Kannapolis Translation: SPIEGEL ONLINE Crumbles Under Massive Pressure

Last week we reported on an extensive, four-part SPIEGEL article on unemployment in the United States that was featured on the publication's homepage and in its magazine. A few days later we called on SPIEGEL ONLINE to present the piece on its "English Site" to give readers a better view of its reporting on the United States.

Just to provide new readers some background: The entire SPIEGEL article revolves around the city of Kannapolis, North Carolina and an unemployed family there. It is an individual story of misery that the magazine presents as representative of unemployment in the USA.

Anyway, in the meantime we did some research, and with some help from our readers found that the current unemployment rate in the North Carolina county where Kannapolis is located is below 5% (and also below the national average) and has fallen significantly in the past two years. Compared to the German unemployment rate, which has been well over 10% for quite some time now, the track record in Kannapolis is downright impressive.

Unemployment Comparison: Kannapolis is in Carrabus County, North Carolina (source)

You could say the area around Kannapolis is a model for combatting unemployment. But that isn't how things are presented in SPIEGEL. The city is described as a hopeless cesspool of American societal decay. And this clear bias is what initially prompted us to report on the original German piece and call for an English translation.

Davids Medienkritik Gets Results

And make no mistake: Davids Medienkritik makes an impact. When we write, German media sit-up, listen and take notes. A couple of days after we posted a piece demanding an English version, SPON caved under the pressure and published a translation. It is entitled, "For Residents of Kannapolis, Unemployment is as American as Apple Pie."

Readers should have a look at as much of the piece as they can stomach, keeping in mind how much lower unemployment in Kannapolis is than all of Germany. Readers should also keep in mind that the English version is not nearly as harsh as the German version and that SPIEGEL is notorious for spinning its translations differently for English readers. Take the example below:

Another Crooked Translation from SPIEGEL ONLINE

Same caption, different text: Even SPIEGEL ONLINE's photo captions exhibit the sort of crooked translation that we have come to expect from them. The German on the left states: "Worked crooked for the firm: After 35 years at Pinnotex, Marshall Pinnix was one of 5000 let go." Why doesn't the English version contain the grim reference to being "worked crooked"? Why is that omitted? Is the translator trying to soften the blow for English-speaking readers? Why don't they just write what they mean?

Anyway, if you have comments on the Kannapolis piece, send them to SPIEGEL ONLINE's "English Site" people at: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

Update: Read this outstanding posting at the Transatlantic Intelligencer.

Comments

[ErikEisel]

Excellent post! Take any U.S. county's unemployment rate, compare it to the 10% German unemployment rate, and I think you'll know what you find.

First observation: Take a look at "worked to the bone" Marshall Pinnix. The guy is like 80 years old. Is SPON suggesting he was a mid-50's middle manager who was arbitrarily let go?

Second observation: Pinnix worked for Pillowtex, a textile factory. That is not an industry going through a growth spurt in the US. SPON couldn't have been more selective in its examples of declining industries in the US, unless they also chose to examine the auto industry.

[Pogue Mahone]

OT but this is great stuff reported via Reuters

One wonders why he didn't cite the 15,000 French dead from a HEAT WAVE as an example of the "European model" that is so wunderbar

but nooooo - he has to bash the USA and approx 1000 killed by a storm the friggin size of all of germany

---------------------------------------------

Schroeder quits government, blasts U.S., Britain By Dave Graham
2 hours, 13 minutes ago

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who has led Germany since 1998, said for the first time on Wednesday he would not play a role in the next government, in an emotional farewell including broadsides at the United States and Britain.

"I will not be a part of the next government -- definitely not be part of it," a tearful looking Schroeder told a rapt audience of union members in his home city of Hanover.

He quickly composed himself, hitting his stride in a passionate defense of a strong German state and lashing out at "Anglo-Saxon" economic policies favoured in Britain and the United States, which he said had "no chance" in Europe.

In an apparent reference to Hurricane Katrina, Schroeder castigated Washington for liberal, hands-off policies that left it exposed in times of crisis. The Bush administration was widely criticised for its response to the devastating storm.

"I do not want to name any catastrophes where you can see what happens if organised state action is absent. I could name countries, but the position I still hold forbids it, but everyone knows I mean America," he said to loud applause.

