Monday, July 3, 2023

Seven German News Stories

1.  Interesting piece from WELT this AM....economics expert Monica Schnitzer did an interview, and said that Germany needs to take in around 1.5-million people PER YEAR....to keep the business sector at a level point.  

Driving problem?  Skilled workers are not in abundance.

Key quote?  "We urgently need a welcoming culture."  

Two key things she says at the end of the interview.....more funding into the German school system has to occur....noting that having one in four kids not able to read at the proper level....is harming the business landscape.  The other thing she brings up....keeping older workers happy so they don't early-retire....probably should figure as a priority.

Selling the 1.5-million in-flow?  That's going to be a problem.  On the 'welcoming culture' statement....I was mostly amused.  I suspect if you asked non-Germans employed in the German system about the 'welcome' deal....more than half would carefully suggest some phrase that was opposite of 'welcoming', but admit the pay/benefits and social climate (public safety) made up for the welcome.

2.  For those who aren't aware.....the 'ARD Mittagsmagazine' is a hour-long mid-day (1-hour) news magazine.  For a number of years, it's been produced out of Berlin by RBB (the local public TV crowd).  

There are generally four moderators, and I'd describe it as being NBC 'Today-Show-like'.  Who watched it?  Mostly stay-at-home Moms and older women (probably 75-perent of their viewership).

So....there was an issue to come up....RBB and their budget problems, and there's a decision that was made in the past week....taking the show from RBB, and handing it to MDR (another public TV network). 

Part of the change also evolves the show into two hours....instead of the one-hour format.

The location change?  That's a curious part of the change....it won't be in Berlin....it'll be moved to Leipzig.  

Then came a suggestion that MDR will have a slightly different focus with the show, and show more of eastern Germany....which got some criticism going.  

3.  WELT had  a short piece this AM talking over a damage process from the Covid vax moving forward.  

4.  The Anne Will public forum show from Sunday evening?  An entire hour discussing Russia, the Wagner mercenaries, etc. 

I gave it around 10 minutes, but frankly....over the past 17 months, this chatter....I must have heard at least forty times.

5.  The German government plan to ban a fair amount of food advertising from kids is progressing, but some companies are suggesting this will have a serious affect on the industry.  

I suspect once we enter this 'era'.....it'll be odd to see candy or chocolate commercials aimed purely at adults.  

6.  France?  Macron's big meeting from Sunday evening?  Nothing much occurred.  There's supposed to be a 'meeting' on Tuesday with 220-odd French mayors, and there's some suggestion that they will limit changes.  

My suggestion of the curfew?  That apparently won't happen.

Oddly, France's mayors are calling for a public stance against the violence....to get French people out.  I think this will end up with more violence as regular French people are assaulted by the riot crowd.  It might not be the smartest idea.

One French fire-fighter died yesterday....trying to put out a underground car park fire.

Some criticism being leveled toward police in general....around 850k Euro was raised for the two policemen who were involved in the original event to start the riots. 

7.  Finally....the Dacia car company 'boss' had a statement, and basically said that the Romanian company only intends to put things into the vehicles they sell....which the person needs.  This keeps the basic car price down.  There's no plan to evolve into anything else.  

My general view on Dacia vehicles....they are absolutely among the cheapest vehicles on the market, and if you were looking for something to give you four to five years of good use....the vehicle meets those expectations.  If you wanted extras beyond heat, seatbelts, lights, and wipers?  Well....you might need to look elsewhere.  

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