This next storyline needs context to understand appropriately what just happened.
In February of this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz travelled for the first time in his business and life to China. Merz a lawyer by training, worked in business and corporate life doing mergers and acquisitions (Blackrock), but had never been to China. Despite his upward climb in German politics, his worldview was always dominated by an internal acceptance that Germany was the industrial heart of the European Union.
Chancellor Merz believed that Germany was unrivaled within industrial manufacturing, particularly in aeronautics and mechanical engineering (auto sector). So, when Merz went to China -while he held no trade capabilities as an outcome of the EU collective controlling everything- he also had no idea what Chinese industrial capacitary actually looked like.
To say Chancellor Merz was stunned by the advancements in robotics and industrial manufacturing within China would be an understatement. Merz was shocked not only by the technological capability, but also by the Chinese industrial work ethic and capabilities of the workforce.
Merz returned to Germany and immediately began discussing how Chinese industrial capacity was far beyond anything he previously estimated. Merz was shook. His reaction was, essentially, the #1 industrial nation within the EU confronting a reality of years of industrial complacency. Immediately he began talking about how things in Germany must change; how the German workforce must immediately start to get serious about productivity and production capacity.
That was late February and early March.
Today, Friedrich Merz announced a series of reforms, radical modifications within the German industrial workforce.
German workers are no longer allowed to call in sick. The German government will now adopt a policy to make sure all workers report to their jobs, or else.
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The German workforce may not like this at all.
There is a certain, shall we say, “Fascist irony,” when you think about mandated private sector productivity compliance and the relationship with official government policy.
Germany’s coalition government has announced a wide-ranging package of pension, tax and labor reforms aimed at boosting economic growth and strengthening competitiveness. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the measures would create jobs, reduce bureaucracy and preserve key social welfare protections.
The 34-point plan includes income tax relief for low- and middle-income households as well as a gradual increase in the retirement age.
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You vill NOT be SICK !!! Or you VILL BE DEAD !!!
In 1980 I landed in Shanghai on a Pan Am flight. The Cultural Revolution was mostly all wound down. As we approached the airport at night, the runway lights came on, but as soon as we touched down they were turned off. Apparently to save power. We deplaned on stairs, and I noticed a row of a dozen biplanes (Russian?) at the edge of the runway. I took a very nice picture of them, which was observed by some young PLA soldiers originally from the countryside. This picture taking of military aircraft caused a delay in my processing and a stern warning. . In fact, there was no airport customs, immigration, agriculture etc. Just some kids in baggy green uniforms. But they were curious about the foreigner who was speaking to them in their language (rather unusual at the time) and they took turns speaking to me, asking random questions, and generally laughing. And there was a Canadian bicyclist club detained there, because of failing to report currency. The PLA kids asked me to interpret, but gosh none of the Canadians spoke English! I did the best I could with my “present tense”
French, but I fear they are still there.
From that time.
My subsequent trips to China revealed clear indications of rapid industrial and other advancements. A focus and determination on success, and a desire to embrace all that is modern.
Can Germany make up for their foolish mistakes, and compete with China? I think they will have to experience more pain before the spell is broken.
Does that include the Mudslime illegals/immigrants too?
Do they work?
A politician had a run-in with reality and is now experiencing shock from the unexpected. How long will it take him to recover so he can retreat back to his comfortable delusions?