[KiddCabo]

..a little bit off topic, but related to the departing loser schroeder who leaves office to join the US "capitalist" company Merril Lynch. I mean what the hell is he going to do create a new "nanny state" mutual fund for the company? That move alone demonstrates what a cheap double-speaking whore this man was.
You know, I thought I had heard enough from this crippled bastard Shcroeder over the years, but recent developments prove this little man to be nothing but a two-bit practicing whore. is followers are no better and are a true danger to the existence of germany itself. Below he makes comments such as "I can think of a recent disaster that shows what happens when a country neglects its duties of state towards its people," said Schroeder, who will soon cede his post to conservative rival Angela Merkel.
He states further to applause and laughter from his fellow washed-up losers- "My post as chancellor, which I still hold, does not allow me to name that country but you all know that I am talking about America," Schroeder said to laughter and applause. see- http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/10/12/051012144856.vqok83vk.html
Then the fat little diaper-clad fool goes on to say- (Schroeder made the remarks to warn against Merkel's policies, which he says will change the nature of Germany's cherished welfare state and create a less humane society.) "People do not want the state in their faces, but they want it by their side," he said.
What is it that keeps this small-brained and backwards thinking knucklehead from understanding that his little 60 yr old welfare nanny-state was made only possible by US taxpayers and the protection by the US men and woman of the armed forces? Now that schroeder has made most in the US puke at the thought of him, and the US military hands over ramstein airbase just this week, how would this fool think he can continue an economic existence that is failing miserably, and more so now that he has severed any ties between germany and the US??? One has to marvel at the laughter coming from his audience, the laughter at a hurricane that killed 700 people of which nothing could have prevented. Does this little prick offer the same scorn to his pals and past subjects in France (whose "state" is also failing miserabley) over the deaths of 15000 in one WARM weathered week just 18 months ago? The hypocrisy and child-like mind of this man and his followers is amazing.
Over the last several years the best selling book in Turkey was Mein Kempf. (what a cute read that is for muslims preparing to join the "eu", isn't it?) Now the best selling book in Turkey is about the Turks teaming up with the Russians to conquer the "eu's" new fascist goverments, after a turkish agent puts a nuke bomb in a wasington, DC park. please see-
http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/12/news/novel.php

I have always talked about the demise of europe, as we have witnessed over the years. France and germany are leading this fall. Can ANYONE imagine a joint turkish/russian attack on berlin being stopped by the german army, or the combined germany/french (AHHA HA!) forces? Who will the german assholes turn to then for help? Perhaps China? (I pull myself now off the floor after falling from laughter)
What makes the turks dream of nuking washington DC, and then attacking europe with the russians? What a phuking joke that is, but it must stroke muslim egos some how.
Man, I really wish the great Angela well in her new post, but I truly feel that the overall zeitgeist of schroeder matches a great majority of the german population's mind-set and that spells nothing but further trouble for germany, not anyone in the US. The govts in the "eu" even had to have little old Austria be the one's to veto the turkish joining, as these countires have NO BALLS to speak for themselves or say it themselves, they get little austria to do their dirty work. (oh, and lets not forget the brave schroeder and chirac not wanting to offend the muslim world "like the US does") It is nothing but a con-job being put forth to the world, this overall euro crap is. It's a highly visible case of mind-rot, pure and simple.
If schoeder EVER thinks he can step foot on US soil ever again- I will be the first one to beat the living hell out of him after pummeling him with cream pies for the cameras as a simple "welcome" for him.
PATO

[George M]

Anybody read the Wall Street Journal’s editorial page today? Check out the piece titled “Merkel’s First Task.”

Her first task is to restore U.S. relations and to put a quash on the vehement anti-Americanism stirred up by the SPD and their friends in the German MSM.

Who ever wrote piece may be a fan of Medienkritik. His examples of anti-Americanism appear to be lifted right off the right-hand column of this blogg!

It’s a good piece.....I didn’t know that Juergen Tritten was a former Maoist.

[KiddCabo]

George-
Considering Mao's legacy when he was alive and what is known currently about his reign of terror, how could this fool Tritten have ever been put in office?
As a member of any german party?

