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October 13, 2005

Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Schroeder.

Giving a parting kick to the US, a 'tearful looking' departing Chanceller Schroeder addressed a 'rapt' audience of union members,

He quickly composed himself, hitting his stride in a passionate defense of a strong German state and lashing out at "Anglo-Saxon" economic policies favoured in Britain and the United States, which he said had "no chance" in Europe.

Indeed, there was Lisbon Strategy (2000), a ten year plan to make the EU the world's powerhouse economy. Part of the future strong Germany Gerhard was going to create involved increased investment in education, R&D, producing world leadership in medical drugs and biotech. A plan, indeed.

All that was lacking was execution. An EU Commission's survey shows that 400,000 European science and technology graduates have immigrated to the US, whilst companies GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis both have moved their research to the US.

But arguments over economic models aren't all that much fun. Skipping ahead to the bit where he sticks his little knife into the US:

"I do not want to name any catastrophes where you can see what happens if organised state action is absent. I could name countries, but the position I still hold forbids it, but everyone knows I mean America," he said to loud applause.

The position forbids it, but he'll do it anyway. Because that's just the kind of guy he is.

We all know the response to Katrina wasn't as quick as it should have been, and there's been finger pointing a plenty, and doubtless more to come and heads will (and should) roll.

I wonder, though, if that reminded his staunch ally Jacques of the heatwave two years back that killed 13,000 of his denizens and took the government a full week to declare an emergency.

The more caring european model at work. Or not.

Auf Wiedersehen Herr Schroeder. Danke 'n scheiss, scheißkerl.

Scrawled illegibly by Meathe at October 13, 2005 01:09 PM

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