Outstanding German Economic Performance Continues

Angela Merkel

How does German Chancellor Angela Merkel do it? Unemployment in Germany hit a 17 year low in November while the jobless rate in the U.S. moved from 9.6% to 9.8%. Progressives in America continue to blame George W. Bush nearly four years after Democrats seized control of Congress and nearly two years after he left office. The Merkel magic is hardly magic at all. The German Chancellor merely understands basic economics. So, while the progressive in the United States continue to attempt to advance policies that penalize working and investments while rewarding bureaucratic sloth and non-competitiveness Merkel has engineered a remarkable turnaround in Germany's economic fortunes.

Just a few years ago it was America's unemployment rate that was low and its businesses were well respected by government. While Germans continued to hold onto vague hopes that socialism would work Americans understood the importance of private sector leadership. It has only been with the ascension of Angela Merkel that Germany has become the lone exception to the sputtering economic rules that are now dragging down the rest of Western Europe and the United States. What did Merkel do? First she refused to listen to the Obama Adminsitration's calls for more BORROWING and SPENDING to "stimulate" the German economy. Instead, Merkel has been the author of a substantial reform agenda concerning Germany's economic and social system. A trained scientist rather than a social engineering lawyer, Merkel has strongly advocated basic reforms to German labor laws.

By removing illogical barriers preventing businesses from adjusting their workforces to competitive conditions and increasing the allowed number of work hours in a week, Merkel has made her country more competitive. While the United States continues to engage in charades disguised as tax policy debates with socialists continuing to defend the indefensible, Germany has become more economically viable and influential while America becomes more weakened. No, Merkel is no miracle worker. She has simply learned what America seems to have unlearned. When you punish success, investments, and work and you reward cluelessness and sloth, you will get more of the latter and less of the former.

Outstanding German Economic Performance Continues