Helge,
“German Highschool gives everybody the equivalent of a US college
degree,...”
Do you mean everybody attends and finishes German High School?
I was under the impression that many “less capable” students - so identified
by the school authorities - are not permitted to go to German High School
and are shunted off into more “practical” career fields and trade schools.
Obviously not every student who first attends school as a child finishes
Hochschule (neither there nor here). What is the story on German public
schools?
-----
By the way, I disagree with your comment about “free” education. It is very,
very costly.
The school teacher I dated in Germany earned less money than an equivalent
junior high school teacher here. Regardless, she paid something more than
forty percent (40%) of her income in income taxes.
This, naturally, is in addition to the confiscatory Value Added Tax which must be paid at every level of production, distribution and sale. At the retail level, the final sale is as much as 50% tax although only the VAT for the last transaction is shown.
Taxation in Germany has been elevated to an art form. There seem to be
licenses, permits, or other forms of governmental approval for nearly
everything. Hmm. Sounds like California!!
The civilian medical care I received in Germany was good but outdated and
driven largely by the “will” of the doctor rather than current medical
protocols. Obviously, in large cities current medical expertise may abound,
but in the smaller towns, it was quite dated.
Another girl I dated used an interesting procedure with the free medical care.
We both were single and (ahem!) from time to time consumed unreasonable
amounts of alcohol until the wee hours. I’d get up with a hangover and go to
work. She’d go to the doctor and get the day off.
I asked her why the doctor gave her a day off for a hangover. She explained
that she “shopped” for a doctor who would make the “diagnosis” and
prescribe the “rest for recovery” that she desired. (Always ticked me off!)
-----
Remember that governments have no money, no resources, and no power.
None, except for what they take. When such things are “taken”, obviously
they are taken from “someone” - in this case, from the people who produce
goods and services.
There are three major methods for governments to have money.
1) The government can borrow money. Then the lenders must be paid
interest so, unless the government employs some scheme to increase
borrowing to pay off current debt, somebody must pay the lenders.
2) The government can print money. If gold, silver or other collateral does
not “back” the money, then the money is counterfeit - just like ours.
American dollars are backed excessively and increasingly “by the full faith
and credit of the United States government”. I think of Clinton and cringe.
In any case, by printing unbacked money, the money supply becomes larger
- it is “inflated”. Because there is more money voting for each purchase,
prices rise. Therefore inflation of the money supply causes higher prices and,
in effect, is a tax on the people - a tax which is a cruel and heavy burden on
those folks with a fixed income. Mention President Carter to some old people
who understand money - watch the fur fly!
3) The government can tax the people. Only people work. Corporations are
made up of people who support the organization. When the corporation pays
taxes, that’s money that could have been given to workers. Therefore,
though many people refuse to understand it, a corporate tax is still a tax on
the people - the workers who provide goods and services.
German powerholders make decisions about what is important for the
Fatherland. They decided to take money from the German people to pay for
education and medical programs, etc. That’s well and good if that is what the
German people desire - I have absolutely no problem with it. It’s none of my
business.
However, in America, I’ve found that nearly every time the federal
government becomes involved, things become more expensive and difficult to
obtain and use.
Yes, our government builds good highways. (grin!) That should take a
history buff back to the mid-1940s, huh?
But the government and insurance companies have made a horrid mess of
medical care in America. I used to go to a doctor of my choice. Now I can’t.
Doctors used to take time to speak with their patients, learn about the signs,
symptoms, and concerns of the patients to help diagnose accurately and
prescribe treatment appropriately.
Today, too many doctors rush into the
“examination room”, the patient quickly describes one or two symptoms, the
doctor hurriedly writes a prescription and heads for the next patient.
-----
I’ll stop here, but I wanted to clarify that:
- Not every German finishes high school. IMO, those who do finish typically
have a truly fine education.
- There are NO free benefits. In the case of Germany, the benefits of
Socialized programs are paid for by confiscatory taxation.
- Governments have no resources except what they take, one way or
another, from those who provide goods and services.
Therefore, your “right” to be educated according to the constitution is simply
a different system than ours. Which system is preferable is a value
judgement. Who should decide whether my child goes to college?
In your case, the government plays a far greater role than in America. It’s your
choice. Germans are much more law-abiding and responsive to the will of federal control than are Americans.
I guess that’s a “Germanic trait” similar
to preferring travel.
Oh, by the way, Americans travel too. As Europeans travel around Europe,
we travel around the United States. Check the distance from Los Angeles to
the tip of Maine. You’ll find it is nearly the same as from Lisbon, Portugal to
Moscow.
