hello, I would like to join in into that discuss. Like some of you know I am a german, eastgerman. I lived  under communism/socialism and after the wall did fall I live now in capitalism. In first I want to tell you , how I lived and other people lived under socialm....

We  had nice things. I worked 40 hours the week. Sometimes they asked for working at saturdays too, but that was valuntary. I had not to do that. I have got 1,85 Mark (east german Mark) the hour, plus more perform I made I got more money. But that was only a little. Usually I have got 600 Mark the month. I also paid  for healthcare 60 Mark a month and that was include the pension. People who did own a house or property had to pay propertytaxes. Who used a car or a motorcycle, or moped had to pay taxes too. But the taxes were not high. I do not know so exactly anymore but I think it was  56 Mark (depend how big the car or cycle was)For the water, drinkingwater we paid only 8 mark a month and the electricy was 0,08 Pfenning / kwh. When we went to doctor or in hospital, or dentist we had nothing to pay. Not for the doctors work and not for any medication or any sugery.When my children were sick I could stay at home and got the time paid. Me as wife I also got every month a day off, called householdday.for cleaning home. Of course that days was paid too. I have got 18  paid holidays a year, for vacation,resting. The GDR (German Democratic Republic) had also public holidays what have got paid too. At christmas and newyearseve, Good friday, 1.May, 7.October, whitesunday and whitemonday.....But the supply for the people was very bad. Of course we haven´t been hungry. The bread did cost 1,00 Mark / 1200gramm and the butter 2,50  Mark for 250 gramm But I could not buy  ketchup, yes simple ketchup for example.or any bacon. But the usually sausage I have got.. Not a simple jeans and NEVER;NEVER a lewis jeans or wrangler.lol Of course it was me not allowed to travel to westgermany or to any west countries . Like france ot england. or austria. Only east coutries.

So the most people did work hard and had a lot of money and could not spend it because there were no products. A lot of products were produced for russia or the eastern countries, sometimes also for western countries.But the production was very controlled...People also worked much after their "usually" work time. You could wait of an electrian or plumber few month till the things were repaired. But if you paid extra they came faster, after their workingtime. mostly in the evening . Because you haven´t got products you wanted or you needed , you need to know someone who can get it for you, someone who worked in such companies or knew someoneelse who can get it for you. Of course for extra money again or for other things what are needed even it was the ketchup or a jeans.

young people who got married got 5000,00 Mark  credit from the gouvernement. Of course without any interests. I got that too. In the first year I paid 52,00 Mark back every month. I have got my daughter already so it was a little bit less. In the fourth year I have been married I have got my son and got also (like for my daughter too) 1000,00 Mark .Now I only had to pay 11 Mark from my credit and I paid it only few month then it was paid off. So it was very nice for young couples. But they had very bad appartments or no appartments for people. you could only build a house when you worked for a firm who support you and wanted you to stay for many many years.lol Next posting I want to tell you about now and my opinion.

 

2 Mark (east) = 1,00 Deutsche Mark (west) = 0,51Euro = 0,80 Dollar

 

 

I still have forgotten. The schools were for free and the kindergarden  and also the universities. The schoolsystem were not bad. We have got a very good education and had not to pay.Everyone has got a job. I started to get up at 5 am and woke up my daughter at 5.30 am. I left the house at 5.50am because the kindergarden opened at 6 am and my bus did go at 6.10 am. I started to work at half past 6. I finished my work at 3 pm. and did pick up my daughter from kindergarden at half past 3.

And now back to today.  I agree to Bigcheesecharmer,Mike.

We had a great life. I had a great life.But we also had crimes. People did steal.Everyone was trying to get  their advantage. They did steal in the companies.They build things in the companies and sold it after their work. They left work earlier, because they wanted work somewherelse and earn more money, and got their usually work still paid. The moms went to doc and said their children are sick, just to stay home, but their children weren not really sick. People did through away things who still had can be used, like tools. I mean they did leave a mess and lost things or destroyed it. We have now too a schoolsytem what isn´t good. The school  6 years old - 16 years old. Its a public school,but not very good. And pupils who are very good in that school can go to highschool  11 years- 18 years. our hightschool are very very good. and only who went to highschool can study at a university. Our schools are free and cost nothing. But  the learning at a university. But whereever you go...you have a very less chance to get an education or a job.The most people start their work at 8 am. Of course some earlier and some later. They leave their homes at 6  or 7 am. and arrive back from work at 5, 6, 7, 8 pm. The wives are more at home for the children care. Sometimes they have a job too and are happy if there is a "young " grandma who can care for the children. For the kindergarden you have to pay 160 Euro a month.... Today I have to pay taxes (of course always to much lol) , also taxes for the car, about 180 Euro. I also pay for my health  but now  250 Euro  and the company pays the same as well...I get 26- 30  holidays a year(Depend on the company) We also have now more public holidays, christmas,new yearday, 6. January, good friday, eastermonday, 1 May, Ascension Day,Whitemonday, 3 October.,31.October...Of course the people get more money, depend on the company too and what for an job they are doing. But usually I would say 2000 Euro a month. But we also have a lot of unemployee. People are getting not so easily sick. I mean everyone  is afraid to loose the job if they are sick...today everyone can travel whereever they want to go. If they have the money...Today I pay for the electricy 0,32 Euros / kwh. you see quite a lot more. For everything... If  people work for profit, maybe own a company, they think and  in an other way and work harder.

 

From: <NOBR>®niceguy�?/FONT></NOBR>

Sent: 3/1/2008 6:29 PM

Quote:  "I personally believe that Obama nor Hillary will ever beat McCain.  There is too much racism still in this country.  I also believe that most people don't want a woman, let alone Hillary running the country."   Regarding the racism, that is especially true in the South.   Regarding racism, I have to admit racism is a problem everyone in this country! But, it is not a matter of just blacks facing racism! I happen to believe 100% that the African American are the most "racist" group around!Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Rev. Jeremiah Wright...you ever see them mention any other community besides the black community in a positive light? An example that happened to my daughter last summer at a park here in Wisconsin! My daughter was playing on some of the playground equipment and came to me with something that bothered her! This group of six African American kids kept saying, "don't play with her because she is white!" Racism is a two way street!   I happen to agree with TA on this one that there is no candidate I am sold on completely! I would gladly reelect President Bush though!