Tribute to Erich Honecker.

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andhad the most effective recycling system in the world. Thank you.

Yes, the FDJ's recycling programs instilled that at a young age.

There is no denying the DDR was a successful example of socialist development, produciton, and society. As others have stated, it had an enormous growth period through much of its history, surpassing develope Western nations like Great Britain in Growth Domestic Product. It enjoyed one of the highest standards of living of socialist nations, and recooperated greatly since the end of the GPW and throughout the era of occupation. With their material needs met, the East German people were able to prosper in all fields of science, art, literature, sport, culture, music, theatre, etc.

It was called SERO. Each housing estate had a collection point. I remember going around as young boy asking people for their glass and newspapers. I then brought this to the SERO collection point and earned my pocket money that way. My first watch I bought by collecting glass and paper for 4 months. Well my parents helped me out a bit towards the end. That way I learned from a very young age to respect work and the value of things.

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That way I learned from a very young age to respect work and the value of things.

Yes, this is something I've noticed amongst other comrades who grew up under socialism, or at least got to experience some part of it. I was only 6 when the dissolution became final, but I still remember some very important things. Especially the mannerisms that my family and neighbours held regarding work ethic, and that you're simply not working for one, but for the whole collective. Understanding work in this manner, as opposed to wage-slaving, puts things in a unique perspective and gives you great insight.

Its very true. Work has no value today and is only to support ones survival. In the GDR my parents were working without the existential pressures or fears. I can say that my parents were truly happy regarding their work life. There was no fear about mortgage repayments, unemployment, etc. I remember the way my parents were talking at the dinner table about the way they openly critizised their boss at work. Something unthinkable today.

Rem wrote:

If you don't believe me that a majority thinks that DDR was neither democratic or socialist, go to your local library and borrow some books, the will surely talk agree with me more than you.

Ossi wrote:

Work has no value today and is only to support ones survival. In the GDR my parents were working without the existential pressures or fears. I can say that my parents were truly happy regarding their work life. There was no fear about mortgage repayments, unemployment, etc. I remember the way my parents were talking at the dinner table about the way they openly critizised their boss at work. Something unthinkable today.

It was great!

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The education system in the GDR was one of the best in the world, why else has Finland the Pisa study winner coppied theirs from former east-germany. Can you explain that to me?

No, I can't since I don't understand what you mean.

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As an east-german I learned dialectical thinking in school what I can't say about my western fellow countrymen. We learned not only english in school but also russian. I had about 15 subjects in school including astronomy. Never heared of in the west.

And? I learned English and German in school and those who wanted could choose a third language including Russian. I also studied astrology but not as a separate subject, it was integrated in Physic.

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The GDR was still among the top 10 industrial nations at the time. Without Marshall plan and the exploitation of the third world.

Just to add, the DDR also was for a long period in the top 10 of fastest growing economies andhad the most effective recycling system in the world. Thank you.

Still it collapsed due to bad economic performance.

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It enjoyed one of the highest standards of living of socialist nations, and recooperated greatly since the end of the GPW and throughout the era of occupation. With their material needs met, the East German people were able to prosper in all fields of science, art, literature, sport, culture, music, theatre, etc.

North Korea was also a faster growing economic than it's southern neighbour, but nothing to brag about nowadays. The most important is the result, with statistic can you prove everything.

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That way I learned from a very young age to respect work and the value of things.

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Yes, this is something I've noticed amongst other comrades who grew up under socialism

Respect for work is indeed good, but I wouldn't go so far to say that it was more common in socialistic countries. I see it every day, and I know that Soviet Union had a problem with bad work moral and that companies in eastern part of German long had problems of the same.

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I also studied astrology but not as a separate subject, it was integrated in Physic.

Astrology was integrated into PHYSICS?!

You did mean astronomy, right?

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Still it collapsed due to bad economic performance.

Capitalist economies run on consumerism & rampant materialism, Socialism doesn't. The ONLY barometer of "success" in a capitalist economy is wealth accumulation regardless of how it's earned (or stolen). Such a system naturally will be easier to run, than a multi faceted system.

Also, capitalism thrives parasitically. Most capitalist economies now and before sustained & "grew" by exploiting developing countries, there's no denying of that.

So you can kind of see how capitalist economies "survived." Capitalist systems tend to have a longer lifespan because of its inherently parasitic nature and extreme narrow faceted perspective on success (which is wealth accumulation).

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Capitalist systems tend to have a longer lifespan because of its inherently parasitic nature and extreme narrow faceted perspective on success (which is wealth accumulation).

That's a nice analogy.

I'm not one to provoke (ironic being a bit of a leftie, eh?) but I posted this video because I thought it was cool, and you guys would get a kick out of the DDR doing its stuff.

But then, I guess firey debate is good on a politics forum. :]

Ian

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But the background music has nazi lyrics. "Ein Führer... ein Volk... Rasse...". things like that.
Just wanted to give some Information...
Thats why I think it's not the best "tribute".

The song is "Geburt einer Nation" (lit. "Birth of a Nation") by the Slovenian band Laibach. It's actually a German-language cover of "One Vision" by Queen (see here). Compare lyrics of Queen and Laibach.

It's funnier when you have an understanding of both English and German, but basically, Laibach translate "one race" to "ein Rasse", the latter being German for biological race. They also translate "one nation" to "ein Volk" to bring up yet more Nazi connotations. By interpreting it in a certain way, they have managed to turn a hard rock anthem into a Nazi march!

For some reason, the video is no longer on YouTube. It can still be seen here, but the quality isn't too good. Does anyone still have the original, and can they put it back on YouTube?