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Horst Köhler, the former head of the International Monetary Fund, is elected Germany's new president. He is nominated for the presidency by the opposition conservative Christian Democratic Union, its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union and the liberal Free Democratic Party.

"I want to be president of all Germans and all those who live here," he said.

"For me, Germany has been too slow on its path to a knowledge society," said the 61-year-old Köhler. He added he would also support efforts to continue with hard economic and social reforms. "We have to face reality. Germany will have to fight for its place in the 21st century."

Although the ruling center-left coalition of Social Democrats and Greens control the lower house of parliament, the conservatives and liberal have a majority in the Bundesversammlung, or Federal Assembly, which elects Germany's president.
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Personal opinion:
A person who is nominated for the presidency by CDU/CSU won.
Effects on GCs, we will see ...

"A person who is nominated for the presidency by CDU/CSU won."

LOL it was clear some months ago that CDU/CSU candidate will win - Union and FDP have clear majority in Federal Assembly, just because SPD lost so many elections since 2002. It was interesting to see how Union and FDP could not agree on a candidate for some period of time, but as i said, they reached an agreement some months ago.

Now we should wait for elections in NRW in May 2005 - if SPD loses there then Shröder will lose his place

When things like that below happen, it is NOT very interesting for myself to see how Union and FDP could not agree on a candidate for some period of time

http://www.deutsche-welle.de/english/0,3367,1432_A_1209021,00.html

"http://www.deutsche-welle.de/english/0,3367,1432_A_1209021,00.html"

Please tell me one thing: why everybody till today (after sixty years) thinks that it is possible to kick and condemn Germans when other nations did just the same things? Why nobody condemns Jews - they did and do the same things on occupied territories? And which rights have Jews to protest against something when they do just the same? Why nobody condemns U.S. which makes just the same in Iraq? Why nobody condemns Russia which proceeds with genocide in Chechenia? And may I remind you that during so-called "communist era" Russians killed much more people than Germans ever did - why nobody condemns them, they should be judged and punished as well? Why nobody condemns them for what they did in Baltic countries and Eastern Europe for many years? Why nobody condemns England - people from India and Pakistan must know their past - did England make better than Germany? Why nobody condemns and judges U.S. for what they have done in Vietnam? Should i continue with a list, it is far from full?

impressive comments!!!

Trusday,

I am not the one who will answer your question(s)
But all these things happen somehow. I am not the one who is publishing these information in news.

Have a nice week ;)

LOL have a nice week as well

it's difficult to judge people when war is started. war is war, it inevitably leads to corresponding results ... it's better to try to improve this world so wars do not happen ;)

as for the referenced by you article - probably Germans have decided that it's time to forget the past. and make no mistake - the whole nation participated then in a war, with just few exceptions, so i myself do not see a reason why some people should be judged only because they were caught, when a lot more around them did the same and did not get caught. moreover, a soldier in a war must do exactly what was ordered and should not discuss his orders ;) oh well, forget it *lol*

"For me, Germany has been too slow on its path to a knowledge society," said the 61-year-old Köhler.

Even a perfect soldier or a bad soldier as you say, i do not have much expectations from a 90 year old man in that article to perform positive improvements for getting this country a 'knowledge society' whatever his past is ;) We have now 2004 and the facts are below.

http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=gm&v=25

"http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=gm&v=25"

LOL this statistics shows as well that the governing party needs to be changed ;) you can see a direct correlation here between growth of unemployment rate, decrease in average income and decrease of birth rate. Nobody wants to bring children in poverty ... and do not forget that the women here have the same rights as men, therefore can choose what to do in their life - and they obviously choose not to sit home with children ;)

rich families normally get nannies from other countries, lots of those nannies after one year are enrolled in local university and eventually remain in Germany :p with decrease in average income and growth of unemployment rate there are more bankruptcies and a decrease in number of families which can afford it to have a nanny. poorer families normally do not strive to have lots of children, because with playschools system in Germany women normally have no choice but to sit home with children if they have those.

so i would say that there are two main things wich result in decrease of birth rate in Germany: 1) big unemployment rate; 2) inadequate playschools sytem. Current government has shown that it is unable to resolve problems, it needs to be changed, i personally do not know that 90-year-old man therefore can not say anything about him, but if SPD fails it is for Union to show how they can improve the situation, and i would trust it that they make good decisions until and if they do not prove otherwise. Btw (it is my personal opinion) Germany absolutely does not need to invite engineers from other countries - it should instead create such conditions to its own engineers so they do not go in the U.S. and other countries - one more mistake from H. Schröder! Germany rather needs to invite nannies to work in playschools, because german women normally do not want to be occupied with children ;)

If you say so,

We will see what CDU/CSU magic politics change in Germany +supported with Bundespräsident Horst Köhler...
or should there be other policiticians who are more than 90 year old help ruling the country better to CDU/CSU?
or Germany should call back its 20 million (may be this number is more...oh yes) 'own' engineers who work in US or other countries ?

