John Redwood turns his steely intellect, and our attention, towards the idea of European union as a way out of our/their(?) troubles and reminds us that it has been tried recently and the results and the experience should be a lesson to us all. Only 21 years ago West and East Germany were re-unified. Needless to say, it was old 'King' Kohl, the main mover behind the birth of the euro currency, of whom I have written before, who was in charge in West Germany when the re-unification occurred. Under his leadership it was decided that the re-union would take place on the basis of one Ostmark (not worth a toss) equals one DM which was was worth a huge amount of tosses! According to Mr. Redwood, the total cost of conducting this fiscal and economic union in the first 20 years is in the region of e1.3 trillion! Today, it's costing about e80 bn a year. Even given the fact that both sides share the same language and much of their history is mutual there was still considerable bad-feeling between 'Osties' and 'Westies', the former believing the latter to be mean and harsh, and the latter certain that the former were a bunch of ingrate wastrels! If that is the sort of tensions which arise inside a common ethnic population, consider how all the differing ethnicities with their very different cultures and histories of Europe will re-act when they are dragooned into a unity which, however it is disguised, will be under German tutelage? 'Ve haf veys off making you march in step!'
Incidentally, one of Mr. Redwood's commenters, 'Pete the Bike', reports the following:
Bank branches are limiting withdrawals now almost everywhere in France, some branches such as Caisse d’Epargne don’t even deliver any cash in the afternoon now. Lots of soldiers are moving into Paris for the weekend. European finance officials have discussed limiting the size of withdrawals from ATM machines, imposing border checks and introducing euro zone capital controls as a worst-case scenario should Athens decide to leave the euro. On Monday, a bank “holiday” was announced in Italy. None if this is reported in the mainstream government controlled media of course.
Obviously, I cannot vouch for the accuracy but why am I not surprised?
It is Ossies and Wessies NOT 'Osties' and 'Westies'.
As to the problems with re-unification, it was/is not JUST the exchange rate.
A entire COUNTRIES worth od pensioners that had not paid one single Pfennig into the system bevcame, overnight, entitled to FULL benefits.
Not ONE police vehicle met the West standards, and ALL had to be replaced. Fire appliances, SOME Ossie ones are still in use in small villages, but basically the same as the police vehicles. Ambulances the same, to say nothing of "council trucks", etc.
New police station signs cost tens of millions. New letter headed paper. Side arms. Uniforms.
An entire countries armed forces had to be re-equiped over night.
Buses that did not meet safety standards. Trains, Trams, upgraded or replaced.
THEN people ask "Whatever happened to the German ecconomic miracle?".....?!?!
Posted by: Furor Teutonicus | Saturday, 16 June 2012 at 16:22
Sorry, FT, I knew I didn't have the correct phraseology but I was too idle this morning to look it up - heavy night last night! However, from west German friends I gather that the animosity still lingers.
Posted by: David Duff | Saturday, 16 June 2012 at 18:09
But, Furor, what lunacy impelled the Wessies to insist that the Ossies upgrade police cars etc overnight?
Posted by: dearieme | Saturday, 16 June 2012 at 19:51
You have to remember that while England has been England for a thousand years, Germany is a recent construction. I remember a Bavarian telling me that they call non-Bavarians Prussians; and it is not a term of endearment! He did make an exception for Swabians......
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Sunday, 17 June 2012 at 07:19
Yes, that dreadful old Prussian bully, Bismarck, has much to answer for. Even so, they share a language and for the past 150-odd years they have shared two world wars as a single entity. And if they cvan't stand each other what chance of a love affair beteen, say, the Finns and the Greeks?
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 17 June 2012 at 09:25
Well, as long as the Finns have Finland and the Greeks have Greece, I would think a love affair is quite possible. And of course, they have a common enemy - Brussels.
Posted by: backofanenvelope | Sunday, 17 June 2012 at 10:41
The people do but, alas, just like here, the politicians do not! They see in Brussels grand, swanky jobs with big wages and handsome pensions. Bastards and bitches, the lot of 'em!
Posted by: David Duff | Sunday, 17 June 2012 at 10:50