Fifteen years ago on November 9th 1989, the Berlin Wall fell. Within a year East and West Germany were reunited. But unification was carried out on a
capitalist basis. Thus it was a counterrevolution. But the movement in the East did not start with that aim in mind, far from it! The early movement
had many elements of the political revolution...
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Fourteen years and a trillion euros after reunification, nearly one in five Germans would like to see the barrier that split the country during the
cold war put back, according to a survey.
A poll by the Forsa institute found that a quarter of west Germans wished the 15 million east Germans could be cut off again by the Berlin wall, while
12% of east Germans did not want to be part of the united country.
Many westerners said they were disgruntled because they had had to foot the bill for reunification - 24% said they had suffered financially as a
result.
In the formerly communist east, where wages are still below western levels and unemployment is twice as high, a third said they were no better off
financially because of unification and the end of communism.
The lingering divisions have erupted in recent months as Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's government tries to reduce unemployment and welfare benefits
in the name of reform, touching a nerve in the east.
Westerners are sometimes disparagingly referred to as arrogant "Wessies", while easterners are called "Jammer Ossies" (whining easterners) in the
west. (true :lol
Despite all skepticism in relation to the present political system it grants 57 per cent of the East German that it can to them in the comparison at
present before the turn today personally better (West German ones: 20 per cent). it feels 29 per cent of the East German that for it personally
nothing changed (West German ones: 56 per cent). At the East German it believes 14 per cent that it can to them now more badly (West German ones: 24
per cent).
Are not we badly, but everyone feels, it goes "downhill". That is the present tendency situation in Germany. The causes for it are in the new
countries completely different than in the old Federal Republic. There it went since 1950 continuously upward. There were jobs, one could money
make, the personal prosperity and the prosperity of the municipalities and the whole country rose annually. To the cold war one had gotten
accustomed, because the latent danger took already 30 years. The GDR did not exist in the heads of the West German ones practically. ' the Russian
' was not to be seen, the Americans played the strong "guard" and the many in Germany stationed GIs brought money in the country. One did not
have other problems. Unemployment does not rise, state and municipalities has ever fewer moneys, increase on the savings account. The cause is fast
constituted: The billion-transfer into the former GDR.
I don´t want to "hustle" about this situation..We can´t change.
In my opinion it is kind of self-centredness from the past russians garrison to imprint their heavy marxist ideology. But they had no choice - the
citizens...
I am sorry for the quality of this post, but keep in mind that I am not from England or the USA or other english speakin country´s, I dont wanna run
into trouble with this..Thank you very much!
I hope you get a little insight in this problem.
Sources
Storyal
Stern
Guardian
and..Mynaeris
best wishes
dacruz
[edit on 27-3-2005 by dacruz]