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Forum Post: European monetary fables tell a story, but for whom?

Posted 12 years ago on Feb. 22, 2012, 3:49 p.m. EST by systemicdisorder (15) from New York, NY
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Fables have long been used to tell stories and impart “moral” lessons. Not limited to bedtime stories, fables are a common device to propagate “lessons” that powerful interests wish to suffuse through a society. A favorite fable nowadays is that of the virtuous Germans and the lazy Greeks. Punishment – excuse me, “structural adjustment” — is the natural denouement of this oft-told fable.

In reality, this mythology has about as much to do with reality as the big bad wolf blowing down grandmother’s house.

Greek workers actually work many more hours than do Germans, and earn less. The “secret” to Germany’s economic dominance within the European Union is cuts to German wages. Germany has undercut other countries that use the euro as their currency by suppressing wages, a process that took form under a Social Democratic government.

systemicdisorder.wordpress.com

6 Comments

6 Comments


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[-] 2 points by chell (15) from Vienna, Wien 12 years ago

This is not at all divisive systemicdisorder. i get what you are saying entirely. The whole mess is presented a certain way over here in our news; the same as news is presented in the states..there is no difference: propaganda is propaganda, no matter what nation spews it.

i would not call Germany a social democracy in anything other than name though..it is a mixed economy..and the biggest part of the mix is, of course, capitalism of the global type.

[-] 1 points by richardkentgates (3269) 12 years ago

The nature of this post is intended to egg you into a divisive response, don't be this guys sucker.

[-] 1 points by systemicdisorder (15) from New York, NY 12 years ago

What on earth are you talking about? What is divisive is how nationalism is used to divide the 99 percent in Europe, just as the 1 percent do everything they can to divide us here in the U.S. The point of the post, had you read off all of it by clicking on the link, is that working people in all countries have to unite to defend themselves. We have to unite, not allow ourselves to be divided.

[-] 1 points by richardkentgates (3269) 12 years ago

it's pitting two cultures against each other on the basis of work ethic and pay rate. You may not have intend to but pure text based communication is funny that way.

[-] 1 points by systemicdisorder (15) from New York, NY 12 years ago

I specifically called the alleged contrast between two cultures a mythology and said there is no difference in work ethic. In other words, I am opposing the idea of pitting two cultures against each other, which is the basis on which the neoliberal assault is being waged on European working people. I don't mind if you disagree with me, but please argue against what I wrote, not against the very opposite of what I wrote.

[-] 1 points by richardkentgates (3269) 12 years ago

You just used more general labeling in that reply, maybe thats what makes you unclear, general labeling.