Somehow, knowing that our close cultural relative was thriving and glowing while maintaining civilized working hours and socialized health benefits was a source of comfort to me.

Yeah, I think I can understand that. You feel that there's an alternative, and that with a change of government, the country might opt for a better course. I've been depressed to watch Germany start to struggle.

You guys seem to be a generation behind in stripping your education system, so there's still a young generation coming up that knows how to think.

Give us time. There are already rumblings about not needing qualified teachers in state schools ...

That...sounded really old, didn't it?

Perspective and history, seeing the same things keep happening, is what makes us old and tired, I think. :(