Fw: NYT article on Germany, The Geen Party, and new policy re; "reform"

Did anybody else notice today's NYTimes article on Shroeder's party losing out in elections where the party had always won for many years.  The article quoted Shroeder as taking this as a response to his leadership.  The article then goes on to say that now he can and should get back to the business of "reform" which he began but then stopped in the hopes of getting "left" union support.  Since he didn't get that support he is now "liberated" to go back to his "reform" agenda. 

            The article then quotes the "economic expert" for the Green party which is in a coalition with Shroeder's party.  This "expert" says that Shroeder should create more "labor flexibility."  This means getting rid of safeguards and "benefits" for labor.  "The will of the voters was clear," said Thea Duckert, an economic expert for the Greens, the junior partner in the chancellor's national coaltion.

    "....Any effort to reform the economy experts say, must begin with Germany's labor laws and its welfare system.  Ms. Duckert said the government would seek to lower the burden of social security on taxpayers.  The labor market, she said, must be made more flexible. 

            "The government would achieve those goals by cutting the benefits that allow some Germans to be comfortably unempolyed for years, and stripping away the job security of those who do work."

            What does this say about the Green Party and its understanding/analysis of capitalism?

Roz