Comments on: How Germany changed me from a Republican to a Democrat

By: PaxRyan

PaxRyan — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 22:45:34 +0000

i see that this post is old, but i love it. i wish more Americans could be exposed to a view of the States from abroad. (Also fascinating were GermanLivinginAmerica’s comments:-) My favorite point that you made is that although taxes may be higher in Europe, total expenses to receive the same amount of services that are rendered in European countries may actually be higher in the States. In the States our biggest problem is that we are needed to fund not only our government but also the corporations and banks that direct our government;-)

By: Anak Inya

Anak Inya — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 04:45:46 +0000

I love reading your story Christina. Thanks. .-= Anak Inya´s last blog ..Baby caring – choosing new clothes =-.

By: R.S.Link

R.S.Link — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:15:37 +0000

@ christine geyer:
your artivcle shows how ill-informed you are about germany and the german political system. i grew up in germany and i could not more disagree with what you have written.
if the US-government would take simple little steps in the right direction there would not be nearly as many problems as there are.
the obama-care for instance is wrong because it FORCES people to buy somethung they do NOT want. if they do not buy healthcare the gov. comes and punishes them. that is AGAINST the constitution. all that really needs to be done is de-regulate and let insurance companies sell their policies all over the country and not be limited to any ons state.
even the german gov. has realized that gov.-run healthcare is unsustainable. took “only” 140 to figure that out.
government is NEVER the answer to all the problems. government IS the problem.
look at all the money obama has wasted for all the bail-out crap and what has changed???? 17 consecutive months an unemployment rate around 10%, the national debt has risen from 1.3 trillion to now a staggering 13.7 trillion. that is governement in action. constantly ne rules, new regulations and government intrusion into the life of its citizens. liberalism of the finest.
i left germany 30 years ago because i did not wanted to live my life in a socialistic society even though i used to be quit liberal. since i now live in the US i have become very conservativ. government needs to stay OUT of our life, needs to be smaller then it is instead of adding more and more jobs to its agencies, needs to stop this rediculous speending and most of all:
GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO REALIZE THEY HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO SERVE AND NOT TO DICTATE that however is what liberals do best. please don’t tell me thats not so. i once was a liberal and i know how they think and act.
i hope and pray that noivember 2010 will bring a chnage to washington and bring us back on the way the forefathers had in mind when they wrote the constitution. let freedom ring for ALL americans.

By: Ruby

Ruby — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:44:48 +0000

such a nice story to read when a fellow expat shares her experiences..this is great..thanks for sharing Christina.. Explore Germany.. p.s. i love your blog..i live near regensburg..probably around an hour drive.

By: Christina Geyer

Christina Geyer — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:12:13 +0000

Great comments, everyone!

@stacie: Germans do recycle a lot, I have a post about getting used to it here in rural Bavaria.

@claire: You sound surprised, LOL! I haven’t studied politics at all, but one of my favorite subjects to read about is early US history and I’ve read quite a bit on the founding fathers and agree that a lot of people making arguments about what the founding fathers would approve or disapprove of have no clue what they are talking about, especially when it comes to “Christian values” being made into law, etc.

By: Claire

Claire — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:26:24 +0000

Christina, this was extremely well-written and thoughtful! Well done!

I have always been a Democrat and I do not feel that my political views have changed much since I have been here. For me going to graduate school was the moment that I felt my eyes “opened.” The more I read and studied politics the more I began to feel differently about things.

One thing that bothers me now about the US is how people talk about the founding fathers and how they would be “disappointed” or “opposed” to the current system. As the American founding and federalism was my political theory specialty it makes me want to pound my head against a rock because some of these people have no idea what they are talking about!

By: Kim

Kim — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:45:33 +0000

Interesting – but not surprising! The same thing happened to me, although I was just 15 the first time I moved to Europe (Germany, actually). By the time I was 30, I’d also lived in Italy, Austria and the UK. Like you, I saw the benefits of social democracy and thoroughly enjoyed the heightened quality of life it offers. I’m back in the US now, squirming at all the McCarthyism around the healthcare debate.

I’m not sure I ever met a seasoned American expat who managed to hang on to conservative political views. There’s something about seeing social democracy first hand that forever alters your view of it.
.-= Kim´s last blog ..Testing the waters =-.

