>>>From this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_states_of_Germany I see that the 'Solidaritätszuschlag' @ 5.5% is providing 11 billion Euro p/a to fund economic re-generation in the East - and will continue until 'at least' 2019.
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>>officialese for we will find ways to spend your money and not lower rates. 2019 is guaranteed by law (although I am not sure the rate is). But they are already trying to keep it after 30! years and use it now in the west. At least be honest, abolish and hike tax rates accordingly. (get me a doctor: I am babbling about honest politicians)
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>>>
>>>"More children are born out of wedlock in eastern Germany than in western Germany. In 2009, in eastern Germany 61% of births were to unmarried women, while in western Germany 27% were"
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>>more of a difference I expected, but trend was clear.
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>>>"A 2004 poll found that 25% of West Germans and 12% of East Germans wished reunification had not happened."
>>>( I wonder what the results would be now?)
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>>similar if not identical. If you asked me not on binary scale, I'd answer probably similar as well: West overpayed horribly (Kohl buying a win in election for CDU) and some of the best had already fled when it was dangerous. Setting value 1/3 less and leaving out 20% of land for the communists now making elections difficult would have been much better.
>>>
>>>Off topic:
>>>In Ireland last week I met a German couple who had been cycling round Ireland since May (and only intended going home at the end of October). They'd done this a few times in the past, also New Zealand twice plus a coast-to-coast trip from Seattle to Maine.
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>>Half a year gone from germany for tax reasons ?
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>Maybe, but they didn't strike me as big spenders....
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>>>I asked them if they ever cycled round Germany (hoping to get some tips) but they said "No, we're saving that for our old age". He was 67, she was 64 !
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>>yupp, some people can enjoy retirement.
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>One day :-}

Slightly off topic. When I was crossing back on the channel ferry in August there where two cyclists ahead of me in the queue to check in . I was surprised they just didn't cycle to the front or go through as foot passengers. Then getting off the ferry I saw them being held back till everything else had got off. Not very nice for them. It really didn't look like there was a cycle friendly policy at all.