Echoes of a Reagan romance
More to the point, perhaps, some Germans figured that the new ambassador’s company, which makes roller bearings in Ohio, prospers at their expense because of protective tariffs that kept German competitors out of American markets. But the rain that accompanies high winds can soften hard feelings into something like sympathy. Particularly in need of softening was the outburst by Jurgen Trittin, the Green environmental minister who characterized the damage wrought by Katrina as the fault of President Bush. “The American president is closing his eyes to the economic and human costs his land and the world economy are suffering under the natural catastrophes like Katrina and because of neglected environmental policies,” he wrote in a German newspaper. Few scientists who study weather, even several passionate decriers of global warning, share Herr Trittin’s eccentric science. He might just as well have blamed Prometheus’ theft of fire from the heavens for global warming.
When Ambassador Timken was asked about the minister’s remarks, he exposed the exploitation for what it was. “I would hope people are far more concerned about the people suffering, who have lost family members and houses, than about getting into scientific arguments that go on and on.”
Many Germans feel superior to Americans (and everybody else), despite the stagnation of their welfare-state economy with its stunning 12 percent unemployment (which would set off riots here), and Angela Merkel wants to ride to the rescue, not only of Germany but of German-American relations. Her Christian Democrats like Americans, unlike some of the parties in the coalition ruling Germany now. She understands that, superior or not, Germans have to make their economy more like ours to put sauerbraten in every pot. She has even teased the Germans into discussing the flat tax.