidarity, which seems hard to imagine happening in the current political climate in the US.
[Edit] There is something quite surreal to see a discussion about Germany’s positive image for people my age and above. I couldn’t have imagined this even ten years ago.
[Edit] There is something quite surreal to see a discussion about Germany’s positive image for people my age and above. I couldn’t have imagined this even ten years ago.
Taking away personal freedoms isn’t ever going to be a selling feature of any country. I can think of some good things about Germany, but I wouldn’t be so quick to tout that as one of them.
My interpretation of OP is not that taking away personal freedoms is a feature, but that personal freedom absolutism is a bug.
Giving up some freedom is always a consequence of society: your freedom to swim in a lake is at odds with my freedom to dump sewage there.
Giving up some freedom is always a consequence of society: your freedom to swim in a lake is at odds with my freedom to dump sewage there.
Excellent point. Most people don't want to swim in a sewerage. Except of course if someone tells them that vague concepts such as sovereignty is more important than swimming in a lake.
That seems like a poorly disguised dig at Brexit.
I'd hope that Germany of all countries understands the importance of sovereign democratic government and the harsh conditions people will endure to preserve it.
In fact the behaviour of Germany (and France) in recent times has seriously worsened my perception of these countries. I wouldn't say they're clearly better in my view than the USA, despite Trump.
I'd hope that Germany of all countries understands the importance of sovereign democratic government and the harsh conditions people will endure to preserve it.
In fact the behaviour of Germany (and France) in recent times has seriously worsened my perception of these countries. I wouldn't say they're clearly better in my view than the USA, despite Trump.
Germany seems to go to some extremes in that regard, though. E.g. I don't see why this kind of censorship is necessary or even desirable for any valid social purpose:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTQ1eBiRRRo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTQ1eBiRRRo
As a German who lived in Canada for 12 years, and moved back to Berlin for a while, I am not sure I could really live here. You constantly have struggles with a system that has rules which don't make sense. Neoliberalism seems to run deeper all the time, without people seeing it. Everybody seems to constantly try to screw you over, and overall societal trust is not very high. Politicians seem to be completely tone deaf, not understanding people's everyday struggles. Maybe it's a kind of complacency, because deep down Germans feel they're the best somehow, that they've got the best system.
I guess besides the 'system' and the people that form it, Germany is actually very nice.
(And the US is way worse in all these respects anyway)
I guess besides the 'system' and the people that form it, Germany is actually very nice.
(And the US is way worse in all these respects anyway)
You've just described India too. Perhaps different countries are actually more similar than we like to imagine, being made of the same species?
We need to solve our biggest issues at a global level because history shows that even if one country goes from strength to strength, sooner or later its surrounding nations can pull it down. Also usually the rise of one country is upon the ruins (or at least exploitation) of another, or others.
We need to solve our biggest issues at a global level because history shows that even if one country goes from strength to strength, sooner or later its surrounding nations can pull it down. Also usually the rise of one country is upon the ruins (or at least exploitation) of another, or others.
Where did you end up moving to? Back to Canada? The issues you describe do seem to be increasing everywhere.
>They require some form of collective action and solidarity
This is perhaps easier with Germany's population of ~60M vs. the US population of ~300M. I'm much more comfortable with something like this happening at the state level because, for example, I have almost nothing in common with the people of Alabama.
This is perhaps easier with Germany's population of ~60M vs. the US population of ~300M. I'm much more comfortable with something like this happening at the state level because, for example, I have almost nothing in common with the people of Alabama.
This is a crazy form of propaganda instilled by both sides of the political spectrum in the US. Germany's population is 82M+, and much more diverse than you think. You think you have nothing in common with someone in Alabama? At least you speak a common language and share a constitutional tradition. German unification was completed 60 years after Alabama was admitted to the union. A Schwäbisch person has as much in common culturally with an Ossie as you do with an Alabamian.
This 300M+ logic is the perfect strawman for people who don't want to solve problems, because the population of the US is only comparable to few countries in population and they are not in a good position...
This 300M+ logic is the perfect strawman for people who don't want to solve problems, because the population of the US is only comparable to few countries in population and they are not in a good position...
>This 300M+ logic is the perfect strawman for people who don't want to solve problems
Within the US, people are able to move across states at will very easily. It is not a "straw man" in that I did not present it as argument being made by someone else. I simply do not believe in centralized power and large homogeneous populations.
I have been to Alabama, and I often can not understand what they are saying whether you believe it or not.
Within the US, people are able to move across states at will very easily. It is not a "straw man" in that I did not present it as argument being made by someone else. I simply do not believe in centralized power and large homogeneous populations.
