How do you feel about this for Germany?

[kmo0416]

As a British person, how does it make you feel to know that Germany has a large economy than Britain and is more powerful than Britain?

Are you jealous or resentful or not?

No, it doesn't bother me at all. Other countries also have bigger economies than the UK (eg the US and China) so I'm not sure why you've picked out Germany in particular?

The UK has a larger economy than nearly all the other countries in the world. I don't see why we need to be or would expect to be number one in the entire world?

I wish Britain would take a leaf out of their book tbh.

Apart from anything else, Germany has 15 million more people than we do!

Germany has acknowledged and taken full responsibility for the very bad things that their country has done historically (before most Germans alive today were even born); why shouldn't they feel justifiably proud of all of the good things that they do now?

When you look at how high in the world rankings our country's economy, prosperity and privilege come, it would be utterly churlish to be jealous of the relatively few countries above us, rather than extremely glad and grateful that we don't live in any of the many, many countries below us in the list.

Without being at all political about it, there must be a reason why so many people are desperately clamouring and taking very dangerous risks in order to move to this country. I highly doubt that Somalia, North Korea or El Salvador have to worry too much about preventing thousands of people each year from migrating to their countries.

Good for them. It's a lovely country and I enjoy visiting. Would still rather live where I live.

No, I love Germany. Brilliant country, great people.

Very weird thread, OP.

Good for them.

What’s your opinion OP?

Germany has never been our rival

They also have a much more diverse range of sausages. That does eat me up, to be honest.

Feel very aggrieved as, prior to Brexit, all projections were that Britain’s economy would be bigger than Germany’s by c2021

Essentially stupid ill informed racist people have got us to where we are - literally Little Britain and economically on our knees

Love Germany, beautiful country. Doesn’t bother me in the slightest that it is more successful economically than Britain. Why should it?

What a bizarre question. USA, China, Germany, Japan, and India all have larger economies. @kmo0416 Maybe you can give a rundown on how you feel about each of these, and whether you are jealous/resentful of each, if so why, if not why not.

It has been for a long time now, after the war when France and Germany got together to form what is now the EU it started growing economically again and has been the industrial heartland and a rich country for many years. A bit late to worry about it now. It's also a bigger country with more people. We are a couple of small islands off the European mainland, not some major power (and I prefer it that way).

Like the UK it's a G7 economy. Like the UK has problems with immigration. Unlike the UK it hasn't sold it's industrial base to the highest bidder so it has a huge car industry plus steel etc. Done well to recover from 2 X wars plus being divided. Benefits from being in the Euro union. But was the front line in the Cold War.

Couldn't care less.

Also there will be plenty of countries with a smaller economy than Britain that are far far nicer to live in. Booming economies are good for the government but it doesn't always translate to a great quality of life for ordinary people.

I feel sad that we have cut ourselves off from the being part of the EU, but otherwise I am pleased for Germany.

If we hadn't had Brexit I think we would have been in a much better financial position as a country (and we probably caused some harm to Germany with our actions too) but we did, so we have to live with it and acknowledge that as a result the government (this one and whoever is in power after them) will have to make decisions that we won't like.

You have a point about the sausages @Loubylie . I think DS’s favourite bit of our trip to Munich was the sausage platter in the Augustiner restaurant.

Also their larger. I’m a huge fan.

Germany really invested in its manufacturing industry. Unlike the UK, who would prefer to be a nation of call centres. Hence huge parts of our industry have died and we need to import everything. That's partly why they have a really successful economy and, yes, I am envious of that. They provide a huge amount of our military clothing as the industry has died out here, which I guess is ironic! Their manufacturing industry is heavily unionised as well.

Why would I be concerned? I'm confused

Taking notes here. I have always wanted to visit Germany. The Germans I have met in the UK have all been lovely.

As pp says, yes I am envious that Germany is still in the EU. Meanwhile, the UK suffers the consequences of a terrible act of self harm caused by a grifting racist selling the gullible a bunch of fairytales.

And don't get started on the bread....

Germany has quite a lot of economic issues, just like every other country, some in common with the UK (ageing population, immigration concerns, failing infrastructure, far right leanings) and some less so (competition and increasing costs in it's manufacturing base). There's also still the East-West issue, and increasing border tensions, despite Schengen. The only thing I prefer about Germany is it's central location.

In relation to?....

I’ve only visited Germany once ( last year ) and found it clean and organized and friendly. It was a pretty touristy area and the lady who owned the apartment I stayed in admitted that they have problems with public transport and have been advised to charge a ‘tourist tax , ‘ by the local council which is being brought in everywhere else in Europe. So it sounds as if it’s not without its problems with finances for certain areas.
Food was more expensive than the UK, but I expected this due to its location , especially eating out.
I haven’t visited major cities there, but keeping its manufacturing bases must have helped its economy hugely.

Well, they definitely have been at some points in history (not only during the wars) but I wish the UK would make more effort to cooperate with not only Germany, but France, Spain, Italy etc, instead of the US.

Tell that to the England men's football team.