German lessons for America: Second Look

Alemania/Junio de 2017/Fuente: USA Today

Resumen: Estoy de acuerdo con el editorial de USA TODAY «Lo que Estados Unidos puede aprender de Alemania». Sé que los esfuerzos de Alemania para tener trabajadores bien formados, fabricación fuerte y una avanzada base industrial y tecnológica es un modelo para que Estados Unidos aprenda. Pero viene de la ayuda del gobierno. Este enfoque debe incluir el respeto por la ciencia, que carece de esta administración. También podemos hacer mejor en dar a americanos el acceso a la educación comprable – los alemanes consiguen la educación universitaria libre. Alemania también proporciona atención de salud universal que hace para una mano de obra más productiva.

Letter to the editor: 

I wholeheartedly agree with USA TODAY’s editorial “What U.S. can learn from Germany.” I know that the German efforts to have well-trained workers, strong manufacturing and an advanced industrial and technology basis is a model for America to learn from. But it does come from government help. This approach must include respect for science, which is lacking in this administration. We can also do better in giving Americans access to affordable education — Germans get free university education. Germany also provides universal health care that makes for a more productive workforce.

I have to disagree with the idea of a national sales tax (also called a value-added tax). It is regressive and would weigh on the majority of Americans with a modest income. It’s better to increase personal taxes on the rich and get rid of our many loopholes in our tax system that favor them.

But above all, we need to increase international trade, encourage competition, and build an economy that respects science rather than discredits or denies facts. We need to make sure that much of our infrastructure investments concentrate not only on physical elements — such as bridges and railroads — but also on education, access to universities and advanced research. That is the opposite of what the president’s 2018 budget will do, and his effort at privatizing is only going to be more costly to taxpayers and ultimately counterproductive.

Fuente: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/06/11/german-lessons-america-second-look/102556612/