So much ground-truth here either doesn't make it into the US conversation, or gets distorted for political purposes when it does. No one seems to make the effort to understand
why another nation would make other choices for itself, so when the political agenda is "confirmed" it means Germans are right and brilliant, but when it is denied they are silly, or evil, or just plain dumb. What can't be denied is that it is a system that works for them, and it works well.
It's almost as if the focus is on unlimited autobahn speeds without a conversation about bi-annual and complete auto inspections, a driver's license that costs about 3,000 euros and several month's worth of classes (at age 18 minimum), plus required insurance where your plates are taken off if the bill isn't paid. That sort of thing. There are only a few times I've even dared have a cup of coffee while driving here.
One Krankenkasse card gets access to the health care system with little or no paperwork. The non-profit insurance companies actively compete for customers and initiate better service (though they still aren't likable). I don't think that would fit into the right's narrative.
Childcare is subsidized, Kindergeld it's called, about 200 euros/per child per month. Progressive, up to age 27, unlimited for handicapped children.
Here's the wiki page translated:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindergeld&ei=0sK0TLrUII7Bswb0qYSxCA&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB8Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dkindergeld%2Bdeutschland%26hl%3Den%26prmd%3DivQuirky things:
You need a class and a test to get a fishing license.
"Quiet hours" in residential neighborhoods which run from 1pm to 3 pm (to let the children sleep), and between 10pm (or 9?) until 8AM. Exceptions galore, especially during summer holidays.
Four bin trash disposal and recycling, plus plenty of specialty categories. Really expensive. I can't imagine the shit that would rain down if you ever got caught dumping oil on the ground.
Voluntarily high electricity rates ~$.25-$.30 per Kw/hr.
Illegal to leave your car running for more than 3 minutes without moving.
Illegal to leave your car unlocked in your driveway.
A university education is almost completely covered if you have the coursework and test scores. "If you can get the degree, we want you to do so because it is good for all Germans" as one German academic told me.
And the holidays, yes everyone takes off the time to stay fresh for a 37-40 hour workweek. But it's also illegal for a state worker to have a second job.
Theoretically, a twenty minute walk from any part of any village will get you to a train station and a ticket anywhere else in the country (or Vladivostok, for that matter).
Handguns and long guns are registered, classes are required, and it's expensive. Still though, there are plenty of clubs, hunters, and enthusiasts. Golf is also uncommon and expensive. Hiking and bicycling are for everyone -as it's common to see the 70+ crowd on bikes or with walking sticks.
I do see problems and trends I don't like, mainly because of the consequences you can see in the US: overheated trade with China, suburbanization of villages near cities, reduction in the ownership of grocery stores, the creeping influence of factory foods, more junk mail that 10 years ago, unsecured credit cards (which were very rare), road building, and occasional whiffs of consumerism. Walmart failed miserably though.
I could go on but that's enough to support an observation of a core difference: The rights, responsibilities, support, laws, they're in place
not because they're good for you, but because they are good for the community. And that is not something the right/libertarians in the US will ever want to confront.