Alles Gute,
Dennis
“German Highschool gives everybody the equivalent of a US college
degree,...”
Do you mean everybody attends and finishes German High School?
I was under the impression that many “less capable” students - so identified
by the school authorities - are not permitted to go to German High School
and are shunted off into more “practical” career fields and trade schools.
Obviously not every student who first attends school as a child finishes
Hochschule (neither there nor here). What is the story on German public
schools?
-----
By the way, I disagree with your comment about “free” education. It is very,
very costly.
The school teacher I dated in Germany earned less money than an equivalent
junior high school teacher here. Regardless, she paid something more than
forty percent (40%) of her income in income taxes.
This, naturally, is in addition to the confiscatory Value Added Tax which must be paid at every level of production, distribution and sale. At the retail level, the final sale is as much as 50% tax although only the VAT for the last transaction is shown.
Taxation in Germany has been elevated to an art form. There seem to be
licenses, permits, or other forms of governmental approval for nearly
everything. Hmm. Sounds like California!!
The civilian medical care I received in Germany was good but outdated and
driven largely by the “will” of the doctor rather than current medical
protocols. Obviously, in large cities current medical expertise may abound,
but in the smaller towns, it was quite dated.
Another girl I dated used an interesting procedure with the free medical care.
We both were single and (ahem!) from time to time consumed unreasonable
amounts of alcohol until the wee hours. I’d get up with a hangover and go to
work. She’d go to the doctor and get the day off.
I asked her why the doctor gave her a day off for a hangover. She explained
that she “shopped” for a doctor who would make the “diagnosis” and
prescribe the “rest for recovery” that she desired. (Always ticked me off!)
-----
Remember that governments have no money, no resources, and no power.
None, except for what they take. When such things are “taken”, obviously
they are taken from “someone” - in this case, from the people who produce
goods and services.
There are three major methods for governments to have money.
1) The government can borrow money. Then the lenders must be paid
interest so, unless the government employs some scheme to increase
borrowing to pay off current debt, somebody must pay the lenders.
2) The government can print money. If gold, silver or other collateral does
not “back” the money, then the money is counterfeit - just like ours.
American dollars are backed excessively and increasingly “by the full faith
and credit of the United States government”. I think of Clinton and cringe.
In any case, by printing unbacked money, the money supply becomes larger
- it is “inflated”. Because there is more money voting for each purchase,
prices rise. Therefore inflation of the money supply causes higher prices and,
in effect, is a tax on the people - a tax which is a cruel and heavy burden on
those folks with a fixed income. Mention President Carter to some old people
who understand money - watch the fur fly!
3) The government can tax the people. Only people work. Corporations are
made up of people who support the organization. When the corporation pays
taxes, that’s money that could have been given to workers. Therefore,
though many people refuse to understand it, a corporate tax is still a tax on
the people - the workers who provide goods and services.
German powerholders make decisions about what is important for the
Fatherland. They decided to take money from the German people to pay for
education and medical programs, etc. That’s well and good if that is what the
German people desire - I have absolutely no problem with it. It’s none of my
business.
However, in America, I’ve found that nearly every time the federal
government becomes involved, things become more expensive and difficult to
obtain and use.
Yes, our government builds good highways. (grin!) That should take a
history buff back to the mid-1940s, huh?
But the government and insurance companies have made a horrid mess of
medical care in America. I used to go to a doctor of my choice. Now I can’t.
Doctors used to take time to speak with their patients, learn about the signs,
symptoms, and concerns of the patients to help diagnose accurately and
prescribe treatment appropriately.
Today, too many doctors rush into the
“examination room”, the patient quickly describes one or two symptoms, the
doctor hurriedly writes a prescription and heads for the next patient.
-----
I’ll stop here, but I wanted to clarify that:
- Not every German finishes high school. IMO, those who do finish typically
have a truly fine education.
- There are NO free benefits. In the case of Germany, the benefits of
Socialized programs are paid for by confiscatory taxation.
- Governments have no resources except what they take, one way or
another, from those who provide goods and services.
Therefore, your “right” to be educated according to the constitution is simply
a different system than ours. Which system is preferable is a value
judgement. Who should decide whether my child goes to college?
In your case, the government plays a far greater role than in America. It’s your
choice. Germans are much more law-abiding and responsive to the will of federal control than are Americans.
I guess that’s a “Germanic trait” similar
to preferring travel.
Oh, by the way, Americans travel too. As Europeans travel around Europe,
we travel around the United States. Check the distance from Los Angeles to
the tip of Maine. You’ll find it is nearly the same as from Lisbon, Portugal to
Moscow.
Alles Gute,
Dennis