Quote:
Originally Posted by Osem
Anti-German feeling being on the increase in Europe isn't exactly a recipe for the harmonious EU we've all been sold along the way is it. Rightly or wrongly, if the common and growing perception is that the Germans are forcing unacceptable levels of austerity on people in S. Europe, this cannot bode well for the future and I reckon this will not be forgotten in a hurry. Let's just hope the resentment we've seen in recent times doesn't continue to simmer away and result in conditions ripe for extremists of one sort or another to flourish. It's been happening in Greece and there's no sign of an end to the austerity at the root of it.
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The attitude towards the Germans is really unfair however. A lot of people seem to be basing it on German's past history. If this is the case then Britain itself has a pretty mixed record when it comes to invading, dominating and oppressing the people of other countries.
What is happening is quite simple. A number of countries spent considerably outside what they could afford and they need a bailout because of the wider economic climate and problems specific to the Eurozone. Germany, whose own economy is threatened by these countries going under, are the largest contributors to giving these countries significant amounts of money. When they give these money they want assurances that it will be used to prevent the crisis and not to prop up a failing system for a few more months.
Yet the people protest against Germany for imposing those restrictions. The answer is simple, don't take their money. This is like you giving your neighbour money to keep their house and then them calling you everything under the sun because you won't let it be spent on another other than the mortgage.