I don't get what you're complaining about.

Are you saying that Germany has become the most powerful economic territory in Europe because they adopted the Euro?

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Anyone know where the nearest brick wall is? I have a head eager to meet it

Who is upset? Just stating a fact - Germans are exporters, and a weaker currency helps to facilitate this.

Has being in the Euro alone made Germany the most powerful economic territory? No.

Has it helped them to cement that position?
Undoubtedly yes.

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comment by Redinthehead - FreeGaza - فلسطين (U1860)
posted 13 minutes ago
I don't get what you're complaining about.

Are you saying that Germany has become the most powerful economic territory in Europe because they adopted the Euro?
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Where has anyone said that? Everything seems to be 'black or white' to you, it either is or it isn't. You must realise that everything doesn't have to be absolute, and that there is middle ground?

Maybe you need to stop just trying to win arguments, and read, and take in, what people say. There are people on here that know a lot more on this subject than myself, and it seems, you. I'm not embarrassed to admit that, neither should you be

Let us use an analogy here....

You rent a house from Landlord A. If you improve it, the value increases and the higher your rent becomes.

One day your street, all tenants of Ladlord A, set up a deal. The rents will all be the same, and set by the average value of the houses on your street.

You can improve your house with relative impunity, as there are several sheetholes on your street that will keep the average value down

Let us use an analogy here....

You rent a house from Landlord A. If you improve it, the value increases and the higher your rent becomes.

................

So, the answer to lowering your rent bill would be to make the house more crap?

I've been trying that for two years and it hasn't worked yet.

comment by Vidicschin (U3584)
posted 4 minutes ago
Let us use an analogy here....

You rent a house from Landlord A. If you improve it, the value increases and the higher your rent becomes.

................

So, the answer to lowering your rent bill would be to make the house more crap?
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No, you do not have to as your neighbours' crap houses would reduce your rent.

That analogy is totally crap!

I mean.. wtf?



My point was the euro is not artificially pegged like the Rimimbi is.

Saying that Germany benefits from being a powerhouse in the Eurozone is stating the obvious. That was their macro economic decision I don't get why that's being pointed at as being an artificial measure.

Germany was still competitive when they had the Deutschmark. They managed to keep it within parameters of the ERM when the UK under John Major completely failed to do so. Interest rates at 15% at one stage.

Complete buffoonery.

The Germans know how to run an economy, theirs is testament to this and they lost the Second World War! Massively.

The Germans know how to run an economy, theirs is testament to this and they lost the Second World War! Massively.
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Both Japan and Germany were constructs of USA and massive injection of money called the Marshall plan. And then continuous aide by the USA as Germany were on the front line against USSR.

Germany has indeed profited by the weak Euro and unification. However Germany knew that a lot of countries were 'fudged' into the Euro and did not meet the basic criteria for entry. To understand why they allowed this you have to understand the German psyche and their vision of a superstate Europe that goes back centuries. So German banks have exposed themselves massively to cover the debt of these countries whilst they supposedly got their act together. Of course there is no hope of that which is why a lot of the German banks are now more indebted and weak than their British counterparts. In fact Deutsche Bank is now on state aide. The fear is now is that there is real contagion in the EU banking system. Which is why the ECB is desperately trying to deflate themselves out of debt using QE. Something Germany once said it would never allow. Whether it will work is anyones guess. Brexit has just taken the attention away from how bad Eurzone is at the moment.

Ahh fack off! What a load of absolute tin hat stuff.. Superstate europe...

you know that the UK benefitted from the Marshall plan too? Actually with greater amounts of funds.

Jesus christ.. so much paranoia about all things Euro..

There is only one person in denial of the facts here

To understand why they allowed this you have to understand the German psyche and their vision of a superstate Europe that goes back centuries.

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As someone of German heritage I can assure you this is way off the mark and petty offensive.

It's essentially the same as me suggesting the average Brit wants to invade a load of third nation countries, steal their resources and enslave or kill their populace due to the British Empire.

*pretty offensive

comment by Dean Sturridge's Nephü (Formerly LGT) (U13718)
posted about an hour ago
To understand why they allowed this you have to understand the German psyche and their vision of a superstate Europe that goes back centuries.

