[lotuseclat79]

Article here.

In France and Germany, students are being forced to undergo a dangerous indoctrination. Taught that economic principles such as capitalism, free markets, and entrepreneurship are savage, unhealthy, and immoral, these children are raised on a diet of prejudice and bias. Rooting it out may determine whether Europe’s economies prosper or continue to be left behind.

-- Tom

[SlackAli]

If you're intent today on fermenting conflict between European and American members, could you at least find sensible articles?

I'm not sure whether the article concluded that France and Germany are doomed to fighting the class war as I gave up early after

In Germany, unemployment is finally falling after years at Depression-era levels, thanks in no small part to welfare reforms that in 2005 pressured Germans on the public dole to take up jobs.

Not a hint of recognition that not that many years ago West Germany took on a reunification project with its basket case neighbour, and remains one of the major economic forces in the world

[Bastiat]

Originally Posted by SlackAli

Not a hint of recognition that not that many years ago West Germany took on a reunification project with its basket case neighbour, and remains one of the major economic forces in the world

Yes that would be the second greatest economy after guess who? And then it is only a mere pittance to the first.

Fact is that socialist and "progressive" employment practices are a drain on the German economy, like it or not; 35 hour work weeks and six weeks of vacation a year for the average worker will impact productivity levels.

A side story (sort of a Bassetman "I know someone" BS), I took my fabulous motorcycle into the shop because the rear brake just didn't feel right. Turns out that a "metering valve" in the ABS system was defective and covered under warranty. I took my bike in on December 1 when they diagnosed the problem. There wasn't a "metering valve" in the whole United States, it had to be ordered from Japan. In Japan, the factory had to order the part made by one of its suppliers. In Japan, the whole factory including the suppliers shuts down for the whole month of December!!!!!!! Not because of a lack of sales but because that is required by Japanese law!!!!!!!! So to make a too long story already shorter, it took 2 months to get the part once they returned from mandatory vacation. The European model and the Japanese model of worker benefits are similar.

Okay, I feel better now that I got that off my chest.

[SlackAli]

Originally Posted by Bastiat

Yes that would be the second greatest economy after guess who?

China?

Originally Posted by Bastiat

Fact is that socialist and "progressive" employment practices are a drain on the German economy, like it or not; 35 hour work weeks and six weeks of vacation a year for the average worker will impact productivity levels.

But the Europeans - and I exclude the British - know there are better indicators of a fulfilled life than measuring productivity.

Originally Posted by Bastiat

A side story (sort of a Bassetman "I know someone" BS), I took my fabulous motorcycle into the shop because the rear brake just didn't feel right. Turns out that a "metering valve" in the ABS system was defective and covered under warranty. I took my bike in on December 1 when they diagnosed the problem. There wasn't a "metering valve" in the whole United States, it had to be ordered from Japan. In Japan, the factory had to order the part made by one of its suppliers. In Japan, the whole factory including the suppliers shuts down for the whole month of December!!!!!!! Not because of a lack of sales but because that is required by Japanese law!!!!!!!! So to make a too long story already shorter, it took 2 months to get the part once they returned from mandatory vacation. The European model and the Japanese model of worker benefits are similar.

Okay, I feel better now that I got that off my chest.

Sorry to hear about your problems. Perhaps you should have bought American in the first place

[Bastiat]

Originally Posted by SlackAli

China?

Silly, China is fourth. You would need to add the economic output of Germany, China and France to equal the US. Who was it that said something about when the "US sneezes"?

But the Europeans - and I exclude the British - know there are better indicators of a fulfilled life than measuring productivity.

Are you saying Americans don't have fulfilled lives?

Sorry to hear about your problems. Perhaps you should have bought American in the first place

Well that would mean either a Harley or a Victory shudders shudders I don't think so. As I've posted before, Harley is the only company I know that markets a $20 grand motorcycle to sell a t-shirt.

[WarC]

Originally Posted by SlackAli

But the Europeans - and I exclude the British - know there are better indicators of a fulfilled life than measuring productivity.

Don't go advocating personal satisfaction above the machinations of economy! Everyone knows a person is gauged only on their ability to support and participate in it. NOTHING overrides the constant drive of optimization for dollars/pounds/euros! Nothing!

Thirty hour work weeks - Psssh - So you can do what? Spend time with loved ones? Take care of the house? Engage in a personally fulfilling hobby?! What a waste! You could be contributing to corporate wellbeing, maximizing profit, becoming more efficient! THATS whats important bub, putting in time for Bossman, taking on consumer debt, and working 9-5's 'till you drop, or your job is shipped overseas! 'Cuz guess what, that guy in China has two more degrees than you and will do the job for half the wage! All is fair in the pursuit of lower cost, even at the worker's and consumer's expense!

Get your "content living" moonbattery outta here, you socialist!

Now be a good consumer, and buy a tank full of gas on your way to work. Oh and by the way: The annual 3% raise is cancelled this year due to economic recession! Whats that? You have a pain in your rear end? Oh thats Bossman letting you know that you're just a worker in this global anthill! Your words, my words, they may as well be the squeelings of some animal - Except that animal, at least, lives for the sake of living - What freedom they have, how liberated they are - For they have no work weeks, no schedules to keep, only the maintenance and caretaking of their own existence! This country used to stand for such things, but HR says its against company policy! Welcome to Feudalism 2.0!

