Cultural Differences

A few times I have commented that the cultural differences here in Berlin are minimal, and that I found more differences between Minneapolis and North Carolina than I have between Minneapolis and Berlin. Maybe a better way to phrase that would be that there are fewer differences that I dislike. The dense urbanity of Berlin is an improvement for me; the suburban sprawl that encompasses North Carolina was not.

Some interesting things about Germany that make life in planning and development different:
*Public transportation is a right here. It is in the constitution that it should exist. That is not the case for all European countries, but it is here.
*Housing is also considered a right and if you cannot afford it, you can get subsidized housing. If the government doesn't have enough to provide, then it rents market rate housing for you.
*Some people in the US consider Europe to be socialist. Try telling that to the true socialists here (perhaps communist might be a better term). While they are at the left fringe of the population, they rally against the capitalism that they feel is ruining Germany and the rest of the world.
*Most housing is rental housing in Germany, due at least in part to tax laws and government subsidy programs. However, people often live in the same apartment for a really long time - especially those grandfathered into subsidized rents. However, people often feel a similar attachment to a rental contract as people in the US feel towards property that they own.

What is left?
A tangent on the leftist movement here: Köpi vorerst gerettet - Köpi is saved, for the moment (www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/Koepi;art270,2492514). This leftist culture and housing project, originally a squatter community that legalized their use of the property in 1990, includes a group of residents living communally, some artist space, a bar and various other uses. After country-wide protests and negotiations with the new property owner, the building will not be torn down and the leases will continue for the time being. Check out their website if you're interested: www.koepi137.net/hausprojekte.htm# They have more photos under 'gallery' too. Definitely something you would never see in the US.

Germany's Economy
What is the economic system in Germany? Many people in the U.S. (in particular any right-wing commentators) often consider Europe as socialist or even communist. Within Germany, there is a clear view that Germany is basically a capitalist economy with a concern for social welfare. Graffiti and signs 'gegen Kapitalismus' (against capitalism) - the established system - are common here. For all the true socialists and communists in Germany, their country is clearly NOT following their beliefs. I would love to see a discussion between Rush Limbaugh and some of the true communists in Germany try to figure out what Germany's economic system really is!