For most of this century, Germany racked up one economic success after another, dominating global markets for high-end products like luxury cars and industrial machinery, selling so much to the rest of the world that half the economy ran on exports.

Jobs were plentiful, the government’s financial coffers grew as other European countries drowned in debt, and books were written about what other countries could learn from Germany.

No longer. Now, Germany is the world’s worst-performing major developed economy, with both the International Monetary Fund and European Union expecting it to shrink this year.

  • CTdummy@artemis.camp
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    10 months ago

    I don’t think people wanting a vehicle they might have to commute daily in looking aesthetically pleasing quite meets the mark of fetishising. You might be ok driving a cube 2.0 but the rest of the market may not be and considering electric is trying to break into the established market of ICE…. Though to the larger point, most places could solve the problem by fixing/modernising public transport but that may just be too radical apparently.

    • Gsus4
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      10 months ago

      Haha, yea, the only heresy greater than owning an ugly efficient car these days is riding a bus 😧, it seems.

      • tomi000@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        Noone said you cant have an ugly efficient car if you want. But theres absolutely no reason to shit on people for wanting their own possessions to be nice. Sure its better to not buy a car at all, but if you need one you should be allowed to get one that you like.

        • Gsus4
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          10 months ago

          Why are you replying here? I’m talking to you upstairs. Chill out.