I'm still in Germany, of course, but now, being in proud possession of a functioning bank card and thus having full access to my money, I find myself perplexed by the economic attitude of this country. Capitalism: Kinos. Kinos are movie theaters, and if you go to the prime time screenings on Fridays, Saturdays, or discount days you will be shown approximately 25 minutes of commercials. I don't mean movie previews, but real commercials for cigarettes, alcohol, video games, ice cream, etc. Of course, it is illegal to advertise many of these in America, but excepting some seasonal Coke ads and Jimmy Fund appeals for donations, the movies in America are pretty self-reflexive: we only see ads for other movies. What's really interesting is that the Germans seem to love these ads. They pay attention, laugh and comment on the best and worst ones. I actually find this kind of fun, but after three films, you know all the ads, they're not funny anymore, and you want to see the damn movie already. Socialism: the Mensa. The Mensa is the student cafeteria and it is organized in such a way that it is extremely efficient for the workers, but difficult for the eaters. One must first stand in line to get a look at the computer screen listing the menu choices. Then one stands in another line to buy a token for the meal he/she has chosen. Then one goes to the appropriate line leading to the food of his/her choice. The paying customers must do all this to merely get to the food; the cafeteria worker, on the other hand, needn't ask the customer what he/she would like or bother with money at all. It's a beautiful thing once you get to the counter--you're sitting down with food in less than two minutes. But many simply don't make it that far. Capitalism: Marienplatz. OK, just don't even think about going downtown on Saturday. This day is dedicated to thronging the stores and generally creating a mob scene until everything closes at four, at which time everyone attempts to get onto the same subway to go home. Socialism: Rentenreform. Heck, I'd like to have a guaranteed pension, even if it will only be 65% of my average income, instead of 70%. Capitalism: The Suddeutsche Man. Never in America have I been accosted on the street by so many people trying to get me to subscribe to the newspaper! Socialism: Bookstores. Everything is organized by publisher. What's that about? It's like in that movie where the video store guy organized every movie in terms of how he liked it. Uhhh, how do I find a book?
I have no desire to make the tired accusation that the Germans (like the rest of the Europeans) don't understand how to provide decent service. I have not found that to be the case. I much prefer the service here to the ingratiating and superficial treatment one often receives in America. But, that said, I can see how Americans might be disappointed that, generally speaking, the customer here is not always right, for this cuts to the core of the American identity. On the other hand, somehow the university students here (who don't pay American-style tuitions, and therefore are neither consumers nor workers) feel empowered enough to strike over declining university conditions. Isn't that charming?
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I'm still in Germany, of course, but now, being in proud possession of a functioning bank card and thus having full access to my money, I find myself perplexed by the economic attitude of this country. Capitalism: Kinos. Kinos are movie theaters, and if you go to the prime time screenings on Fridays, Saturdays, or discount days you will be shown approximately 25 minutes of commercials. I don't mean movie previews, but real commercials for cigarettes, alcohol, video games, ice cream, etc. Of course, it is illegal to advertise many of these in America, but excepting some seasonal Coke ads and Jimmy Fund appeals for donations, the movies in America are pretty self-reflexive: we only see ads for other movies. What's really interesting is that the Germans seem to love these ads. They pay attention, laugh and comment on the best and worst ones. I actually find this kind of fun, but after three films, you know all the ads, they're not funny anymore, and you want to see the damn movie already. Socialism: the Mensa. The Mensa is the student cafeteria and it is organized in such a way that it is extremely efficient for the workers, but difficult for the eaters. One must first stand in line to get a look at the computer screen listing the menu choices. Then one stands in another line to buy a token for the meal he/she has chosen. Then one goes to the appropriate line leading to the food of his/her choice. The paying customers must do all this to merely get to the food; the cafeteria worker, on the other hand, needn't ask the customer what he/she would like or bother with money at all. It's a beautiful thing once you get to the counter--you're sitting down with food in less than two minutes. But many simply don't make it that far. Capitalism: Marienplatz. OK, just don't even think about going downtown on Saturday. This day is dedicated to thronging the stores and generally creating a mob scene until everything closes at four, at which time everyone attempts to get onto the same subway to go home. Socialism: Rentenreform. Heck, I'd like to have a guaranteed pension, even if it will only be 65% of my average income, instead of 70%. Capitalism: The Suddeutsche Man. Never in America have I been accosted on the street by so many people trying to get me to subscribe to the newspaper! Socialism: Bookstores. Everything is organized by publisher. What's that about? It's like in that movie where the video store guy organized every movie in terms of how he liked it. Uhhh, how do I find a book?