Germany learned lesson, now rejects socialism

A Bradenton Herald reader, Steve Scott, in a Nov. 5 letter to the editor ("Germany a proven model of Democratic socialism") called Germany a "democratic socialist country."

Mr. Scott, you are 25 years late. Yes, there was a socialist Germany, the GDR (East Germany). But thanks to the wonderful conservative (and non-socialist!) U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, that communist country (they did actually call themselves "a proven socialist country!) stopped being in existence in 1989!

Today's reunited Germany is a democratic country -- with lots of social (not socialist!) elements. The main parties call themselves democratic, social, and Christian. Only a small party (just under 10 percent of the overall votes) is proud to be socialist and even communist. But compare that to Angela Merkel's 40-plus percent.

No, Mr. Scott, Germany is not a socialist country. Who in the world would vote for socialist candidates?! Especially (East) Germans know that socialism means big and expensive government, and it means very bad news for the middle class, and socialism destroys freedom. The Germany of 2015 is by no means a socialist country!

Greg Fassbender

Bradenton/Ratingen, Germany

This story was originally published November 12, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Germany learned lesson, now rejects socialism ."