Sometimes, these public TV chat forums get fairly interesting and offer criticism that regular working-class Germans chat about. Last night, via ARD (Channel One from public TV), came at 9 PM with Hart Aber Fair (Hard But Fair).
For about an hour, the moderator and four guests chatted over massive traffic issues, a train network loaded with problems, and a cellphone network that simply doesn't cover the bulk of Germany.
It was one of those rare occasions that regular Germans could watch the dialog and really feel connected to the topics.
So here's the blunt view.....as great as the autobahn and state highway system is in Germany....it's got this laundry list of things.....resolved. Bridges on the 'must-replace' list but it take a minimum of one to two decades before the replacement comes. You have truckers complaining over the lack of parking spots for night-time rest. You have construction zones on autobahns that seem to grow every single year, for renovation cycles.
There's a five-mile area just north of Wurzburg that has been under some form of renovation for almost five years now, and probably has at least two more years to go before the renovation is complete.
The Germans offer a world-class train network, but around the edges....you tend to laugh. Getting on a fairly new train and finding the toilets with 'out-of-order' signs always makes me ask questions. Stepping onto an ICE train (the 'bullet-like' rail system) in July and discovering that the AC unit only chills it marginally, and you can only stand 30 minutes of travel before you have to beg to get off and 'chill' for a while....is another drawback. Stepping onto a three-hour train ride and finding that the pub/dining car is operating, but the coffee machine is out of order is another odd circumstance that seems to pop up more than you'd think.
As for the cellphone network business? If you live in metropolitan Frankfurt or Hamburg....you need not worry. If you are in a car fifty miles north of Frankfurt....it's a 50-50 shot if you can stay connected to a call for longer than three minutes. There are still various communities or villages throughout Germany who've yet to have cellphone tower connectivity (still waiting a decade since the 'promise'). Bringing up high speed DSL cable connectivity? There are hundreds of thousands of Germans who are still waiting on this to arrive.
The curious thing is that the guests on this show could drill down and explain the issues and what was required to fix them. But getting funding or the strength to carry the repairs forward? You just don't anticipate this occurring anytime soon.
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