Vorsprung Durch Technik...

(As they say in Germany!)
 
You have to hand it to the Germans, not only did they produce Beethoven and Bach, they have also produced the odd economic miracle or two.
 
To most British people, the German philosophy is encapsulated by the words of the famous Audi advertisement, which we have all seen on our Japanese televisions: Vorsprung durch technik. But the truth is that this is more than a slogan: instead, it represents an entire world-view, and a successful one at that.
 
Germany, as a nation, believes that progress comes through technology, or at least through solid technical achievement in industry and manufacturing. In short, Germany produces the goods. And delivers them. In fact, it has just been announced that Germany's exports now stand at their highest-ever level - the country standing head and shoulders above the rest of Europe, if not the world.
 
Whilst Britain basks in the sunshine of its sunbeds, credit cards and vodaphone shares, Germany makes real things. Things that people can buy and use, both in Germany and abroad. Things that seldom go wrong (VW and Skoda now dominate our roads) and things which, in themselves, bring wealth and economic durability.
 
And Germans have achieved this all-important layer of economic strength by working incredibly hard. Weekends are given up to work, as are holidays, yet the Germans still seem to enjoy leisure time - certainly if we take into the account the large amount of German tourists currently enjoying the historic sights and sites of themepark Britain. Who knows, perhaps they even visit Coventry and Longbridge, to see where the British once worked to produce cars, vans, buses and tractors!
 
Germany's success rests upon real wealth. Upon manufactured goods. Upon economic activity which generates more economic activity: which gives rise to innovation and innovators, and to new innovators, new engineers, new designers and new apprentices. Germany is a self-renewing economy, and even with the Euro currency, they have the chance to be more independent than Britain. They have something which we have rather overlooked and forgotten about: true economic sovereignty, build upon hard work and manufacturing.
 
From a nation reduced to ruins in 1945, to the manufacturing marvel of the West in 2011, Germany deserves its success. Could we, perhaps, learn something from them?