I have been to Alabama, and I often can not understand what they are saying whether you believe it or not.
>This 300M+ logic is the perfect strawman for people who don't want to solve problems, because the population of the US is only comparable to few countries in population and they are not in a good position...
Thank you. I hate when people use this as a former of argument and neglect all the difficult things the country has achieved. It's an excuse for laziness and the status quo.
Thank you. I hate when people use this as a former of argument and neglect all the difficult things the country has achieved. It's an excuse for laziness and the status quo.
> I hate when people use this as a former of argument and neglect all the difficult things the country has achieved.
My point was it is difficult for 300M people to agree on something, and I don't know what you are talking about otherwise.
My point was it is difficult for 300M people to agree on something, and I don't know what you are talking about otherwise.
It's difficult for two people to agree on something.
See: your thread.
See: your thread.
State populations are not monoliths. I live in exurban Atlanta. I have more in common with someone in Atlanta than with my neighbors. There are people who want Atlanta to break off from the rest of the state, and people further downriver who don't appreciate that Metro Atlanta has so much control over their water supply.
There's no amount of division that can neatly contain a group's interests. Gerrymandered maps are an extreme example. 60m vs 300m is no more meaningful a distinction than 500k (Atlanta) vs 6m (Atlanta MSA).
There's no amount of division that can neatly contain a group's interests. Gerrymandered maps are an extreme example. 60m vs 300m is no more meaningful a distinction than 500k (Atlanta) vs 6m (Atlanta MSA).
> There's no amount of division that can neatly contain a group's interests. Gerrymandered maps are an extreme example. 60m vs 300m is no more meaningful a distinction than 500k (Atlanta) vs 6m (Atlanta MSA).
While technically true, surely there's degrees of 'containing group interests'?
I've been part of various groups with different sizes. Family > friends > Christian denomination (Evangelical) > Class (highly educated but very 'middle-class'), Country (The Netherlands), etc. To me it seems obvious that as the group gets larger, as well as more 'abstract', the group interest becomes vaguer and broader and less cohesive.
While I don't agree that comparisons on a state-level are the right kind of abstraction (perhaps more rural versus urban?), I do think that there's a huge difference in 'contained group interests' on the level of something like 'The Netherlands' versus 'The European Union' (the 'umemployed leeches' are at least my unemployed leeches, and not brown-skinned, etc.). And while I think the USA cannot be directly compared to the EU, I do think the USA is more similar to the EU than to one particular country within it. Or at least enough so that it makes that comparison very shaky.
I often find it difficult to remember this, because from the perspective of a Netflix-guzzling European the USA is a monoculture. But if the differences within the relatively small and relatively (globally speaking) homogeneous eurozone are any indication, the USA might be much less monocultural than it appears.
While technically true, surely there's degrees of 'containing group interests'?
I've been part of various groups with different sizes. Family > friends > Christian denomination (Evangelical) > Class (highly educated but very 'middle-class'), Country (The Netherlands), etc. To me it seems obvious that as the group gets larger, as well as more 'abstract', the group interest becomes vaguer and broader and less cohesive.
While I don't agree that comparisons on a state-level are the right kind of abstraction (perhaps more rural versus urban?), I do think that there's a huge difference in 'contained group interests' on the level of something like 'The Netherlands' versus 'The European Union' (the 'umemployed leeches' are at least my unemployed leeches, and not brown-skinned, etc.). And while I think the USA cannot be directly compared to the EU, I do think the USA is more similar to the EU than to one particular country within it. Or at least enough so that it makes that comparison very shaky.
I often find it difficult to remember this, because from the perspective of a Netflix-guzzling European the USA is a monoculture. But if the differences within the relatively small and relatively (globally speaking) homogeneous eurozone are any indication, the USA might be much less monocultural than it appears.
It's certainly nice that in our healthcare predicament that we can at least point to other countries and ask "what are they doing that causes them to have better healthcare outcomes and cost 1-/3 to 1/9th the price--as is the case with countries like Germany and Japan."
Another example is marijuana legalization, which seriously benefits people with certain diseases and psychosis. Further, it has shown in Colorado to reduce crime and increase tax revenue. It would have been significantly delayed if the federal government imposed authority of federal law in this case.
So there is a pretty compelling argument to be made that some issues seriously benefit from not being under one bureaucracy.
Another example is marijuana legalization, which seriously benefits people with certain diseases and psychosis. Further, it has shown in Colorado to reduce crime and increase tax revenue. It would have been significantly delayed if the federal government imposed authority of federal law in this case.
So there is a pretty compelling argument to be made that some issues seriously benefit from not being under one bureaucracy.