[KiddCabo]

More "tough talk" from the departing whore-
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2005/10/gerhard-schroeder-quits-office-in.html
Wow, what a brave man this schroeder is. First he and his pack of fools attempt to sound all tough to the US once the russian tanks were pulled back, now as he leaves office he spews further insanity. What a damn clown. History will correctly judge him and his team as the foolish imbeciles that they are/were.
Pato

[SwampFox]

I sent the propagandists at Spiegel the following email:

"What a bunch of B.S.!!!! I have lived in Charlotte, NC which is about 25 miles south of Kannapolis since 1989 and have just recently moved. The area surrounding Charlotte (which includes Kannapolis) is one of the hottest economic regions in the southeast. The city of Charlotte and surrounding satellite towns like Kannapolis are almost unrecognizable due to incredible economic PROSPERITY for about 30 years.

Industries like textiles have been dying over the same 30 years, and as bad as it is for the people in the article, my God, they have had 30 F**king years to make the transition to another job. Everyone in the south knows that textiles are dead and have known that for 30 years. Its on the damn news almost weekly. Meanwhile ten thousand times more jobs have been added in other industries than have been lost in textiles.

I don't enjoy kicking people when they are down, but a segment of the population here refuses to change with the times.

We don't need any more damn social programs. They have already enslaved a portion of the population that 40 years ago made better decisions for themselves.

The greatest threat to the poor and continued economic growth is liberal politics."

Then I ended with the admonishment to lose prejudices and do some research, with a little profanity and insult.

[Pamela]

GeorgeM,

I did see that WSJ editorial today. I was taken aback. I thought David and/or Ray had written it!

@KiddCabo
>>Man, I really wish the great Angela well in her new post, but I truly feel that the overall zeitgeist of schroeder matches a great majority of the german population's mind-set and that spells nothing but further trouble for germany, not anyone in the US

Yeah. And the worse things get in Germany the more likely they will be to elect the facist gov't premised in that book reveiw you linked to. Not a pleasant thought.

[joe]

Well since I lost my beers with the departure of Gerhard, I am in a bit more sober mood.

I predict now the next government will be made up of the neo's and spd with the Greens of course.

This should make the french happy. We will then see a two speed Europe.

Should be interesting.

[FranzisM]

I don't think a Left Coalition has become more likely with Schröder gone. It just has become more predictable.

If fact it could become less likely. The Cicero scandal is not just crucial because it touches the relations with Iran, it can also be helpful to keep the possible factions of a Left Coalition busy against each other.

[Order]

After looking through some statistics at http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/outside.jsp?survey=la I have found the following:

Kannapolis
labor force August 2003:
20924
employed:
18403
unemployed:
2521
unemployment rate:
12.0

labor force August 2005:
19900
employed:
18814
unemployed:
1086
unemployment rate:
5.5

The basic concepts involved in identifying the employed and unemployed are quite simple:
- People with jobs are employed.
- People who are jobless, looking for jobs, and available for work are unemployed.
- People who are neither employed nor unemployed are not in the labor force.
http://www.bls.gov/cps/cps_htgm.htm

The labor force was reduced by 1000, the number of employments has only risen by 400. Hence the rate dropped to 5.5. Perhaps the factory workers simply lost hope in finding a new job. You see, the unemployment rate alone is no proof.

[atmx]

Or, maybe they moved to find a job. Or they weren't qualified to receive retirement benefits two years ago, but have since.

[Don]

Let's admit that the picture isn't as bleak as Speigel paints it nor as rosy as the unemployment figures would appear. In many ways the closing of Cannon Mills is more of a German story than one reflecting mass realities in the US economy today, however.

There are people who lost their jobs in 2003 who will have a hard time adjusting. Some will retire, some have gone onto disability or Supplemental benefits. Some will have moved away or moved in with relatives.

Cannon Mills employed many older and poorly educated workers but also many younger workers with decent educations who will have been able to move to other jobs. Some of the apparent gap that Order noted will be workers who now drive to Charlotte or other places for work. It's not quite the tragedy it appears in Germany. Nor is it the typical face of job losses in the US today.

