Democracy is an illusion! It’s become a political system fostered by the élite, for the élite, in order to fool the people that they have a stake in the system. In actual fact, they have virtually none. The whole political system in the modern era, despite having noble beginnings, is now used to benefit the few at the expense of the many. – Mark Alexander, June 29, 2018
Saturday, 11 February 2012
'Mittelstand' Firms Powering German Success
The strength of its well-known global brands have been cited as a factor in Germany's economic stability, but low-profile firms that produce highly-engineered goods are also helping to aid the economy amid Europe's financial crisis. The mostly family-owned medium-sized companies, known as the Mittlestand, employ more than two-thirds of the country's workforce. Adding to the Mittelstand's success is Germany's veneration for trademark engineering, backed by an education system that offers more than 300 apprenticeships starting in high school, and creating a highly-skilled labour pool. Al Jazeera's Nick Spicer reports from southern Germany.