>State populations are not monoliths.
I never made that claim. It is simply that state level democracies is what we have in the US. I live over 1,000 miles from my nearest relative because that is where I feel most comfortable, even though I know very few people and have no connections.
I never made that claim. It is simply that state level democracies is what we have in the US. I live over 1,000 miles from my nearest relative because that is where I feel most comfortable, even though I know very few people and have no connections.
> I have almost nothing in common with the people of Alabama.
seriously? you have very much in common with them. you want clean water to drink and air to breath, healthy food to eat, peace, a non-corrupt and efficient government, safety, medical infrastructure and so on ...
seriously? you have very much in common with them. you want clean water to drink and air to breath, healthy food to eat, peace, a non-corrupt and efficient government, safety, medical infrastructure and so on ...
~80M† actually
† source? The CIA :) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/...
† source? The CIA :) https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/...
just to second your comment with a comparable chart(with history) (worldbank data):
https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&...
https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&...
Holy shit! The idea that it's 60M instead of 80M misses the fact that it is an order of magnitude different scale.
Would it help you people if I said, Germany is 10^2M vs 10^3M? I'm I pedant, but this is ridiculous.
Would it help you people if I said, Germany is 10^2M vs 10^3M? I'm I pedant, but this is ridiculous.
Just to be clear:
60/300= 20%
80/300= 26%
Not much of a difference, IMO. Make your case if you disagree.
60/300= 20%
80/300= 26%
Not much of a difference, IMO. Make your case if you disagree.
In most of Europe, Germany has been seen as a solid, hard working nation for many years. If I had to use one word: efficiency above all.
But recently, with Merkel's immigration policy (or ineptness?), the country is being overrun with North Africa immigrants, who are a drag on rich social care system, taking a lot out while not contributing their equal share back to it.
(Eastern Europe calls this process cultural enrichment, which is a clear sarcasm.)
I'm wondering about contrast between "best international image" and the perceived reality. Good marketing comes to mind.
But recently, with Merkel's immigration policy (or ineptness?), the country is being overrun with North Africa immigrants, who are a drag on rich social care system, taking a lot out while not contributing their equal share back to it.
(Eastern Europe calls this process cultural enrichment, which is a clear sarcasm.)
I'm wondering about contrast between "best international image" and the perceived reality. Good marketing comes to mind.
Please don't violate the guidelines with comments like this.
> Off-Topic: ... Ideological or political battle or talking points.
> Eschew flamebait. Don't introduce flamewar topics unless you have something genuinely new to say. Avoid unrelated controversies and generic tangents.
> Comments should get more civil and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
> Off-Topic: ... Ideological or political battle or talking points.
> Eschew flamebait. Don't introduce flamewar topics unless you have something genuinely new to say. Avoid unrelated controversies and generic tangents.
> Comments should get more civil and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive.
https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
They aren't immigrants, they are refugees. They aren't in the same social care system as German citizens and haven't actually impacted the quality of social care for regular citizens at all. Contrary to popular belief it's actually not easy at all to gain citizenship status. Hosting a million refugees does cost a lot (~20B € annually), but it is constitutionally required to guarantee that everyone in Germany is treated with human dignity.
That is not just plain wrong, but also far right propaganda. In fact, the system needs these immigrants for the workforce in the long term. But that is an argument far beyond the grasp of most people. SAD.
In the long term, automation makes these immigrants completely redundant though.
HN is no place for your racist hate. Take it elsewhere
Come to the US and help fund our opioid treatments and naloxone purchases.
Diversity is Americas’ greatest strength and also its greatest weakness.
Are you meaning USA, or all of North and South America?
Honestly I am surprised to see the US even in the Top10, people usually have nothing good to say about it for various reasons.
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I know this is such a Hacker News question, but is there a good place to gauge what good places in Germany also have solid internet speeds (100/30)?
I’ve thought about moving there, too, but it’d be great to narrow the places in Germany down geographically with some data like this, especially with what I hear about the state of internet infrastructure there.
I’ve thought about moving there, too, but it’d be great to narrow the places in Germany down geographically with some data like this, especially with what I hear about the state of internet infrastructure there.
You'll get that speed and more in any urbanised part of Germany. I had 100 symmetrical 6 years ago in Berlin. What makes you think the internet infrastructure is bad?
Congratulations to those countries moving up.
Congratulations also to Americans, who feel their country is moving in a better direction.
May America be the best America it can be, and the same of Germany, Japan, etc.
Congratulations also to Americans, who feel their country is moving in a better direction.
May America be the best America it can be, and the same of Germany, Japan, etc.
Warmer weather, but the economy is worse or the other way around.