[hammmatt]

As long as we are speculating.

What exactly is wrong with learning from the examples and failures of other countries.

True, maybe we can not generate the same economy as Germany. However, perhaps we could find a way to copy or mimic what is that makes Germany so effective.

The article would argue that is their social polices. It is probably a mix of harmful and beneficial. I'd wager their free healthcare doesn't contribute as much as their free education, ext.

The United States shouldn't strive to be any other country. However, effective methods are effective methods and we should embrace what is rational.

[alaithea]

> I'd wager their free healthcare doesn't contribute as much as their free education, ext.

Germany's healthcare system is universal, but not free.

Standard insurance is funded by a combination of employee contributions, employer contributions and government subsidies on a scale determined by income level. Higher income workers sometimes choose to pay a tax and opt out of the standard plan, in favor of 'private' insurance. The latter's premiums are not linked to income level but instead to health status.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_health_care#Germany

[hammmatt]

Ah, you are right. Thank you for correcting.

[thwarted]

There is probably a lot of national pride that manifests itself similar to NIH syndrome.

[hammmatt]

I spent four months living in Germany.

I see tons more national pride when I am in the United States.

The only national pride I have seen Germany conveyed was for their football team. Some Germans find it difficult to even discuss their recent history, they feel very shameful about it.

If anything struck me about Germany it was how everyone could agree on rational things. Everyone agrees to fund the train stations. Most of them use rational arguments in conversation. Even in emotionally distressing times, it is common for people to fall onto their reason.

That would be my guess. And the only connection to national I pride I see, is trying to be so rational as to ensure that the last time they had too much national pride never comes back.

But then again, who really knows? How many millions of little factors could all add up to the net changes we see in our cultures.

[thwarted]

My comment wasn't about Germany, but about countries which don't take influence from other countries in their own decision making. The United States could swallow some pride and seriously research and adopt policies that work in other countries rather than dismissing them immediately because that idea/method came from somewhere else (drug laws come to mind).

[hammmatt]

I think we agree on almost everything.

I was just theorizing that the magical force behind Germany's constant industrial success is having rationality deeply rooted in their culture.

I probably just misunderstood your comment.