In roughly seventy days.....it'll be the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall falling, and a lot of political folks will be hyped up and talking about the unification and the 'wonderful' nature of this glorious moment.
So, after 30 years, is Germany unified? Well....the maps say so. Roads and autobahns are comparable in both regions. The police all wear the same uniforms and are pursuing the enforcement of one unified law system. The schools tend to operate in a unified nature. On the surface, it looks unified.
Employment opportunities? The old DDR-area is still mostly a marginal region for real jobs.
The DAX lists 30 German companies and is the marker for success in Germany. NONE of the thirty companies exist in the eastern region (old DDR). That fact, 30 years later, stands out.
Most Germans will say that the region is still not comparable to western Germany. That's said because of the landscape, condition of buildings, and urbanization. From three years ago, I made a trip to Dresden and found a region about 10 km outside of town....that looked remarkably like the 1950s.
Was it wrong to unify? No. But anyone with big expectations in 1989....would say that things haven't advanced like they thought it would
Politically speaking? Some Germans would suggest that there is a strong right-wing element in old DDR. I might go out and suggest that around a quarter of the population in old DDR has problems with immigration, and doesn't see the normal political parties as being motivated to understand them.
People still be attracted to the DDR-style of government? That's another funny thing. If you are over the age of fifty and remember the 'good-ole-days'....some (probably a quarter of the population) would say that some strong benefits existed, and they wouldn't mind a return to that style of government.
So this celebration period? Simply settle back and observe the chatter and nod. The unification, for the most part.....hasn't yet finished. And it might not end up looking like people expected in 1989.
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