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As someone of German heritage I can assure you this is way off the mark and petty offensive.

It's essentially the same as me suggesting the average Brit wants to invade a load of third nation countries, steal their resources and enslave or kill their populace due to the British Empire.
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Not looking to offend you here, because I like Germany and it's people. But your 'average German' certainly let themselves get taken in by Hitler, didn't they?

Don't mention the war!

comment by HRH King Ledley (U20095)
posted 14 minutes ago
Don't mention the war!
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Now you've done it

comment by Dean Sturridge's Nephü (Formerly LGT) (U13718)
posted 1 hour, 40 minutes ago
To understand why they allowed this you have to understand the German psyche and their vision of a superstate Europe that goes back centuries.

------

As someone of German heritage I can assure you this is way off the mark and petty offensive.

It's essentially the same as me suggesting the average Brit wants to invade a load of third nation countries, steal their resources and enslave or kill their populace due to the British Empire.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Not sure why you are offended. Many other European countries also believe in a shared hegemony. De Gaulle for example was all in for a European identity.

In fact whenever I travel to Europe I often get asked why we don't we want to be a part of Europe. Why is there such a surprise to Brexit? Go to Brussels and they still can't believe the outcome of the vote because they truly believe all European people share their vision of a European country over national identity.

French leaders including Hollande totally believe in a superstate. They are already talking about convergence based on idealogical and political reasons and nothing else. Some right wing Italians open talk of Judaic Christian construct of the EU. Which is why there is such opposition to the Syrian refugees.

comment by Terminator1 (U1863)
posted 6 minutes ago
comment by Dean Sturridge's Nephü (Formerly LGT) (U13718)
posted about an hour ago
To understand why they allowed this you have to understand the German psyche and their vision of a superstate Europe that goes back centuries.

------

As someone of German heritage I can assure you this is way off the mark and petty offensive.

It's essentially the same as me suggesting the average Brit wants to invade a load of third nation countries, steal their resources and enslave or kill their populace due to the British Empire.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Not looking to offend you here, because I like Germany and it's people. But your 'average German' certainly let themselves get taken in by Hitler, didn't they?
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Again, pretty wide of the mark. The Na zi party only held something like 20% of the vote when they started grabbing power through intimidation tactics, imprisoning and murdering of political opponents. If you spoke out you disappeared in the middle of the night, as my great grandfather did. The communist parties were equally as successful, if not more so, in the same elections.

You can question why people started voting for the Na zis in the late 20s but post the 1929 crash they offered an 'alternative to the middle ground politicians' whose policies had seemingly failed. They offered jobs and prosperity for their own people but with a nasty anti-German and anti-Jewish diatribe. Replace German with Mexican and Jewish with Muslim in that last sentence and does that sound like anyone familiar? (Not saying Trump = Hitler or would do anything nearly as bad before anyone starts but it explains how an obscure outsider can rise to power through populrism).

When times are hard people vote for extremes as has been evidenced across Europe and the US in recent years.

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I don't believe national identity should be championed ahead of progressive ideals for co-operation on a much wider transnational basis.

Watched a South Park episode last night and had me thinking completely of brexiters. Episode was called goobacks!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uykcRywjjYo

Jenius, sorry, maybe I misinterpreted you but the 'going back centuries' part seemed like a reference to Charlemagne or Barbarossa which in turn implied Germany ruling over the rest of Europe. I've heard the line that 'why would we want to be ruled over by Germany after fighting two World Wars' as an argument against the EU several times which really irks me as it is ignorant on so many levels but from your posts you're clearly not an ignorant person.

Actually Britain leaving the EU places a dilemma at Germany's door in that it now finds itself losing a major ally and large country/economy in the union and thus more leadership responsibility is thrust upon it which is why I imagine Merkel in particular is upset.

Agreed that there is a common theme of European unification across the continent that currently doesn't resonate as much here - that much is evident from the vote alone! This hasn't always been the case though and prominent leaders in the past including the likes of Churchill have been pro-unification.

comment by Cal Neva (U11544)
posted 4 minutes ago
Oh we have got on to Hitler I see. Anti-German really?
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My mistake - should've read pro-German.

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