Equally interesting would be the different experiences in East and West Germany for 45 years and how that played out since 1989. I don't know if there are significant factors there, but many Germans seem to feel that "they played their part" by paying taxes and subsidies, regardless of the actual status of economic development in the former East Germany. One might hope that they would consider that West Germany was the recipient of significant post war aid that was not received by East Germany or the rest of Germany's former Central European hinterland. One could hope for more enlightened leaders and a more generous attitude, but...

Another factor is that the aid given just after the war and through the 50s was given during a different climate of opinion, one that was not dominated by Neo-liberalism and NCE. The rest of Central Europe was not so lucky.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

I wish I had time to take advantage of your and ARGeezer's suggested reading list- I'd very much like to re-read Reich and Fromm, and your fiction. But I hardly have time to care for this diary. New careers at 69 are tough- some days the brain moves glacially, with the ease of a sled on ashes- but I do get there, still. Just takes longer- and, as the poet said,

Come, fill the Cup, and in the fire of Spring
 Your Winter-garment of Repentance fling:
 The Bird of Time has but a little way
 To flutter--and the Bird is on the Wing.

Khayam/Fitzgerald

Capitalism searches out the darkest corners of human potential, and mainlines them.