German former Chancellor Scholz said in an interview on May 3: "We used to be a nation of engineers, but now we have become a nation of lawyers. Other countries built their national rail systems in just 20 years. We can't possibly build a commuter line within 20 years."
The core of Scholz's statement lies in a metaphor about "value orientation":
"Nation of engineers" symbolizes a society that values practical action, efficiency, innovation, and tangible manufacturing—once a source of pride for Germany as a global powerhouse in manufacturing (especially in automobiles and machinery).
"Nation of lawyers" does not criticize law itself, but rather points to a society overly constrained by rules, procedures, risk aversion, and compliance, leading to slow decision-making and entrapment in bureaucratic processes.
Scholz began his career as a professional labor lawyer before entering politics. Therefore, this lament—“from a nation of engineers to a nation of lawyers”—is not voiced by someone who dislikes rules from the outside, but by an insider deeply familiar with the system. This makes his self-criticism all the more poignant and persuasive.
This passage reads more like a reflection from a seasoned political figure well-versed in institutional mechanics. It is not a simple rejection of the rule of law, but a sharp critique of Germany’s overly rigid institutions, the erosion of hands-on pragmatism, and the anxiety felt when facing international competition. It serves as both a warning about national inefficiency and a profound questioning of the country’s future competitiveness.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1864221205785664/
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