Oh well...

Ich freue mich

"We will see what CDU/CSU magic politics change in Germany +supported with Bundespräsident Horst Köhler..."

I can tell you. they will reduce salaries, increase a number of working hours per week and simplify a procedure of cancellation of work contracts. it is not going to be very popular of course but do you know other means to prevent corporations from moving workplaces from Germany to east european countries where salaries are much lower than here?

what is going to be done with foreigners, i personally do not know. however it should be understood that current position of Union towards foreigners is used mainly for the purpose of getting voices of electorate, so we will see ;)

ok, lets put it together...

- reduce salaries
- increase a number of working hours per week
- simplify a procedure of cancellation of work contracts
* reduce vacation allowance p.a.
* ask more money for health insurance
* ...

do you have anything to add more? do you believe someone wants to stay here as a foreigner after all these things happen? what about germans ? do you think they will accept all these and say 'Deutschland über alles' yes.

hehe job well done.

"* reduce vacation allowance p.a."

I doubt it. vacation is something that should not be touched *lol*

"* ask more money for health insurance"

? :o i thought it was already done by H. Schröder or? ;)

"do you believe someone wants to stay here as a foreigner after all these things happen? what about germans ? do you think they will accept all these and say 'Deutschland über alles' yes."

LOL i thought that conditions in the U.S. for IT-professionals did get worse even earlier, am i not right? and i know how people work there - from 8-9 till 10-12 in the night, yes sir! and i know which support they are going to get from their government when they are kicked out by their boss in one day *lol* and i happen to know how long their vacations are, yes-yes *lol* but what is even more important: don't you think that it became somewhat hard to find any working place for IT-specialist in U.S., even harder than it is in Germany, despite perfect english? i would think so, because Americans apply for job in Germany *lol*

the majority of Germans will not be able to find any work place abroad, especially the ones who are unemployed and can not find a job here in Germany - therefore they will participate in manifestations and yes, say 'Deutschland über alles' *lol* ;) the ones who do leave Germany are those who have a very big experience and are very valued, who worked for themselves during several years, who have names and lead of big projects behind their shoulders - for those salaries should be increased to keep them in Germany, and i guess this is exactly what is going to happen - Union is no SPD, does not think that all people should get the same money for their job *lol* as for foreigners - why, they will have same conditions as Germans, excluding one little difference - necessity to obtain work and residence permits. and do you really believe that society here is going to cry loud if foreigners go back to their countries considering big unemployment rate? i very doubt it ... the ones who are really valued should get all necessary permits without problems, but all others? it's not that i say that they should not get those permits - no - but if the salaries will be reduced for Germans, they will be reduced for them as well - and then they will have a choice and will choose themselves what they prefer: stay in Germany or go to some other country ;)

you also forget about east European countries which just were accepted in EU. don't you think that they would like to use new possibilities and work in Germany, even if the salaries here are somewhat reduced? do you know how much earn people in Portugal and Greece? i will tell you - about 50% from what they earn here, therefore lots of people from there come in Germany in search for a job ... in east European countries people earn even less, i had statistical data on salaries somewhere, oh well, i am too lazy to search for it, sorry *lol* by the way, back to the question of amount of working hours - saw statistical data in one newspaper as well - western Germany works less than any other country in EU!

lol just recalled one more thing: if you get in U.S. a medical insurance which pays for everything, you are going to sell your last pants ;) people there usualy have insurances which pay something but not very much, therefore have problems at once when get seriously ill ... do you know how much you are going to pay even with medical insurance for one night of staying in hospital there, when you need medicaments and some medical help as well - for example in case of a catastrophe? around 2000 dollars at the very least - without surgery, if it comes to surgery i guess you are going to pay out everything you was able to save *lol* ;)

So what ?

"Union is no SPD, does not think that all people should get the same money for their job *lol* as for foreigners - why, they will have same conditions as Germans, excluding one little difference - necessity to obtain work and residence permits."

Tell me what is Union Are they god ? Are they prophets ? What are they ? It is very easy. If you do the job that which 'others' can not perform your skills, you get money and everything. This is not different in any single country whatever the politicians are doing. For example if you have a nice pub with good food in Greece you also make good money in 5 months high season from the German Euros ;) This depends on indiviual himself/herself.

For health insurance, i am paying a lot less than 2 years ago, i have now private health insurance.

"and do you really believe that society here is going to cry loud if foreigners go back to their countries considering big unemployment rate? i very doubt it ..."