Sorry for the rant!

[Bastiat]

WarC.......while your post is in jest it is that very commitment to work and productivity is what allows you to live as well as you do. The British had that work ethic at one time.

[SlackAli]

Originally Posted by Bastiat

WarC.......while your post is in jest it is that very commitment to work and productivity is what allows you to live as well as you do. The British had that work ethic at one time.

I took his post at face value

And no, I don't think all Americans lead unfulfilled lives - you're the master of the non sequitur generalization

And the British need no lectures in the work ethic from leisured lawyers, thank you very much. We - well not me obviously, as I revel in blissful laziness - work the longest hours in Europe. Although what's actually produced by all these hours of toil - beyond a decaying society - beats me

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by SlackAli

I took his post at face value

And no, I don't think all Americans lead unfulfilled lives - you're the master of the non sequitur generalization

And the British need no lectures in the work ethic from leisured lawyers, thank you very much. We - well not me obviously, as I revel in blissful laziness - work the longest hours in Europe. Although what's actually produced by all these hours of toil - beyond a decaying society - beats me

From an NHS perspective I can tell you that some of that time was spent writing a policy for writing policies!.

Oh and I work for the NHS, one of the supposed bastions of government employee laziness and I work at least 40 hours a week, and sometimes as much as 60! Oh and those extra 20 hours.... I don't get paid for them!

[BlackSpike]

Originally Posted by ChrisJones

Oh and I work for the NHS, one of the supposed bastions of government employee laziness and I work at least 40 hours a week, and sometimes as much as 60! Oh and those extra 20 hours.... I don't get paid for them!

Since when was the NHS (as a whole) a "bastion of government employee laziness" ?
Last I heard, Nurses (and related nursing staff) were one of the most respected and undervalued employees in the country, working very hard for little pay or reward.

It is Government(s) policy that is ruining it with unattainable, irrelevant targets, multi-layered management and somehow forgetting that the MOST major advance we have made in medical care in the last 1000 years is HYGIENE!

But I'm off-topic now. Please continue ...

[Bastiat]

Originally Posted by SlackAli

I took his post at face value

And no, I don't think all Americans lead unfulfilled lives - you're the master of the non sequitur generalization

And the British need no lectures in the work ethic from leisured lawyers, thank you very much. We - well not me obviously, as I revel in blissful laziness - work the longest hours in Europe. Although what's actually produced by all these hours of toil - beyond a decaying society - beats me

"Non sequitur generalization"....me? What are you on about? BTW, I asked if you believed Americans have unfulfilled lives. Not really a non-sequitur as much as attempting to understand your position....fat chance that.

British work the longest hours in Europe you say? Isn't that like being the tallest midget? (I stole that line. )

Lawyering came after my realization that manual labor, while providing a sense of satisfaction, did not provide the life style to which I aspired. Read that to mean I know blue-collar and blue collar isn't for me.

[ChrisJones]

Originally Posted by BlackSpike

Since when was the NHS (as a whole) a "bastion of government employee laziness" ?
Last I heard, Nurses (and related nursing staff) were one of the most respected and undervalued employees in the country, working very hard for little pay or reward.

It is Government(s) policy that is ruining it with unattainable, irrelevant targets, multi-layered management and somehow forgetting that the MOST major advance we have made in medical care in the last 1000 years is HYGIENE!

But I'm off-topic now. Please continue ...

Can I ask, are you a nurse yourself?

I was not intending to tar the whole NHS, however you are correct, management is one of the key areas where this goes on. No one can argue that nurses don't work hard, however I will submit that they are better paid now than they ever have been.

[SlackAli]

Originally Posted by Bastiat

"Non sequitur generalization"....me? What are you on about? BTW, I asked if you believed Americans have unfulfilled lives. Not really a non-sequitur as much as attempting to understand your position....fat chance that.

.

You're in one of your more obdurate moods today I see. Again, no I don't think Americans have unfulfilled lives. I do though think that the most fulfilled, whatever that means, are those, as in other societies, whose lives are guided by a strength of religious conviction rather than the other social deity, the pursuit of wealth for its own sake. ("for its own sake" includes the juxtaposition of ones own wealth against others)

In the gaps between the two worldviews is where alienation and anomie resides - the forgotten legions who have no faith, but have no access, for whatever reason, to wealth and its accoutrements.

btw, I've nothing against lawyers - almost went down that route myself. Too much rote learning though for a simple soul

[bomb #21]

Originally Posted by Bastiat

... Lawyering came after my realization that manual labor, while providing a sense of satisfaction, did not provide the life style to which I aspired. Read that to mean I know blue-collar and blue collar isn't for me.

Could you clarify the realisation process? While I can believe that you've contemplated manual labour ...


... I'm sure you don't need me to finish the sentence.

[bomb #21]

Originally Posted by lotuseclat

In France and Germany, students are being forced to undergo a dangerous indoctrination. Taught that economic principles such as capitalism, free markets, and entrepreneurship are savage, unhealthy, and immoral, these children are raised on a diet of prejudice and bias. Rooting it out may determine whether Europe’s economies prosper or continue to be left behind.

100% true -- dress it up any way you like, the kids in continental Europe are being systematically radicalised. Since it's only a matter of time before they move to impose their socialist ideologies on the UK and our special friends, we should strike first. Invade Europe now!