Moreover, Speigel completely misses the costs of the German system. Possibly some of the textile jobs would have been 'saved' in Germany - but at what cost? What is youth unemployment in Germany? High, very high. What would it be if Germany counted some of the 'students' completing their endless educations as actually unemployed? If young adults in the UK, US, Ireland, and other healthy economies are gainfully employed by age 24 and college educated Germans don't go to work until age 28 should that not be counted as 4 years of unemployment?

I think the youth in Germany pay the price for the way older workers are subsidized and retired early, and for subsidies to sunset industries.

[Walter E. Wallis]

Your comment about the translation reminded me of my primary objection to California's multi lingual ballots. How do we know that the translations are exact? Obviously we can not, and some day a vote will be thrown out because of an ambiguous translation.

[Michael42]

I sent a long letter to the Spiegel addresses listed above - I doubt they will print it. Valid points above are that this industry is at the tail-end of a cycle that has been going on for more than 20 years. Most american voters are not willing to pay the high taxes to maintain a european-style social welfare net, and voting trends over the last 20 years prove it.

I live in Rockingham County, NC, just north of Greensboro, and the same thing happened here with the closure of American Tobacco Company facilities in the '90s. Two or three generations of families had worked at those plants. Those jobs are never coming back. A lot of people commute to jobs now in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, or Danville, VA. Some have started businesses of their own. Some have gone to the local Community College to learn other trades. The county is slowly turning the corner - land and taxes are cheap compared to metropolitan areas, but the workforce is not as educated as it should be.

The main lesson in all this is education and specific skills are more valuble than ever, it pays to be willing to move, and don't count on the government (I don't want to pay for a government nanny) for too much.

[Wanderlust]

I lived in Kannapolis for a few months in 1990, and in Charlotte from 1983 to 1996.

There are many so-called "mill villages" in North and South Carolina, where a textile mill dominated the town. Indeed, the town of Kannapolis was once entirely owned by Cannon Mills - and as late as 1983, police uniforms bore the Cannon Mills corporate standard.

I received my first dose of reality regarding the "Buy USA" movement by textile mills in 1986. A friend of mine worked as a maintenance person for a time at a mill located in a small town between Charlotte and Gastonia, where he maintained cutting equipment. While the mill proudly proclaimed "Buy USA", it's own purchases spoke a different story - the cutting equipment my friend worked on was Japanese - bought because it was cheaper to own and operate than comparable US-made equipment. Since mills were buying Asian-sourced equipment for some time, he relayed to me, US equipment companies were going belly-up, one by one. If this was true, as I am sure some can fact-check if they care to do so, I find the whole "Buy USA" line a load of so much crap.

The same goes for any US Union employee who screams about the evils of NAFTA and globalization, only to shop at the likes of Wal-Mart after work. No, I am no critic of Wal-Mart; after all, their goods are generally cheaper than anyone else selling similar items. And that's the point: people may say one thing out of their mouths regarding support of local industry, but they vote with their wallets. Except for a few hard-core (and usually well-to-do) labor supporters, if you were to stack US-made goods next to, say, those sourced from South Korea or Singapore, and there were little to no consumer-noticeable differences between the two - except for price - the cheaper Asian goods would sell out long before expensive US goods.

Thus the power of capitalism in action - goods that are cheaper to make, and services that are cheaper to provide, sell cheaper. Or have you wondered why railroads gave up on steam locomotives 50 years ago? Why huge steel mills fell by the wayside as mini-mills came to prominence? Or why passenger rail and bus service went the way of the dinosaur so long ago?

As for Gerhard and his socialist sh*t, perhaps someone should remind him that his beloved BMW *AND* Mercedes Benz automobile manufacturers discovered that there was gold - that is, cheaper, skilled labor - in the small towns of South Carolina and Alabama, respectively. Perhaps it was fewer annual leave days and lower payroll cost that lured his beloved automakers to build plants in the US?

Ya think...?

[neocon]

Somehow offtopic: Welt der Wunder on RTL2 on sunday, about Katrina. It's actually a show about science but this time it was mostly about how the government didn't get there on time, people being not helped out, etc.

I couldn't hold it for more than 5 minutes. The propaganda got to the science shows, too

[LC Mamapajamas]

Neocon: "I couldn't hold it for more than 5 minutes. The propaganda got to the science shows, too"

Propaganda has BEEN on the "science" shows for a long time now when they're talking about the environment.