What goes up must go down. And we didn't know this allready? (health insurance, landlord)

[Potential_Landlord]

Well, well, well, I grew up in Germany and I must say it's a two-pronged sword. Private sector debt is lower in Germany and also the Sabbath is a lot better respected because stores are closed on Sundays. Keeping the Sabbath more holy is something we should definitively emulate in the US. On the other hand, public sector debt is much higher in Germany (and across all developed nations actually) when compared to the US. Germans are chickens about debt (which is good) and general life risks (which is bad). They constantly expect the government to bail them out of any trouble via public entitlements. So it's a mixed picture there as well.
P.L.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by Potential_Landlord

Well, well, well, I grew up in Germany and I must say it's a two-pronged sword. Private sector debt is lower in Germany and also the Sabbath is a lot better respected because stores are closed on Sundays. Keeping the Sabbath more holy is something we should definitively emulate in the US. On the other hand, public sector debt is much higher in Germany (and across all developed nations actually) when compared to the US. Germans are chickens about debt (which is good) and general life risks (which is bad). They constantly expect the government to bail them out of any trouble via public entitlements. So it's a mixed picture there as well.
P.L.

Germany also suffered a vicious defeat less than 70 years ago; which that brought on themselves admittedly............so, I can fully understand that nation being gun shy (no pun intended) where security is concerned.

Which Sabbath? Most Christians use Sunday with Jews on Saturday (hence the USA traditionally having TWO days off per week).

[Potential_Landlord]

Ok, I'm getting into hot waters here. I do not want to legislate the Sabbath and am very happy with a separation of church and goverment. Actually I think that's one of the greatest privileges we have in the US. I just think that by observing the Sabbath (Sunday) we invoke blessings from the Lord for our temporal needs (work, harvests, budget-balancing, etc.).
P.L.

[algia]

There are two days off from most jobs, retail however is open Sundays...I am sure the US will survive just fine if the stores were closed on Sunday and the retail ppl with have a break too..... ONLINE shops are open 24/7/365 with few exceptions such as B & H which respects holidays and are closed for orders but no one died from not buying a camera!? LOLOL

[algia]

I just wish most Americans would rather travel more than buy clothes and "stuff" in general! how many of you have been to Mount Rushmore?

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by Potential_Landlord

Ok, I'm getting into hot waters here. I do not want to legislate the Sabbath and am very happy with a separation of church and goverment. Actually I think that's one of the greatest privileges we have in the US. I just think that by observing the Sabbath (Sunday) we invoke blessings from the Lord for our temporal needs (work, harvests, budget-balancing, etc.).
P.L.

It is pretty common that stores are closed on Sunday in Bible belt states of the southeast. Not in AZ except for some Mormon-owned places. It's shop, shop, shop 24/7 around here. The amount of commercial development in this city amazes me.

[ArizonaBear]

Originally Posted by algia

There are two days off from most jobs, retail however is open Sundays...I am sure the US will survive just fine if the stores were closed on Sunday and the retail ppl with have a break too..... ONLINE shops are open 24/7/365 with few exceptions such as B & H which respects holidays and are closed for orders but no one died from not buying a camera!? LOLOL

And the American public went against the old Sunday Blue Laws by shopping in areas/states that were open on that day

Although the real reason for having one day off during the week was to give the workers a break-----------and, such was codified by various religions to 'force' the powers-to-be to allow the above time off.

[algia]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

It is pretty common that stores are closed on Sunday in Bible belt states of the southeast. Not in AZ except for some Mormon-owned places. It's shop, shop, shop 24/7 around here. The amount of commercial development in this city amazes me.

Which states are you referring too? just curious...

[Howard Roark]

Much to my surprise, in Maryland you have to buy liquor only at liquor stores or restaurants. And the liquor stores cannot sell on Sundays. I believe it's the same way in New Jersey (at least in 2002/2003 when I lived there).

I thought those were blue states. The other thing I was surprised was the Maryland is considered a Southern State. It seems so far north along the E.C. to be southern! But the Mason-Dixon line is Maryland/Delaware (I think).

It's only slightly aggravating. You have to buy your alcohol in advance for Sunday. Sometimes I'd go to the neighborhood microbrewery in White Marsh (Red Brick, IIRC) when I worked in MD. It was my favorite MB there.

I will think of my German-American Friend Potential_Landlord in six months as I toast to him during Octoberfest!

[twiggy]

Originally Posted by algia

I highly disagree with this....because Germany is very capitalist too but ppl there are nowhere near buried in debt like ppl are here....and no one had to close any stores......same in Spain, Italy and most of Europe....they do have "credit" available but the culture there is not to use it, or abuse it like it is here. People there KNOW that the store will be there tomorrow too...Honestly, my biggest culture shock here was that Friday shopping after Thanksgiving, I never realized that ppl like to sit in front of a store at 4AM and then have to step all over each other to go to a store! that to me is the weirdest thing in the world....The only time I knew of ppl being at the store at 4am was in communism where the food was rationed. But for stuff that will be there tomorrow too, I am very sorry I will never understand it, not to mention that these days you can find all that half the price online.


Actually, they are capitalists but did not kill the mom and pop shops.....

I understand and thats cool but these things have happened there, lately, at the same time as us. It's really no different, it is Capitalism. I'm not trying to be mean, just real. lol

Matthew Yglesias » The Recession in Spain
The global financial crisis recession bites into Western Europe > Euromonitor archive
Recession drives German billionaire to suicide - Personal Finance - ArabianBusiness.com
At least it's stopping the immigrant issue which it didn't do here: lol
Recession stems oft-fatal boat migration - Europe- msnbc.com

The difference in other capitalist countries, (socialist really) is that no one had to worry about their education or health care when it happened like we did because it wasn't looped in as a commodity. That is better!