By: Stacie

Stacie — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:31:04 +0000

I just re-read some of the comments and just wanted to make some observations. Having been exposed to German culture, I have changed my beliefs in some things.
I totally agree with GermanintheUS on enviromental protection. I love that Germans have to seperate their trash and are required to recycle (this is what I know from my husband’s family…is it like this in all Germany?). I think it should be this way in the US as well. Most people here don’t recycle and there is so much waste! I think it should be the law here in the US.
Someone mentioned the educational system in Germany. I work in the educational field and US schools are lacking way behind compared to most European countries. Even when I was in high school, I thought our educational system needed an overhaul. There is also too much difference between the educational systems in each state. I think requirements should be nationwide and not vary from state to state. I’m not an Obama fan, but he has proposed to overhaul our educational system and I am really hoping he can. I really like what I have seen in the German education system and wish the US could adopt a similar system. I’m also a huge advocate for global education, educating our young about different languages, cultures, etc. In some ways, this is catching on in the states, but I wish it was pushed more.
Again, I do think we need Healthcare reform. I have friends who have jobs, but they can’t afford insurance and yet they make too much money to qualify for medicaid, so they go without insurance. Yes, something needs to be done about this. That being said, has anyone read the healthcare bill? There are some ridiculous things in the bill. A 10% tax on tanning because it causes cancer? Come on now. I don’t tan, but should those who choose to tan be penalized? Are we got to start taxing everything that causes cancer? I think that is the US answer to everything, put a tax on it! My state is promoting a health and wellness program. I have to say I am lucky and I have state insurance, but their new wellness plan is a little out there. Those who are obese or those who smoke are penalized and now have to pay more for insurance. I don’t agree with that. Also, do you think that by telling me a big Mac has 600 calories in it is going to stop me from eating it? If I want a big mac, I’m going to eat one regardless. LOL.

By: Stacie

Stacie — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:46:04 +0000

Hello All! I hope you don’t mind an american still living in the US to comment on your post. I think it was a great post, by the way. A little background on me…I was raised Republican and am a registered Republican. However, I do not vote based on party lines, I vote based on what the candidate stands for and how that coincides with what I believe. I knew the past election was a major one and I studied what each candidate stood for and choose two candidates (one democrat and one republican) based on my beliefs. Neither of these candidates made it to the Presendtial race though. Anyway, my husband was born in Germany to an American father and a German mother. It is always interesting when visiting with his family. I tend to try and avoid discussions pertaining to politics. We never see eye to eye. My husbands family (even those in the US) are to the left. My husband tends not to be (although he is a registered Democrat). I think it is easy for those outside the US to look at our political system and make judgements, but without knowing and/or experiencing for themselves, thats not fair. I know little about the German political system. From what I have learned and experienced through my husbands family, I tend to like and/or agree with. Do I think we need healthcare reform in the US? Yes, but do I think it will ever be at a level like Germany’s? No. Americans tend to want all the better things in life, but they don’t want to have to pay for it (I can include myself in this category at times). Would I mind paying hiring taxes to help out those that are less fortunate? Well for me, that is not a yes or no answer. My husband works in the worst part of town where I live. The things he witnesses on a day to day basis are enough to make anyone angry. The people living in this area don’t work, not because they can’t but because they choose not to. Our taxes pay for these people to survive. One woman even told my husband that her welfare check wasn’t big enough so she needed to have another kid to get more money. She wasn’t joking. Another person my husband came into contact with was a young 20-something year old. He had never worked a day in his life and he is drawing social security. There are women who live in this neighborhood that are paid to stay at home because they can’t afford daycare for their children. Is that fair? I do not want to pay more taxes to help out those who take advantage of the system, as so many do. I think that is part of the problem that isn’t being addressed. There are too many who take advantage of the system. In my job, I work with people who have recently lost their job and I try to get them into training/educational programs that will allow them to find another job. I have come into contact with so many people who are trying so hard, but just can’t seem to get anywhere. Their benfits are running out and they are losing everything they have worked so hard for, while those who take advantage sit back and keep collecting. It doesn’t make sense to me. It seems like, if you work and try hard, you are penalized. If you’re lazy and want to take advantage of the system, you are rewarded. I don’t think that because I have worked my entire life to make money in order to live, buy a house, buy a car, and have food on my table for my family that I should have to help provide for those who choose not to work. Well, I think I got off topic here. Thanks for letting me comment and I enjoy your blog!

By: Sabrina

Sabrina — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:52:36 +0000

I just found your blog, and this was a fantastic first post to read!

I went through something extremely similar, having been a Republican most of my life, turning Libertarian and eventually Democrat (not that that matters now as I permanently live in DE). Seeing how well everything works here, despite the system being clogged and abused, really changed my ideas on what government can/could/should be.