Wednesday, Dec 10, 2008
We're a laughing stock :(
BBC: German ridicule for UK policies
The German finance minister has launched an outspoken attack on the UK government's plans to help pull Britain out of the economic downturn.
In an unusual breach of standard diplomacy, Peer Steinbruck attacked the UK's decision to cut VAT and raise the national debt to record levels.
Mr Steinbruck said the UK's switch from financial prudence to heavy borrowing was both "crass" and "breathtaking". "All this will do is raise Britain's debt to a level that will take a whole generation to work off."
Posted by little professor @ 10:30 PM (1595 views) Add Comment
22 Comments
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1. bystander said...
Looks like the Germans understand economics even if the "saviors of the world" don't.............and surely the words should be 'breathtakingly crass' when discussing anything GB has done since entering politics.
2. gardeniadotnet said...
I hate the Germans - they bombed our chippy.
3. Buyinginafewyears said...
I bet some people working for multinationals, especially in something like IT, could actually switch country (to say Germany) without changing their job or who they work with. Guess where their tax revenues will go if Gordon screws up the country and imposes high taxes on the working.
Maybe that freedom to move around Europe is a good thing after all!
4. tinker said...
Stan, is that you?
5. bystander said...
Hate to post twice, but just read this in the timesonline - "British officials said that the intervention was a reflection of struggles within German politics."
Take a look at yourselves you arrogant Tw*ts. Also this was taken from an article about the fall in sterling to record lows, again, but not one mention of the government giving a sh*t in the article at all (http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/article5321228.ece), infact the headline blames the banks for the fall.
6. enuii said...
I have an argument about Keynes everyday with a PHD educated socialist lunatic who I sit next to. The German finance minister actually sounds as though he knows something about the subject which is probably why the Germans are much better at organising and running things than the Jolly old Brits who end up with a one eyed fat bloke with a history degree acting like a tin pot dictator.
7. gardeniadotnet said...
3. tinker
Don't get me started on the Fokkers.
8. Watchingthewheels2 said...
I wonder what our ancestors would think.We dont make cars,dont make motorcycles,dont mine coal,dont build ships...........but we have a load of bankers and number crunchers who will lend you £200,000,even if you're stacking shelves in tesco for £5.73 or whatever the minimum wage is now........
9. paul said...
Ja, it is ze English patient, no?
10. gardeniadotnet said...
5. enuii said I have an argument about Keynes everyday with a PHD educated socialist lunatic who I sit next to.
Why did you marry her then? Haahhahaaahhaaaahadehaahhhaaa...
are we having a laugh, or is it me?
11. jackas said...
The germans get it. They remember the 30's.
We are about to learn the same lesson :(
12. mytimeisnigh said...
Germany is still a country of two halves, wealthy western Germany and poor eastern Germany. Whereas the whole of the UK is going to the dogs.
13. bystander said...
The worrying truth is that the German's got Hitler because of hyperinflation, we got GB before it has even begun. What hope have we got.
14. gardeniadotnet said...
9. jackas said... The germans get it.
I wouldn't be too sure about that.
BBC 9 December 200
German investor confidence rises
German investor sentiment is slightly less negative in December, despite falling exports and the eurozone battling a recession.
15. Danny said...
Thing about working for the Germans is, if you come up with a neccesary idea, or direction you want the UK business to go in.
They will balk and then downright refuse to co-operate.
Not only do you have to make it sound like it was their idea in the first place. You will also have to convince them it was their own idea too!
If you fight hard enough for your basic common sense idea to work. {Almost to the point of threatening resignation over trivial issues!]
They will then pay you the ultimate compliment.
Smiling they will tell you,
'but zis is how we do things in Germany. You are sinking like a german wiz zis idea!'
Having said all of that. Herr Steinbruck is spot on.
16. icarus said...
Ja, he's right, but why is he coming out with this now? And didn't the Germans allow Porsche to get away with murder last month? And their bank bailouts? And why have a go at the VAT cut? If it's such a small, meaningless gesture why did he bring it up? Polticians, pot, kettle, schwarz, und wer im Glashaus sitzt....
17. drewster said...
I agree with bystander.
@mytimeisnigh:
England is also a country of two halves - north and south. There's as much difference between Doncaster and Southampton as there is between Dresden and Stuttgart.
18. last_days_of_disco said...
The Germans rock, we have every reason to fear them. They are smart, well organized and becoming increasingly assertive. They are turning their population growth around. The Pope is German. Hey, I am getting better at speaking German every day. Without a complete change of attitude on the part of the loony left that run Britain (that includes all the British politicians), we are going to be a poor client state of Germany. One the German's don't really want.
Its sad really.
19. george monsoon said...
And they make the best adult films around..
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