Porsche chief's disdain for America

The American Thinker ^ | 10-11-06 | Thomas Lifson

[Renfield]

Davids Medienkritik discovered deep condescension toward America from a German executive whose company makes most of its money here. Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking defends the German “social model” of capitalism, and implies that we Americans are barely out of the backwoods with our rifles.

Europe’s culture is decidedly older than that of the USA. The Fuggers were doing business, while hunting was still the order of the day in America. Right now 37 million people in the USA live below the poverty line. The gulf between poor and rich has widened brutally. Do we want to have a situation like that in Europe and particularly in Germany?

Why would anyone buy an expensive car from a company whose head looks down on him?

I wonder what Herr Wiedeking has to say about the Japanese after a beers?

[GnL]

I have always made it a rule to never pay attention to what guys named "Wendelin" have to say.

[DB]

It is worse than that. It literally looks at income only. You can own a half million dollar home free and clear and be counted as under the poverty line even though you don't have the expenses of making payments or rent.

[Dave Elias]

Not as good as English real ale however..

[battlegearboat]

Germany leads the world in prostitution and toys.

[Daveinyork]

My 2001 Chrysler Sebring convertible will do.

[gridlock]

We do not need Porsche...

American men with embarrassingly small penises can compensate with good ol' American Iron

BTW, have you ever wondered why sports cars are such an obsession in Germany?

[Vaquero]

from Wikipedia:

.....The life of Ferry Porsche was intimately related to his father, Ferdinand Porsche senior, who taught his son all of his technical knowledge since his childhood. Father and son opened a bureau of automobile design, at Stuttgart in 1931.

Almost immediately, they worked together to fill their country's National Socialist regime's needs and they met Adolf Hitler at many business events. The Volkswagen Beetle was designed by Ferdinand Porsche senior and a team of engineers (that included Ferry Porsche).

After World War II, while the senior Porsche remained imprisoned in France being accused as a criminal of war....

[beckaz]

The Fuggers were doing business, while hunting was still the order of the day in America.

Fuggers all right. (??? I guess I have to look it up)

[Dixie Yooper]

This story reminds me of an old comparison; "What the difference between a Porsche and a Porcupine? A Porcupine keeps it's pricks on the outside." I have never driven a Porsche 911, but have always wanted to more than any other car.

[TheBattman]

Right now 37 million people in the USA live below the poverty line.

I love it when the "poverty line" is usedas a political tool. You see, the so-called poverty line is an arbitrary line drawn by politicians and social engineers to promote an agenda.

That so-called poverty line is raised every so often to make certain that a certain percentage can register as "below" and give a continuing reason for social programs.

My in-laws raised two children on what was, at the time, well below poverty line income. Yet they never wanted for necessitites, and actually had more than many of my students today who live in homes with a comparible income level.

The whole "poverty" BS comes from someonen's opinion of what is "necessary".

It is all about priorities. And when an arbitrary figure representing the "poverty line" is thrown out, I get rather perturbed by it.

But as I will likely never be able to afford a Porsche automobile, I guess I too should be classified as below the "poverty line"...

[Dave Elias]

Viper is great for a Circus clown who typically drive cars that fall to bits as they drive around.

[Rummenigge]

Wendelin is a liar. He's trying to keep the acceptance of the political streams that carry him.

If you'd be a CEO of a company like Porsche you'd lie and do politics as well. That's the job.

Beeing poor in france or in germany nevertheless will not really bite you. Of course it's a difference if you're poor in montana's country side or Detroit - but if I was an uneducated social drop out - I'd prefer Germany over the US any time especially if I had kids to bring up.

[Rummenigge]

because they sell so good in the US :)

[American in Singapore]

Germany leads the world in prostitution and toys

and the fat slob men with their underage young boys (Pattaya, Thailand).

[Rummenigge]

That ! ...can't be of harm.

[Smokin' Joe]

...we Americans are barely out of the backwoods with our rifles

I'd rather have a Humvee...and keep my rifle, thanks.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Not sure I care what this kraut thinks.

[gafusa]

Europe, especially Germany has a huge amount of poor. It is amazing how they pretend poverty does not exist in their own nations, when it is painfully obvious. Our numbers and living standard are much higher than Germany's.

[Vaquero]

Fugger (fʊg'ər) , German family of merchant princes. The foundation of their wealth was laid by Hans Fugger, allegedly a weaver, who moved to Augsburg in 1367. His descendants built up the family fortune by trade and banking. With Jacob Fugger II, 1459–1525, called Jacob the Rich, the house entered its zenith. It owned extensive real estate, merchant fleets, and palatial establishments throughout Europe. Jacob's fortune was largely built on a virtual monopoly in the mining and trading of silver, copper, and mercury. He lent immense sums to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and helped secure the election (1519) of Charles V as Holy Roman emperor by bribing the electors. Charles ennobled the family and granted them sovereign rights over their lands, including that of coining their own money. Then the richest family in Europe, the Fuggers were generous patrons of the arts and learning and philanthropists, notably at Augsburg, their residence. Under Raimund Fugger, 1489–1535, and Anton Fugger, 1493–1560, the house reached the limits of its power and fortune. Its decline paralleled that of the Hapsburgs, whose wars the Fuggers financed. Several descendants were prominent, but, except for some real estate, little is left of the once fabulous wealth.

bunch of Mother Fuggers if ya ask me??

[DB]

"I'd prefer Germany over the US any time especially if I had kids to bring up."

Not me.

I want my kids to have opportunities, to be all they can be. That's definitely not Germany. In addition there's more to life than basic creature comforts. There's well being in doing a good job, in providing for oneself. German socialism robs people of that. There's a reason why Germans don't have children.