I was talking about jobs of germans. A foreigner and german citizen pay the same tax. If you think Union will bring something like 'a foreigner can get %60 of the salary paid when compared with an equivalent german employee', err.... ok. But it is good to see what/how you are thinking ;) Please do not try to tell me what society thought, think and will think here about foreigners.I know it very well.

"i would think so, because Americans apply for job in Germany *lol*"

I know some of them yes, he is here in Germany because he gets 120K € brutto p. a., which is a good reason to apply for a job here.Hey, he is not a manager, not a contractor!

As a conclusion, every foreigner is here with a reason, nobody takes them to Germany just for fun. Is it so difficult to understand or you still think of bringing back the very valued 20 million 'own' engineers

"If you do the job that which 'others' can not perform your skills, you get money and everything. This is not different in any single country whatever the politicians are doing."

Not in Germany, sir, not with SPD in government! Read current Kündigungsschutzgesetz and Betriebsverfassungsgesetz - here you only need to sign an unlimited contract with a right company (which is not in couple of steps from bankruptcy) and not to get kicked out before first 6 months are over. how do you work afterwards is completely irrelevant *lol* ;)

"For health insurance, i am paying a lot less than 2 years ago, i have now private health insurance."

I heard that SPD thought how to improve state insurance at costs of private insured, so i would not be surprised if sometimes soon you will find out that you have to pay more. But you should be happy when additional burden will be put on you shoulders, because you will know that your money help people with low incomes, as well as the ones who do not work and receive a social aid *lol* ;)

"If you think Union will bring something like 'a foreigner can get %60 of the salary paid when compared with an equivalent german employee', err.... ok."

No. such thing can not happen, because it will be a clear discrimination. foreigners are not fools, they will file claims and get those remaining 40% as well as big compensations. german politicians and businessmen are not fools as well, so such thing will be never made.

"As a conclusion, every foreigner is here with a reason, nobody takes them to Germany just for fun."

Yup! H. Schröder with his close friend H. Fisher believed it that Germany needs IT-professionals, so they invited people and people came. Professors and experts of course were not heard, the ones which were saying that the market is going to go down. How could they be heard, if two close friends produced such a wonderful idea? Now by governmental structures it is found out that the market went down and that those IT-professionals in reality were never needed - only now, when the market went down in late 2001-early 2002 - of course, how could it be found earlier if H. Schröder in 2002 wanted to be reelected?

By the way, their plan was not supposed to work in such way: i guess it was intended to get foreigners on a limited five-years basis, in order to close existing holes in IT labour market, get them by telling them how government thinks about their future and works hard on new immigration law *lol* ; afterwards make an immigration law with more strict conditions regarding PR than existing law, educate own students during five years and then kick out foreigners to their home countries *lol* ;) you are going to tell me that those newly educated guys would be unexperienced? but you would teach them yourself when managers gave you such orders, wouldn't you *lol*?

Trusday,

What order ?
Which manager ?
What unexperienced students ?
What LoL thousand times in your post ?
Teach who ?

Are you having fun ? I do here and all others.

"What order ? "

Can't your boss give you an assignment?

"Which manager ?"

It depends how many bosses you have. if you have five of them, then any from those five, if you have ten of them, obviously any from those ten *lol* ;)

"What unexperienced students ?"

German universities lately enrolled much more young germans for IT-profession: they believed H. Schröder + H. Fischer! *lol* Didn't you boss employed some of those till now? Strange if he didn't - they cost much less *lol* ;)

"What LoL thousand times in your post ?"

? :o i unfortunately do not have so much free time to write LoL thousand times ...

"Teach who ?"

the ones who are going to replace your boss believes that they can work without your supervision. didn't such thing happened with you before? happened once with me here in Germany, it really did *lol*

LOL i am having lots of fun as well. that's why i write on this forum, why would i otherwise? :o

Omission - "the ones who are going to replace your boss believes that they can work without your supervision."

Correction - "the ones who are going to replace you once your boss believes that they can work without your supervision."

Can't your boss give you an assignment?

No he can not, i have a job description, i do what it is written there. Nothing else. I do not have orders there. No Kaiser,emperor or sultan work here. No A** licking.

This boss thing does not make sense. 5 boss, 10 boss, what is boss ? Who is more skilled is boss. Who is less skilled listens to the more skilled one. Thats what boss means for me. I told this to my 'boss', he did not like the idea but he keeps me, you understand ?

"What unexperienced students ?"

No he did not, i never heard of them. If they come to my hands, oh yes, they are lucky, believe me, most of them will decide to change their direction.

Teaching people ?

Nobody taught me.
Ok, go to www.amazon.com buy your books, and teach yourself, thats it. Nobody is free teaching agency, or education center.

voll krass, o ja ;)

LOL seems that you guys work a lot there. it's not fun, to work much ... however somebody needs to work otherwise how unemloyed would be able to have a wonderful life? *lol* ;)