Letters: Don't fault Germany on euro

With this column, Daniel Akst has hit a sore point ["German domination? Sounds dubious . . .," Opinion, Dec. 12]. You see, I came to the United States from Germany 57 years ago -- legally. This country has been good to me, and I have tried very much to be good to this country. But I still get upset when I read biased and unsubstantiated stuff about the Germans.

He writes, "the single European currency . . . has been quite a boon to Germany, making its exports cheaper for other euro countries to buy."

People buy stuff for one of two reasons: Either because it's cheaper, or, if it's more expensive, because it's better. Why do we buy Chinese-made stuff? Because it's cheaper. Why do we buy an expensive Mercedes? Because it's better, or at least perceived to be better.

So to blame the Germans for successfully building and selling quality stuff is off the mark and mean-spirited.

That some of the other eurozone members cooked the books to even enter into the common currency, that their citizens consider avoiding taxes a national sport, that they can retire with full benefits at 55, and even get "vacation pay" while retired is generally glanced over under the column of, "these things happen."

Dumping on people who do wrong is one thing, but dumping on them for doing things right and blaming them for others' self-inflicted wounds is quite another.

Hans van Ophemert, Kings Park
 

As first generation German-American, I take umbrage with Akst's anti-German column. The column is smugly sprinkled with ethnic jingoism and a dash of obligatory stereotypes for good measure; it was both distasteful and inane. Regrettably, such gibberish passes as thoughtful news analysis.

Apparently unsatisfied with disparaging the entire German people as power-hungry, war-mongering, fiscal opportunists, Akst felt the need to spread his noxious anti-European animus around by insulting Greece and Italy just a few paragraphs later.

Most troubling is Akst's woeful lack of historical perspective or rudimentary understanding of the current fiscal problems facing Europe. His prescription for curing all of the eurozone's ills by simply delaying the inevitable would be an abject failure.

Bear in mind that Germany has a female leader, national health care and gay marriage, and no crime-infested housing projects. One day, the United States will be so lucky.

Monica Koch Walsh, West Hempstead
 

I think you underestimate the benefits to less productive states in staying part of the common market. They include the flow of capital and labor, common regulations and a better ability to compete in the new global economy. The implication that Germany has bullied its partners is also incorrect.

Consider the situation in the United States. After World War II, manufacturing moved from north to south. This could not have happened without a common currency. The economic benefits that were in the northeast have spread to other regions. German policy has followed that which was earlier established here.

The common currency has allowed for lower interest rates, as you stated, but more important, it will allow for an increase in the economic benefits for Europe. The whole is greater than the individual parts.

Edward Boughal, Sayville