Germany’s Obsession With Jeremy Rifkin

An Interview With Rifkin

Featured By The German Foreign Ministry

On 6/22/2012, I received in my e-mail the weekly edition of “The Week In Germany”. This is an e-mail newsletter published by the German Federal Ministry headed by the hapless liberal democratic Guido Westerwelle.

The headline for this interview was “Germany is clearly ahead”.

Rifkin Is Full Of Praise For Germany

Of course, for the wrong reasons. In a separate blog, I have critiqued this gentleman and his Third Industrial Revolution. In my frank opinion, Mr. Rifkin is more like a modern charlatan.

In his first answer, Mr. Rifkin proudly tells the world that he discussed his Third Industrial Revolution with German Chancellor Merkel. How much was Chancellor Merkel actually influenced by him?

Why Is Germany Ahead According To Rifkin

Here is his outline of the future from this interview: “… We should stop any further investment in the old infrastructure, and instead develop a new one. … Fit out public and private buildings with combined heat and power units and solar panels! Convert street lighting to energy-saving LED lamps! The cost savings can be used to fund the investments. …Why shouldn’t German companies also be leaders in developing the electrical vehicles of the future?” And of course, he talked briefly about his “identified five pillars”.

Is he not a flatterer? German companies being leaders in the development of the electrical vehicles of the future?

To put it sarcastically and hyperbolically, he thinks a new infrastructure can be paid for by installing (my I add expensive) LED lamps? Who is he fooling?