Not to belittle your anger(which I totally agree with...)at high gas prices and other injustices, but... we currently pay around $ 7,90 per gallon for regular unleaded (here in Germany - and that's still fairly cheap. Only in Austria is gas currently cheaper). That's almost double what you pay... And no... we're not protesting... yet.
most of america's infrastructure was created for autos, therefore making necessary to fill up on a regular basis.
from what a remember, germany has a comprehensive public transit system that is relatively cheap, and trains to everywhere, bike paths, free public medical, and numerous social benefits for the public at large. the food and cost of living is lower, and i did see many homeless people.
Oh, quite a lot of us are dependent on cars. Especially those of us who live out in the country. We do have public transit, but that's geared towards the cities, not the countryside. If I want to go anywhere by train, I have to drive to the station, first. And, unfortunately, train tickets aren't as cheap as they used to be - as I see every weekend, when my daughter comes home from boarding school... by train.
We do have bike paths, that is true. And yes, I *could* go to the nearest town by bike - it's only two miles or so away.
Unfortunately, we don't have free medical services. However, people who are on unemployment, welfare or other social programs don't have to pay very much for their health insurance. On the other hand, self-employed people like me, do. Lots, I tell you...
Cost of living has gone up a lot. Even out here in the country you will have to pay a minimum of $ 4-500 for a one-bedroom apartment. If you're in a city like Munich - which is very popular, then that's what you pay for a *room* in a shared apartment. A liter of milk (that's approx. a quarter of a gallon) will cost you around $ 1.30, a whole loaf of regular bread around $ 3. And that's if you're not buying organically grown stuff. That's even more expensive.
So, unfortunately, Germany is no longer a place where you can live well on little money. But so far we don't seem to have reached the pain threshhold yet, where price of living and politics are concerned. Yet...
*coughcough*
ReplyDeleteNot to belittle your anger(which I totally agree with...)at high gas prices and other injustices, but... we currently pay around $ 7,90 per gallon for regular unleaded (here in Germany - and that's still fairly cheap. Only in Austria is gas currently cheaper). That's almost double what you pay... And no... we're not protesting... yet.
most of america's infrastructure was created for autos, therefore making necessary to fill up on a regular basis.
ReplyDeletefrom what a remember, germany has a comprehensive public transit system that is relatively cheap, and trains to everywhere, bike paths, free public medical, and numerous social benefits for the public at large.
the food and cost of living is lower, and i did see many homeless people.
Oh, quite a lot of us are dependent on cars. Especially those of us who live out in the country. We do have public transit, but that's geared towards the cities, not the countryside. If I want to go anywhere by train, I have to drive to the station, first. And, unfortunately, train tickets aren't as cheap as they used to be - as I see every weekend, when my daughter comes home from boarding school... by train.
ReplyDeleteWe do have bike paths, that is true. And yes, I *could* go to the nearest town by bike - it's only two miles or so away.
Unfortunately, we don't have free medical services. However, people who are on unemployment, welfare or other social programs don't have to pay very much for their health insurance. On the other hand, self-employed people like me, do. Lots, I tell you...
Cost of living has gone up a lot. Even out here in the country you will have to pay a minimum of $ 4-500 for a one-bedroom apartment. If you're in a city like Munich - which is very popular, then that's what you pay for a *room* in a shared apartment. A liter of milk (that's approx. a quarter of a gallon) will cost you around $ 1.30, a whole loaf of regular bread around $ 3. And that's if you're not buying organically grown stuff. That's even more expensive.
So, unfortunately, Germany is no longer a place where you can live well on little money. But so far we don't seem to have reached the pain threshhold yet, where price of living and politics are concerned. Yet...
OCCUPY GERMANY!
ReplyDelete